Rajasthan minister blames Aamir for sensationalising female foeticide

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A Rajasthan minister has hit out at Bollywood star Aamir Khan for sensationalising female foeticide cases in the state, saying the government was already working on the issue before the actor's campaign.

Minister of State for Health, Rajkumar Sharma said that it was not right on the part of Aamir to highlight Rajasthan as the only state where the cases of female foeticide are rampant.

"There was an impression that the government has swung into action after Aamir Khan's campaign but to clarify, I would like to highlight that the government is already working for the same. Budget announcements to check foeticide are there and several other steps are being taken," Sharma said.

"The government took up the issue much before Aamir Khan's programme. It is not because of him that the government is working against female foeticide."
Sharma said that the actor needs to work on ground level to prove his commitment to the issue.

"He (Aamir) himself has said that he is an entertainer and cannot work longer on one topic, that simply means what he is doing is for monetary gains. If he really wants to work on this issue then I welcome him to work here on ground," Sharma said.

"He charges three crores per episode. You must know this," the minister was heard telling the audience.

Khan took up the issue in the first episode of his TV show Satyamev Jayate aired on May 6 and also met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to request him to form a fast track court to expedite cases related to the issue.