Bullying, threatening no way to solve problems in India: Rahul Gandhi backs Aamir Khan on 'intolerance'

New Delhi: Amid growing concerns on the issue of intolerance, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said it would be better for the government to stop "bullying, threatening and abusing" and instead reach out to the people.

"Instead of branding all those who question the Govt & Modiji- as unpatriotic, anti national or 'motivated' the Govt would do better to reach out to people to understand what's disturbing them".

"That's the way to solve problems in India- not by bullying, threatening & abusing!", the Congress Vice President said in a series of tweets.

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Defending that India is a tolerant country BJP leader Nalin Kohli said, "Some isolated examples, however, extreme are exceptions to India's inherent tolerant nature. It would be unfortunate to let isolated examples be taken as a norm that define India.

"Our Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and Aamir Khan like any citizen is entitled to his personal opinion. And any one who disagrees with him also enjoys the same freedom," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

Taking a dig at Khan's comment at an award ceremony on Monday evening that his wife Kiran Rao had wondered if they should move out of India, he said many people chose to settle abroad for various reasons, including education, career, business and taxation. "This is an individual choice. There is no constitutional bar on it," he said.

Reminding Aamir of his 'Incredible India' campaign days, the BJP earlier said that the former was free to express his opinion and added that India will love her people 'Qayamat se Qayamat tak'.

"We all love Aamir Khan. He is a great actor, who makes even greater movies. But it's hard to agree with him when he says that India is intolerant. This is an 'Incredible India' which can never be intolerant. 'Qayamat se Qayamat tak' (forever and ever) India will love her people," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI here.

Read:

Wife suggested moving out of India: Aamir Khan on intolerance

When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you?: Anupam Kher asks Aamir Khan

Isolated incidents should not be allowed to define India: BJP

Questioning the actor, who had been the face of the 'Incredible India' campaign, Patra asked as to how could the nation which treated outsiders like gods, hurt her own people.

"Serving outsiders like gods is part of our culture. Aamir said this himself. Then how can India hurt its own citizens? I request him to not leave the nation as we won't find a country like India anywhere, that loves him so much," Patra added.

Speaking at the eighth edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Aamir had yesterday expressed alarm and despondency over the rise in cases displaying intolerance in the last six to eight months.

He had said that a sense a sense of 'insecurity' and 'fear' had seeped deep within society.

"When I go home and talk to Kiran (Aamir's wife), for the first time she says, 'Should we move out of India?'" Khan said.