From Daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, May 29: "Say sorry and finish the matter" was big brotherly advice by BJP Rajya Sabha member of parliament Shatrughan Sinha to Aamir Khan who is facing heat in Gujarat on his comment over Narmada dam and Gujarat government.
Aamir should tender apology to the people of Gujarat respecting people's sentiments. I am suggesting this as his big brother, Sinha said.
On his private visit to Goa, Sinha initially refused to comment on Fanaah controversy stating that he had spoken "enough" on the issue. But this veteran filmstar-turned-politician expressed his comments after consistent requests.
Head of BJP's cultural cell, Sinha, sought to clarify that agitation in Gujarat is not BJP's handiwork. "It is reaction by the people. If Indian constitution gives you freedom of expressing that it also gives you freedom of rejection. People have right to reject. If they don't want to watch the film, no one can force them to watch it," Sinha said.
Lauding Gujarat as number 1 state, Sinha quoted findings by Rajiv Gandhi foundation and stated that the state faired great in development indicators. "When Aamir talks against Narmada and Gujarat, he makes people feel that he is against development," he added.
As a responsible citizens, the film fraternity while expressing their views on any subject should do it after thorough study on the matter, said Sinha lauding Shabana Azmi's activism. " I appreciate Shabana Azmi .. she is a real activist .. she will always study the matter and then only react to it," he said.
"Some people act as a selective activist," Sinha said without mentioning any name.
He also made it clear that Aamir or 'Fanaa' will not figure in the BJP's national executive beginning tomorrow in New Delhi.
"'Fanaa' is not a national movie .. Aamir is not a national hero .. so the question of discussing it in the national executive does not arise," Sinha said.
The movie is not being screened in Gujarat, due to protests by BJP activists over the actor's stand on the Sardar Sarovar Dam project.
Sinha, however, said that it was not "fair" on the part of the actor to talk against any democratic party.
"BJP came to the power by the ballot, not by the bullet .. the party gave the best Prime Minister in the form of Atal Behari Vajpayee .. it is the number one party and will come back to power at Centre. It's not fair to talk against such a party," he reacted.
Sinha said that the national executive has several other issues to discuss and would not deliberate on the Aamir issue.