Ahmedabad, Jan 19: Actor Aamir Khan damaged the "brand India" while being the brand ambassador of the celebrated 'Incredible India' campaign, a top official has said.
Defending the exit of Khan from the campaign, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Amitabh Kant said the actor, by terming India an 'intolerant country', worked against his role as that of a brand ambassador.
"A brand ambassador promotes a brand. People will come to India and tourist flow will increase only if the brand ambassador of 'Incredible India' promotes the country as 'incredible'," Kant told reporters on the sidelines of a convocation here last night.
"But if the brand ambassador says India is intolerant, he surely is not working as brand ambassador," Kant said.
"The brand ambassador must be the best brand ambassador for promoting and marketing India, he cannot be the destroyer of the brand," he said while replying to a query on removal of Khan from the campaign, without taking the actor's name.
Khan had late last year stirred a controversy after he expressed "alarm and despondency" over rising instances of intolerance in the country in the past few months and said that his wife (Kiran Rao) even asked if they should move out of India as she feared for the safety of their children.
Kant, who was involved in conceptualising Incredible India campaign in 2002 in his capacity as joint secretary, Ministry of Tourism, today tweeted, "Being a Brand Ambassador imposes responsibilities. U can't run down what u're promoting. That's damaging d brand."
Khan actively promoted Indian tourism for a decade as the brand ambassador.
Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma had said Aamir had a contract with advertising firm McCann Erickson and not the government for the campaign.
"Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists," Sharma had said.
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Comments
Who says India is intolerant?
Else Sunny Leone wouldn't have been living and working in India
Aamir said truth, whether it is difficult to digest the culprits and their sponsors.
He said truth, though he knew he would sacrifice the title.
We are today independent because of such people who stood against atrocities by invaders. Our people got the title of freedom fighters and martyr.
today he has to say the truth against our own men. This is hard truth. To know it, don't go away, just see around you in our own home town of Mangalore. Even now and today.
I request all celebrities like actors, sportsmen should dare to say the truth.
Another Bhakt on stage, it will go like this till Amir's new film Dangal's release.
They are in full swing after Dilwale.
Who said intolerant now \Amir or his wife\""
I think We should appreciate Aamir Khan for speaking the TRUTH...
These business man are blind to the killing of dalit, killing of akhlaq, terrorist minister Making BOw bow... Aamir in this case I appreciate for speaking the TRUTh.
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