The Modi government cleared the air on the removal of Hindi film actor Aamir Khan as the brand ambassador of "Incredible India" campaign.

Its earlier statement on the controversy was ambivalent, giving rise to speculation that he may still be the face of the campaign.

"In response to certain news reports appearing in the media, about Shri. Aamir Khan, the Ministry of Tourism clarifies that there is no change in the stand of the ministry in this matter. The Ministry further clarifies that at present it has a contractual agreement with creative agency Mc Cann Worldwide to produce social awareness campaign and the said campaign featured Shri. Aamir Khan," the union tourism ministry said.

But union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma clarified that since the actor's contract with the ad agency has ended, he automatically ceases to be "Incredible India" brand ambassador.

"Our contract was with the McCann Worldwide agency for 'Atithi Devo Bhava' campaign. The agency had hired Aamir for the job. Now the contract with the agency is over. Ministry has not hired Aamir. "Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists," he said, reported Hindustan Times. 

Earlier, an English news channel has claimed that Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has been removed as the brand ambassador of union tourism ministry's "Incredible India" campaign.

The Bollywood actor courted controversy over his "intolerance" comment made during an interaction with a newspaper's programme in New Delhi, leading to massive protests on social media.

It also sparked anger among some people who threatened to uninstall the Snapdeal app and not shop on the online marketplace unless Aamir Khan was removed as its brand ambassador.

Snapdeal was forced to distance itself from his comment a day later.

RTI query reveals, @aamir_khan removed as brand ambassador of #IncredibleIndia. Aamir no more India's brand envoy.

— NewsX (@NewsX) January 6, 2016

Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP's national IT and SM vibhag (division), also confirmed it.

Aamir Khan's comment was followed by another Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who also spoke about "extreme intolerance" in India, only to receive flak from BJP supporters.

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