Aamir tried to destroy India's brand identity: Amitabh Kant

January 19, 2016

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.

aamirDefending 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.

Comments

Muhammed Rafique
 - 
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

Who says India is intolerant?

Else Sunny Leone wouldn't have been living and working in India

Goodman
 - 
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

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.

Rahi
 - 
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

Another Bhakt on stage, it will go like this till Amir's new film Dangal's release.
They are in full swing after Dilwale.

haaris
 - 
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

Who said intolerant now \Amir or his wife\""

HONOR
 - 
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

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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June 7,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 7: The Sri Krishna temple at Udupi would not re-open on June 8 although permission has been given to all temples to allow devotees for darshan, Admaru mutt junior seer Paryaya Swami Ishapriya Teertha said on Saturday. He told reporters in Udupi that the mutt has decided not to allow devotees at present to join the fight against COVID-19 by the government, health department and the police.

The seer said the situation would be assessed in the next 20-30 days after which a decision to re-open the place of worship would be taken.

The health of the devotees and the staff at the mutt and temple would have to be protected.

However, pujas and rituals would continue to be held at the temple, he said.

Meanwhile, Dharmasthala dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade said in a press release that the Lord Manjunatheshwara temple in Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district would open for devotees from June 8. He said 800-1,000 devotees would be allowed to have darshan at the temple every day, keeping with the regulations of the government.

Mass-feeding (annadhanam) in the Annapoorna hall would also be organised, maintaining social distance in view of the virus spread.

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June 28,2020

Udupi, Jun 28: The Padubidri police have booked cases against two patients of Novel Coronavirus for not revealing their primary contacts and hiding their travel history.

According to DHO Sudhirchandra Sooda, two siblings from Hejamadi in Padubidri had tested positive for COVID-19 recently. After shifting to the hospital, when the officials asked them about their primary contacts and travel history, the patients furnished false information.

When the officials collected information from various sources, they realised that the duo had travelled to Bantwal, Kasargod, Ullal and other places in Dakshina Kannada, said Dr Sooda. Hence, the district administration decided to file cases against them, he added.

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January 19,2020

Udupi, Jan 19: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitaraman has said the mutt tradition in Udupi is a unique tradition and a perfect example of the country’s rich heritage of spirituality.

Speaking at the Darbar organised for the incoming Paryaya Admar Mutt seer Sri Eeshapriya Theertha Swamiji at Rajangana, here Saturday night, she said, “Paryaya festival is not just an event. It represents the presence of the Lord. I am conscious about the history. I am immensely blessed to be associated with the Krishna Mutt in one or the other.”

She turned nostalgic and traced her connection with the Krishna mutt which started in her childhood. “I am attached to the Mutt and temple due to my maternal uncle. My uncle was a bank employee and he spent his career in Manipal. I am being drawn to the mutt for the past 25 years. I am blessed immensely by the seers of the mutt and Lord Krishna.”

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