Mumbai: There is no better place better than India for Muslims and any minority. If they want to live here, they must respect the nation and its culture, said veteran writer Salim Khan. Salim Khan also backed Narendra Modi saying that Prime Minister is not communal at all and he honestly believes in sub ka sath aur sab ka vikas.
“There’s no place better than India for any minority – I’d like to ask any Muslim if they’d like to live in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran or Iraq? They’d surely answer in the negative.” said Salim Khan in an interview with Times of India. “If this is the only country you want to live in, because you feel at home, then respect this nation, respect its culture, live in harmony,” he added.
Talking about the film-makers and artists, who returned their awards protesting against growing intolerance in the country, Salim Khan supported their form of agitation and said government must address their concern. “I think the government should address this squarely – the authorities have to accept there is a problem and solve it through dialogue. Matters can’t be shoved under the carpet now,” said the renowned script-writer.
“If some people want to express their dissent by returning their awards, they’re free to do so. These are intelligent, well-educated people. They don’t have a petty or cheap agenda. They’re unhappy and expressing their angst – the people in power now have to find solutions,” he added. However Salim Khan also urged that those returning awards too should write to the government first rather returning awards randomly.
Taking on Gajendra Chauhan, who has been facing criticism after being appointed FTII chairman, Salim Khan said that if he has self-respect, he should quit from the post. “If a person is not wanted by the students for whom he’s expected to run an organisation, he should have the dignity and self-respect to leave – you can’t keep holding onto something which the people you’re associated with don’t want you to have,” he said.
Bureau Report
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