Shah Rukh Khan spoke out about intolerance in an exclusive interview to NDTV on Monday.
Under attack from two leaders of the BJP for his remarks on 'intolerance', actor Shah Rukh Khan today received support from the BJP's ally, the Shiv Sena, which said he should not be targeted because he is Muslim.
"We should not target Shah Rukh Khan over his religion when the intolerance debate was started by Nayantara Sehgal," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said today.
When Shah Rukh Khan spoke out about intolerance in an exclusive interview to NDTV on Monday, he was echoing a sentiment that has been stated by filmmakers, writers and scientists. "Religious intolerance, or intolerance of any kind, is the worst thing and will take us to the dark ages," Mr Khan had said in an interview to NDTV on his 50th birthday.
Following the interview, BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had said in a series of tweets that though the actor lives in India, his heart is in Pakistan. "Shah Rukh Khan lives in India, but his heart is in Pakistan. His films make crores here but he finds India intolerant," Mr Vijayvargiya said, drawing severe criticism, even from his own party.
Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "Whatever one individual says, to think it is party view, there is no need to think that. It is not view of the party. We all admire Shah Rukh Khan. He is a great actor. There is no need to make individual comments. I haven't seen his statement."
Mr Vijayvargiya has now retracted his comments and said they had been "misunderstood."
But the actor was subjected to another attack by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath today, who compared him to 26/11 terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed. "They should leave. We will also welcome the fact that they go. At least the people who brings defame to the nation will understand there reality and limits. Once Imam of Jama Masjid went to Pakistan when he was abused like a dog, the same will happen to these. They are only speaking terrorist language. I don't think there is any difference between Shah Rukh Khan and Hafiz Saeed's language," he said.