Countering the protests by writers and artistes against “rising intolerance”, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher on Saturday led a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan alleging that the “award-wapsi” campaign was to defame the country by projecting a “wrong” picture of the situation.
Mr Kher, director Madhur Bhandarkar and painter Vasudev Kamath were among 11 members who handed over a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee. Mr Kher also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the evening.
"President Pranab Mukherjee said that awards are not given by the government but by people of the nation. The President also said that our constitution is written on a secular fabric and we should respect that," Anupam Kher told reporters after meeting the President.
"We are secular people, we don't believe in pseudo-secularism or selective outrage. Every country goes through problems but nobody has the right to call our country intolerant."
"Any brutal killing is condemnable. We strongly condemn it and expect swift justice. But if it is used by some people to attempt to defame India at the international platform, then we should be worried," Mr Kher said while reading out their letter to the President.
"We had a meeting with a lot of writers, artistes, filmmakers and they also believe that there is no intolerance in the country... This march is a symbolic gesture on part of a lot of people over here who say India is one and free of intolerance," the 60-year-old said.
Many filmmakers and artistes from the fraternity including Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashoke Pandit, Priyadarshan, Manoj Joshi, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and writer Madhu Kishwar joined the march to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 40 personalities including actress Raveena Tandon to President Pranab Mukherjee.
"The projection that is happening for the past few days is very sad. The people who were against Modiji during elections are the same people who are coming out right now.
"The whole projection and narrative that is going abroad is wrong. It is a diverse country and of course there are incidents but we all condemn them. There is no two ways about it," he said.
Kher asserted that they were not associated with any organisation or political party. "This march is led by Indians and for Indians."
#MarchForIndia turns Twitter into a battleground:
For supporters of the current government and Prime Minister, however, Twitter became a virtual space for celebration as they posted pictures from the march, urged people across India to show support for Kher in their own cities and declared that March for India was a "slap in the face" of all liberals daring to call India "intolerant".
People Turn Up in Huge Numbers To Support #MarchForIndia:
Hear are Some Visuals Across India where People are Supporting #MarchForIndia:
Mr Kher, director Madhur Bhandarkar and painter Vasudev Kamath were among 11 members who handed over a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee. Mr Kher also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the evening.
"President Pranab Mukherjee said that awards are not given by the government but by people of the nation. The President also said that our constitution is written on a secular fabric and we should respect that," Anupam Kher told reporters after meeting the President.
"We are secular people, we don't believe in pseudo-secularism or selective outrage. Every country goes through problems but nobody has the right to call our country intolerant."
"Any brutal killing is condemnable. We strongly condemn it and expect swift justice. But if it is used by some people to attempt to defame India at the international platform, then we should be worried," Mr Kher said while reading out their letter to the President.
"We had a meeting with a lot of writers, artistes, filmmakers and they also believe that there is no intolerance in the country... This march is a symbolic gesture on part of a lot of people over here who say India is one and free of intolerance," the 60-year-old said.
Many filmmakers and artistes from the fraternity including Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashoke Pandit, Priyadarshan, Manoj Joshi, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and writer Madhu Kishwar joined the march to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 40 personalities including actress Raveena Tandon to President Pranab Mukherjee.
"The projection that is happening for the past few days is very sad. The people who were against Modiji during elections are the same people who are coming out right now.
"The whole projection and narrative that is going abroad is wrong. It is a diverse country and of course there are incidents but we all condemn them. There is no two ways about it," he said.
Kher asserted that they were not associated with any organisation or political party. "This march is led by Indians and for Indians."
#MarchForIndia turns Twitter into a battleground:
For supporters of the current government and Prime Minister, however, Twitter became a virtual space for celebration as they posted pictures from the march, urged people across India to show support for Kher in their own cities and declared that March for India was a "slap in the face" of all liberals daring to call India "intolerant".
People Turn Up in Huge Numbers To Support #MarchForIndia:
Hear are Some Visuals Across India where People are Supporting #MarchForIndia:
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