New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was criticised by many political leaders for his intolerance remark last year, says he has no issues with any political party and feels that if the country has chosen Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India, then we should all support him.
Shah Rukh, who has been part of the entertainment industry for over two decades now, said at an event in November last year that there was “nothing worse than religious intolerance and that it would take India to the Dark Ages”.
His remarks were criticised by many BJP leaders who even called his statement a political one in favour of the Indian National Congress.
However Shah Rukh says he considers all political parties his friends.
“I would like to state here very clearly, when we chose a leader of our country, whoever may (it) be, as great as (Narendra) Modi, all we have to do is to support him. Our nation has chosen him with a majority, so we have to support our leader and take the country forward and not be negative,” Shah Rukh said at the TV show “Aap Ki Adalat”, aired on India TV.
“May be in politics, people might have made comments (on intolerance), but we are not politicians, we are entertainers. In a certain way, we are someone whom children look up to and think they’d like to be successful as I am. So I’ll never like to talk things, which will not be in our nation’s interest,” the “Chennai Express” star added.
Asked by host Rajat Sharma whether there was a perception that he had friends in the Congress, who wanted to fix Modi, Shah Rukh said: “How dare I think I can fix anybody. You know me over the years, I am apolitical, though I have friends everywhere.”
Shah Rukh further clarified that his comment in the wake of the “intolerance” controversy was taken out of context.
“I had only advised the young not to be intolerant in matters relating to regionalism, religion, caste, colour and creed. My father was one of the youngest freedom fighters. How can I think this country has not been fair to any of us? A man like me, who has got everything from this great country, I’ll be last one to complain,” he said.
“My family itself is a mini-India. My wife is Hindu, I am a Muslim by birth, and my three children follow three religions. So how can I think of my country like this?” he added.