Poll | Should Bollywood participate in the intolerance debate?

After Shah Rukh’s comments on ‘climate of intolerance’ in India were attacked by political leaders, you think Bollywood’s big names should contribute to intolerance debate.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan spoke about “extreme intolerance” in India on Monday, touching upon a heated debate at a time a section of writers and intellectuals have launched a protest against the central government over ‘growing religious tension’.

Shah Rukh Khan was slammed for his comments on religious and creative intolerance.

“Intolerance religiously…not being secular in this country is the worst crime you can do as a patriot,” the actor said at an event. Khan also stressed that being a star, it was tough for him to take a stand on every moral issue. “We may talk about freedom of speech, but people come outside my house and throw stones. If I do take a stand, I’ll stand by it,” he added.

Reacting to Khan’s comments, Kailash Vijayvargiya, a BJP general secretary and a former state minister of Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday said Khan’s “soul” is in Pakistan though he lives in India. Another leader from the saffron camp, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Sadhvi Prachi called Khan a “Pakistani agent” for saying there is “extreme intolerance” in the country.He later retracted his statement.