'Backlash against Aamir Khan proof of intolerance'

Kolkata: Joining the growing clamour against intolerance, singer-musician and former Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman on Thursday said the backlash faced by Bollywood star Aamir Khan was proof of the intolerance in the country.

"Neither Aamir nor his wife said they will leave the country. The backlash they are facing proves the point. The backlash proves there is reason enough to feel worried," Suman said, referring to the actor's controversial remarks that his wife Kiran Rao had discussed moving out of India in view of growing intolerance, fearing for the safety of their children.

At an event here, Suman pointed to the BJP's tendency towards communal hatred, but refused to pin the blame solely on the Narendra Modi government.

"The BJP government has a general tendency towards communal hatred and communal suspicion. But can we blame the government alone for this intolerance?

"It's our mentality, our attitude to be blamed. If we want to go astray, people will make us lose our way. Where is our conscience," asked the national award winning music director.

Suman minced no words in lambasting political parties including his own for exploiting the minorities.

"These secular parties are more dangerous than the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). The RSS does what it says but these parties, the Trinamools and the CPI-Ms, they unabashedly exploit you but vouching to espouse you cause," added Suman.

Participating in the 'Shahid Hemant Karkare Day' here, Suman called for a public movement for unravelling the truth behind the killing of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad chief during the 2008 Mumbai attacks.