Dubai: Controversy erupted on Twitter recently after Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah remarked about the growing mob violence in India. Trolls from right-wing supporters on Friday attacked the veteran actor who later clarified his intent saying he made those comments as a “worried Indian” and that he has the right to express concerns about the country he loves.
The 68-year-old actor had earlier voiced his concerns over the growing mob violence in a video interview with Karwan-e-Mohabbat India, a collaborative civil society initiative against mass violence. The organisation had shared the video on its YouTube channel on Monday.
In the video, Shah said the “poison has already spread” and it will be now difficult to contain it. He added, “the death of a cow has more significant than that of a police officer”, referring to the Bulandshahr violence where a policeman lost his life to mob fury over alleged cow slaughter.
BJP supporters and right-wing ideologists were quick to dismiss Shah’s comment saying it was politically motivated and aimed to show BJP in a negative light. Many said India ‘is safe and people of all religions are given rights and allowed to peacefully co-exist’.
Some even asked Shah to leave India, tweep @goswamihrn posted: “Dear @SushmaSwaraj ji facilitate #NaseeruddinShah with one way ticket to a peaceful neighbouring country as he doesn’t feel safe here.”
@NkuGUPTA also added: “These people should leave India if they think they are not safe.”
According to Indian newspaper the Times of India, Uttar Pradesh’s Navnirman Sena president Amit Jani called him a “traitor” and even booked a flight ticket to Karachi for the actor.
Fake news articles and edited videos about Naseeruddin Shah soon started circulating on Twitter.
Shah later clarified: “What I said earlier was as a worried Indian. I have said this earlier as well. What did I say this time that I am being called a traitor?... I am expressing concerns about the country I love, the country that is my home. How is that a crime?”
Many Indian Twitter users came out in support of Shah’s statement and pointed out that the intolerant trolls were only validating Shah’s comment.
Nirupama Rao (@NMenonRao) India’s former Foreign Secretary tweeted: “The core of what Naseeruddin Shah was saying was not so much about the fate of his children or about lives of cows versus humans but about the impunity with which the mob defies the rule-of-law. And how that’s where the greatest danger to an India united resides. Douse this.”
Journalist @PritishNandy added: “So, so tragic. India’s finest actor has to say this today. #NaseeruddinShah #BulandshahrViolence When a policeman can be killed with impunity and no one is arrested for the crime, you know that everything around you is collapsing. There is no justice.
@quizzicalguy posted: “I saw the interview of Naseeruddin Shah. Those were absolutely sensible words. We have to applaud Naseer sa’ab for calling a spade a spade and not acting like some of his other spineless Bollywood colleagues. It’s only the usual suspects from the Hindu Right who are upset.”
And @Huzaifa_Aamir wrote: “The apprehensions expressed by a celebrated actor like Naseeruddin Shah testifies the fact that our country has become intolerant over the years and impunity enjoyed by hate mongers is a matter of grave concern for all the law abiding citizens of this country. #NasruddinShah”
