Sad that Aamir, Kiran Rao feel like leaving India: Digvijaya

Panaji, Nov 24 It was sad that Bollywood star Aamir Khan and his filmmaker wife Kiran Rao, who is a Hindu, felt like leaving India in the face of intolerance, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Tuesday.

Digvijaya Singh was talking to reporters after a press conference at the Congress state headquarters, after a review meeting of the state unit's executive committee.

"It's sad that Aamir Khan, who is an icon among film actors not only in India, but across the world, is feeling the same thing.

"His wife is Hindu, she has also felt it, that with this kind of uncultured and intolerant atmosphere, it looks like those who are fighting against this will have to leave the country. This is a serious issue," Digvijaya Singh said.

He described Kiran as a Hindu and a Brahmin by caste.

Digvijaya Singh was reacting to a comment made by Aamir Khan on Monday.

"Kiran and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet," Aamir Khan had said.

The actor's comment has attracted sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with party MP Yogi Adityanath even equating it with treason.

"I saw a member of parliament who said Aamir Khan has given a statement which is tantamount to treason. I believe that the BJP MP does not know the meaning of treason," Digvijaya Singh said.