The secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion defended the Centre’s decision to replace Aamir Khan as the face of the Incredible India campaign. Speaking as the chief guest of the convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Design, Amitabh Kant said the actor’s remarks on intolerance had damaged the brand identity of the country, The Times of India reported.

Kant, who played a key role in the campaign, said, “People will come to India and tourist flow will increase only if the brand ambassador of Incredible India promotes India as incredible India. But if he says India is intolerant, he is surely not working as a brand ambassador of India.” In addition, he tweeted on Tuesday that running down a brand was akin to damaging it.

Earlier, the government had refuted rumours that Khan was dropped from the initiative because of his statements on intolerance in India. It clarified that his contract as the brand ambassador of Incredible India had expired.