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Veteran actor of Indian cinema Naseeruddin Shah And once again a war of words has broken out in the country’s politics. Union Minister on a recent statement given by actor Naseeruddin Shah, who is often in the headlines for his outspoken and sharp comments. Kiren Rijiju Has launched a very strong and aggressive counterattack. The actor had released a video proudly calling himself a ‘mindful Naxal’ and supporting the university students, reacting to which Kiren Rijiju has termed him a ‘dangerous urban Naxal’ and ‘harmful to the country’s democracy’. This sharp political and ideological conflict has brought a new earthquake in the corridors of the country. Let us know in detail how this entire controversy started and what sharp statements have come out from both the sides.
Kiren Rijiju’s strong attack on Naseeruddin Shah’s ‘mindless Naxal’ video
The controversy started when 76-year-old actor Naseeruddin Shah released a video message on social media platform Facebook. In this video, he was seen speaking vocally in support of the students of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University who are continuously protesting demanding the restoration of their student union.
In the video, Naseeruddin Shah was wearing a badge with ‘Mental Naxal’ written on his chest and his attitude looked very sharp. During the video, he fiercely targeted the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Center and sarcastically said, “I say this with great pride that I am a brainy Naxal. I don’t know how many more people like me have been named by these people in power as anti-national, Tukde Tukde gang and what not.” His statement created heat in the political atmosphere of the country.
“It took me too long to understand his true character” – Kiren Rijiju
Taking a strong stance on this video and his statements of Naseeruddin Shah, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared several sharp posts one after the other on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Attacking the actor, Kiren Rijiju said that he deeply regrets that he considered Naseeruddin Shah an ordinary and respectable actor for so many years, but he has now understood his real and destructive character.
The Union Minister wrote in his post, “I really respected Naseeruddin Shah and liked him as a great artiste, thinking that he was just a normal actor away from politics. But I had no idea that he is a dangerous urban Naxal and an intellectual who hollows out the system from within. It took me too late to understand his real and dangerous character.” Rijiju further said in strong words that such ideas are proving to be extremely harmful for the democratic structure and constitutional system of the country.
What is the political history and background of the term ‘mindful Naxal’?
The use of the words ‘mental Naxal’ or ‘urban Naxal’ is much discussed in political circles these days. For information, let us tell you that this terminology was first used on the political platform by the Prime Minister of the country. Narendra Modi Did this during one of his speeches.
Later the ruling party and other NDA leaders used the term to target those intellectuals, thinkers and activists who allegedly support extremist or Maoist ideology despite being highly educated and holding prestigious positions in the society. The government’s stand has been that such people use their higher education and influence to weaken the democratic institutions of the country and spread anarchy. Naseeruddin Shah proudly calling himself a ‘mindful Naxal’ has once again brought this ideological debate on the national stage.
Naseeruddin Shah raised questions on the intentions of the government and the rights of the youth.
In that viral video, Naseeruddin Shah had raised sharp questions on the administrative methods and government attitude in dealing with the ongoing protests in university campuses across the country. He expressed concern about the youth of the country and the future of public educational institutions.
Taking on the government, Naseer said in the video, “I want to ask a direct question to this government, what else will you do to break the morale of the young students of our country, completely ruin our education system and put our democracy in danger? How far will you go in your stubbornness?” He said that students are raising their voice for their democratic rights and restoration of student union, but efforts are being made to suppress their voice, which should be opposed.
Intensified debate on political and ideological polarization
This debate between Naseeruddin Shah and Kiren Rijiju has once again refreshed the old debate of ‘artist vs government’ and ‘freedom of thought vs national security’ in the country.
On one hand, the actor’s supporters and opposition parties believe that suppressing the voice of dissent in the country is dangerous for democracy and every citizen has the fundamental right to express his views, while on the other hand, the ruling party and its leaders have a strong stance that elements who harm the country’s system under the guise of creative freedom should not be spared. As university elections and political activities intensify in the coming days, there are full chances of this ideological conflict becoming more vocal.