Aamir Khan's effigies burnt in Punjab

PHAGWARA: Activists of Shiv Sena Hindustan today burnt the effigy of Bollywood star Aamir Khan at a sugarmill crossing here to protest his remarks on intolerance.

Dubbing Khan's statement as tantamount to "slurring" the image and credibility of the country, the protesters led by district president Manish Sood advised Aamir Khan to leave India and settle in Syria.

"We will provide you all help in securing Syria's visa," Sood said.

Khan was at the centre of a raging debate after he expressed "alarm and despondency" over the rise in incidents of intolerance in the last six to eight months in an interaction at a ceremony here.

"Kiran and I have lived all our life in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India... She fears for her child, she fears about what the atmosphere around us will be," the actor had said on Monday.

The protesters said India is a rather over-tolerant country as it was here that a film like PK, which had "hit" the beliefs of majority community, could be made and screened successfully.

Protesters said that it was India that made him a star and a celebrity.

Meanwhile, a report from Ludhiana said a group of Shiv Sena (Punjab) activists demonstrated near a five star hotel here on Ferozepur road where Aamir Khan has been staying.

Demonstrators were led by Rajiv Tondon, president of the Sena.

Khan was not present in the hotel when protest took place even as heavy police force was deployed around the hotel.

Narinder Bhargwa, DCP, Ludhiana, when contacted said whenever Aamir Khan visits the city in connection with the shooting of his film, a heavy police security is provided to him.

He was shooting for his upcoming flick 'Dangal' at Dango and Gujjarwal villages in Ludhiana district.