Author: Shwetank Bhushan
Publication: Myind.net
Date: January 17, 2017
URL:   https://www.myind.net/when-it-comes-hypocrisy-aamir-khan-second-none#.WH4hPkp8WEA.twitter

Recently Zaira Wasim, the 16-year-old Kashmiri actor who played the character of Geeta Phogat in Aamir Khan’s DANGAL, was vehemently abused on Facebook by the fundamentalist groups for acting in a “polluted” medium and acting against “religious norms” and bringing shame and disgrace to Islam. Here we reproduce some of the shameful comments that she received.

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Butt Rehan These bitches are Enemies of our Islam. Jihad is fard against them. Ya Allah Destroy them. Ya Allah please

Imtiyaz Ahmad Gilkar Shame Shame on Father maa

Basit Khan Ianat ho in donu par aur is girl k parents par

Ham Raaz Shame both of you

Junaid Reshi thooke tohe te tumhedain malis maje

Xlogical Waseem Lanath ho tm donu par aur is ladki k maa baap par ...harami madarchod

Ahmad Mustaqeem Baap nay aor maa nay aak nayi randie ko janam diya ha

Faizam Bazaz Sluts

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Zaira, who shot to fame post the success of ‘Dangal’, recently met the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti. During the meet, the powerhouse performer spoke her mind on the importance of educating the girl child and women’s safety apart from other things.

She was again being targeted for meeting the J&K CM, especially when Mehbooba Mufti described her as a “Kashmiri role model”.
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Mushtoq Nazar  Mhabuba ji kabi us ladki ka pass ho jis nai hafizi Quran kiya or aap nai us ko bola ho marhaba aap par or aap k maa baap par jis nai aap ko ya quran hifiz karnai ki hedayad ki shaam on u
january 14 at 9:21 pm

Sajid Mehraj It wasn't taught by our Be loved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),  O the Zaira's father
where is your spirit for Islam,
U are Dayuudz In sight of Islam...
And Shame on Those who encourage the evil...
May Allah (SWT) Give U hidayah
January 14 at 9:29 pm

Aadil Hussain Bhat I am telling u this one eared lady will one day spoul the Islamic aura of whole valley.... Zaira u need not to feel proud bcoz the fires of hell r waiting for u and your supporters if u will not apologize Him...the ZAMEER of zaira's parents is really DEAD... plz if u can't contribute for betterment of Islam in valley,,,don't,,,but don't spoil it....
January 14 at 10:58 pm

Zarahayat Khan Jab inko khud pata nhe hamara mazub kiya hai tou ye dus ko kiya mashwara dege mazhub pe chalne ki jo esko sabak mila hai wo sabko use pe chalne ka mashwara dege
January 14 at 9:26 pm

Alishba Aetisham Allah hidayat dey issey...jahannam ki aur jaarhi hai, how unlucky! Schooling b Christian school me ki isney St paul's. iss school ko band krwana chahia... Mrs grace paljor principl of dis skool
January 14 at 10:39 pm

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The 16-year-old girl, who was threatened and abused was  finally forced to apologize publicly and wrote two Facebook posts explaining her position on Monday. She quickly went on to deleting these posts, but screen shots went viral on social media. Here we reproduce Zaira’s post that she called ‘open confession/apology’:

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This is an open confession/apology. I know that many people have been offended and displeased by my recent actions or by the people I have recently met.

I want to apologise to all those people who I've unintentionally hurt and I want them to know that I understand their sentiments behind it especially considering that what had happened over the past 6 months but I hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control and I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16 year old girl and I hope you treat me accordingly. I'm sorry for what I did but it was not a deliberate decision and I really hope people can forgive me.

There are few more things which are very important and I want to clear them as well. The first and foremost thing is that I am being projected as a role model for Kashmiri Youth. I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me as a role model. I'm not proud of what I'm doing and I want everyone, especially the Youth to know that there are real role models out there whether they be in this time

understand their sentiments behind it especially considering that what had happened over the past 6 months but i hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control and i hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16 year old girl and I hope you treat me accordingly. I'm sorry for what I did but it was not a deliberate decision and i really hope people can forgive me.

There are few more things which are very important and I want to clear them as well. The first and foremost thing is that I am being projected as a role model for Kashmiri Youth. I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me as a role model. I'm not proud of what I'm doing and I want everyone, especially the Youth to know that there are real role models out there whether they be in this time or in our history.

To even consider me as a role model would be disgracing them and their disgrace would be OUR DISGRACE! I do not wish to start an argument here, this was a just a mere confession from my end which I really wanted people to know. May Allah bless us and guide us.
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The reactions on Social Media started pouring in. Sunanda Vashisht, who also hails from Kashmir and often writes about tragedy of Kashmir, was pained to hear this and expressed her anguish in following tweets.

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Sunanda Vashisht  ‏ @sunandavashisht  
Really unfortunate that #ZairaWasim is being trolled for meeting the Chief Minister of her state. Jihadism has consumed the state completely

Shwetank  ‏ @shwetankbhushan
@sunandavashisht She was not trolled, but ABUSED and also threatened for working in Dangal. Yes, Jihadism has consumed the state totally
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Sunanda Vashisht  ‏ @sunandavashisht 
Cinema Halls and beauty parlors were the first to be gutted. Even now there are no cinema halls in Kashmir. When did Bollywood protest that

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Sunanda Vashisht  ‏ @sunandavashisht 
Great opportunity for film fraternity to stand up and condemn those who abuse poor #ZairaWasim. Unequivocally and courageously

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There were many more  on Social Media asking the Bollywood to assert themselves and stand in support of the minor girl from their fraternity. Some also tagged some vocal celebrities while making their request to condemn this targeted abuse by fundamentalist Islamists. That was followed by this:

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Aashish Chandorkar  ‏ @c_aashish  Jan 16
Excellent set of tweets by Bollywood and media celebrities supporting Zaira Wasim.

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No. The result was not zero. Ace actor Anupam Kher responded with this tweet.

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Anupam Kher @AnupamPkher
Dear @zairawasim! Ur apology letter is sad but full of courage. It exposes d cowardice of people who made u write it. But u r my #RoleModel.

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Anurag Kashyap also responded. Not by condemning the abusers, but condemning the Social Media user who tagged him requesting a condemnation. With his unique sense of idiocy Anurag Kashyap seems to have embarrassed himself & Bollywood once again.

Before Social Media could recover from the shock of Anurag Kashyap’s response, The Aamir Khan himself posted a ‘public statement’ appealing people to leave her alone and respect the fact that she is just 16-year-old. Here we reproduce that statement :

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I have read Zaira’s statement and I can understand and imagine what lead her to make that statement.
Zaira, I want you to know that we are all with you. The beauty is that bright, young, talented hardworking, respectful, caring and courageous kids like you are a role model for all kids, not only in India but across the world. You certainly are a role model for me! May god bless you. Love Aamir.

P.S.: I appeal to everyone now to leave her alone and respect the fact that she is just a 16-year-old girl trying her best to deal with life.

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Any sane mind would in such situation think that Zaira needed support of the masses against the fringe extremists of Kashmir. Instead of asking people to speak up and stand by her side, why is Aamir asking people to leave Zaira alone? The following tweet speaks my mind too.

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Ankur Singh @iAnkurSingh
"Respect that She's 16 & leave her alone"
"Trying her best"

Looks like asking for Forgiveness for the Wrong she did
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The Social Media responded in different moods. Some came with satire:

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Divya @divya_16_
Hard hitting attack at Islamofascists

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Napur @UnSubtleDesi
"Intolerance" has left the building

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pracchannAstrin @WordOfTheFree
Not a single word about the Godzilla sized elephant in the room.

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Rahul Roushan  ‏ @rahulroushan 
हिन्दुत्व के विरोध में साहस रूपी कपूर असहिष्षुता रूपी पैकेट में दनादन बिक रहा था। कश्मीर में पैकेट फटा, इस्लाम की हवा लगी,कपूर उड़ गया।

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Some were angry, and naturally so:

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IndiaSpeaks @IndiaSpeaksPR
When it comes to mentioning Islamic fundamentalism, no amount of rapid muscle building seems to be helpful Cowards.

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Shefali Vaidya  ‏ @ShefVaidya  Jan 16
Follow @aamir_khan 4 some original, gold standard hypocrisy and ISO certified cowardice! Not ONE word against abusive Islamists! Well done!

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Sickcular Fiberal @SickularLibtard
BREAKING: Acc to Aamir Khan Phrases like Bigots, Fanatics, Radicals, Intolerance don't exist whn incident has MoMins. They r nly Hindutva Govt

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Oldtimer @auldtimer
. @ShefVaidya Shri @aamir_khan is also a role model. Not in the dept od fighting intolerance. But in hypocrisy, doublespeak & petty politics

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Few rubbed the Right Wingers too… but without leaving logic at home.

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Divya @divya_16_
And RW supported Dangal becauses apparently Aamir Khan was standing for womens emancipation and Beti Bachao! Lol

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Some came with clarifying the response:

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Overtly Covert  ‏ @bwoyblunder  Jan 16
The Aamir Khan who gave us a satire on religion has not even one word for religious fundamentalists who attacked Zaira Wasim

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Overtly Covert  ‏ @bwoyblunder 
Most of what Aamir said  could have been whatsapped to Zaira Wasim. A public statement was needed for those who he cannot contact directly

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Greeshma  ‏ @opsimath6
Bollywood gives faltu gyaan &unsolicited advice on politics Economics ,defence etc but when it comes to supporting 1of their own hv gone MIA
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Needless to say, Aamir’s response was lame, full of hypocrisy and opportunistic and seems to be issued under public pressure. He tried to garner public sympathy at the cost of mental torture of a young, vibrant Muslim girl pursuing her dreams from Kashmir. Asking people to leave Zaira alone while she is being abused and intimidated in her state, is nothing but cowardice.