New Delhi:
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khantoday refused to apologise to the Indian Medical Associationwhich has accused him of defaming the medical professionthrough his popular TV show Satyamev Jayate and said he isready to face any legal action threatened by it.
"I am very comfortable if they (IMA) plan to take legalaction if they feel that I have done something wrong. Ofcourse, the courts are available for them. My answer is no, Iwill not be apologising," Aamir told NDTV.
The actor denied IMA's charge of defaming and insultingthe medical profession.
"I deny that I have done that. I have the highest respectand regard for the medical profession," he said.
In an episode, aired on May 27, the 47-year-old actorhighlighted the malpractices in the medical profession.
The IMA had demanded an immediate apology from Aamir andwarned him of legal action if he failed to do so.
"Aamir Khan should apologise for having defamed and givenone side of the story on medical profession. If he does not weare contemplating to take legal action against him fordefaming and demoralising the medical profession in his TVshow," IMA Secretary General Dr D R Rai had said. (Read: Medical bodies demand apology from Aamir Khan for 'defaming' doctors)
Aamir, who has been focusing on social evils throughthe show, said his show is not against doctors or the medicalprofession.
"If the medical profession has been insulted and defamedby anybody, it is probably by those who are indulging inunethical practises," Aamir said.
Aamir said he had received two kinds of responses fromthe medical profession after the episode was aired. One wasthe kind of response that IMA has given while the other onehas been "extremely positive" from doctors.
"I have received letters from various doctors saying thatthey are so happy when they saw the show that finally someoneis talking about this because this is something they wereupset about and did not know how to deal with," he said.
These doctors were unhappy about various "unethicalpractises" which were going on in the medical profession.
"They have actually thanked and congratulated me forhaving done what I did," he said.
Aamir said that doctor K K Talwar, head of the Medicalcouncil of India (MCI), who was on the show, had written aletter to him which was very encouraging.
"I can imagine it would not have been easy for Dr Talwarto face the tough questions that I had for him on the showthat day but he faced those questions and wrote the letterafter the show was televised saying that he really liked it,"the actor said.
Talwar said that everything would be done by the MCI toimprove the situation.
"A statement like this really encourages me because Ifeel he is someone in a position of power at this point oftime. If he has a positive attitude towards bringing aboutchange, then that is wonderful to hear and know," he said.
Aamir said he was aware that a few doctors were unhappywith him. It is upto the medical profession to take action toremove this disrepute that is faced by this noble profession.
"I am very comfortable if they (IMA) plan to take legalaction if they feel that I have done something wrong. Ofcourse, the courts are available for them. My answer is no, Iwill not be apologising," Aamir told NDTV.
The actor denied IMA's charge of defaming and insultingthe medical profession.
"I deny that I have done that. I have the highest respectand regard for the medical profession," he said.
In an episode, aired on May 27, the 47-year-old actorhighlighted the malpractices in the medical profession.
The IMA had demanded an immediate apology from Aamir andwarned him of legal action if he failed to do so.
"Aamir Khan should apologise for having defamed and givenone side of the story on medical profession. If he does not weare contemplating to take legal action against him fordefaming and demoralising the medical profession in his TVshow," IMA Secretary General Dr D R Rai had said. (Read: Medical bodies demand apology from Aamir Khan for 'defaming' doctors)
Aamir, who has been focusing on social evils throughthe show, said his show is not against doctors or the medicalprofession.
"If the medical profession has been insulted and defamedby anybody, it is probably by those who are indulging inunethical practises," Aamir said.
Aamir said he had received two kinds of responses fromthe medical profession after the episode was aired. One wasthe kind of response that IMA has given while the other onehas been "extremely positive" from doctors.
"I have received letters from various doctors saying thatthey are so happy when they saw the show that finally someoneis talking about this because this is something they wereupset about and did not know how to deal with," he said.
These doctors were unhappy about various "unethicalpractises" which were going on in the medical profession.
"They have actually thanked and congratulated me forhaving done what I did," he said.
Aamir said that doctor K K Talwar, head of the Medicalcouncil of India (MCI), who was on the show, had written aletter to him which was very encouraging.
"I can imagine it would not have been easy for Dr Talwarto face the tough questions that I had for him on the showthat day but he faced those questions and wrote the letterafter the show was televised saying that he really liked it,"the actor said.
Talwar said that everything would be done by the MCI toimprove the situation.
"A statement like this really encourages me because Ifeel he is someone in a position of power at this point oftime. If he has a positive attitude towards bringing aboutchange, then that is wonderful to hear and know," he said.
Aamir said he was aware that a few doctors were unhappywith him. It is upto the medical profession to take action toremove this disrepute that is faced by this noble profession.
