If there ever was a reward for an absurd incident or statement, it should go to the Shiv Sena for their latest attack. The Mumbai-based outfit, which is spread across the country, has offered a Rs 1 lakh award for anyone who slaps the actor Aamir Khan. This offer was actually made by the Shiv Sena Punjab chairman, Rajeev Tandon, when the star was in Ludhiana shooting a film. The outfit put the money up on offer and encouraged the hotel staff and the crew to slap Khan.
This has happened because of Khan’s recent statements in New Delhi at an awards show, where he talked about his wife’s trepidation at the state of affairs in India, referring to the rising incidents of intolerance across the country. Not only have the words been taken out of context, but they have also been called anti-national. Ministers Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee, and musician A R Rahman, have spoken out to back Khan, while others including actor Anupam Kher have opposed his comments.
If there was ever an example of the intolerance that Aamir Khan was talking about, then it would be this move by the Shiv Sena to shame him for what they perceive as anti-national comments, when in fact it was just an opinion. They have actually played right into the hands of those who are opine that incidents of intolerance have started rising since the BJP took over at the Centre
