VHP workers target Aamir Khan’s brand apps in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: It is not an internet mob deleting apps associated with actor Aamir Khan. A systematic campaign is being executed by the right wing organisations across social networks to target brands which have Khan as brand ambassador.

Messages with the toll free numbers of such brands were circulated by Vishva Hindu Parishad workers in this connection. "All nationalist brothers are requested to call up the above mentioned numbers and say that I boycott your product unless you remove Aamir Khan as the brand ambassador. Believe this in two day’s time all the arrogance of this ‘Garib Khan’ will disappear," reads the message.

A VHP member, who circulated the message, when contacted said a detailed plan on how to take this forward was being worked out. "Obviously, we would want to take this forward on the lines of Hindutva," he added, while refraining from elaborating on whether the move would be limited to Gujarat or would spread across the country.

Gujarat VHP leaders declined to comment but VHP joint secretary-general Surendra Jain when contacted said people may be individually campaigning against Aamir Khan on social networks but VHP did not have anything to do with it. "I, joint general secretary VHP, do not know that a campaign has been started by VHP workers. You might have the resources to find the association of the communicators. Do you not think that it is a spontaneous reaction of an enlightened society? It is my request not to associate it with any organisation," he said in an email reply to ET.

However, he added, "nationalist citizens of India do not approve of the statement of Aamir Khan. Any sensible person of this country is unable to understand, what type of threat he or his wife is facing. We want to know where he was when a fatwa was issued against AR Rahman."