After being replaced as the brand ambassador of the Incredible India tourism campaign, actor Aamir Khan has now been dropped from the government's road safety drive as well, The Telegraph reported. Khan was reportedly brought on board in December 2014 at the behest of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, after he watched an episode of the actor's television show Satyamev Jayate, titled “Road Accidents or Murders?”.
According to an official working in Gadkari’s office, Khan had agreed to feature in television and print ads for the campaign free of cost. While sessions with the chosen ad production house were rescheduled several times due to his prior engagements, Khan courted controversy with his statements on intolerance in India.
According to Vijay Chhibber, the former road transport secretary who retired last December, the ministry had been “very enthusiastic” when Khan agreed to be part of the project. However, after the actor made the intolerance remarks, “it became clear this association would not continue, and we would have to look for some other celebrity for the project”, he said.
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