PM Modi Must Intervene to ‘Stop This Poison from Spreading,’ Says Naseeruddin Shah

*Paromita Das

In the midst of global condemnation of BJP leaders’ remarks about Prophet Mohammad, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah said on Wednesday that he hopes good sense prevails and the ‘hate wave’ against Muslims subsides, even if it does not happen in his lifetime.

In an interview with a news channel, the multiple National Award winner also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to “stop this poison from spreading.”

‘I would appeal to him (the PM) to instil some sense in these people.’ If he believes what was said at the Rishikesh ‘Dharma Sansad,’ he should say so. If he doesn’t, he should say so,’ he added.
The BJP suspended national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal on Sunday following their controversial remarks about the Prophet.

In response to Muslim groups’ protests over the remarks, the party issued a statement aimed at assuaging minorities’ concerns and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly condemns insulting any religious personality.

The divisive remarks sparked a Twitter trend in the Arab world calling for a boycott of Indian goods.

‘What the Indian government did was insufficient and came too late.’ It took them a week before they even opened their mouths and condemned such statements.
‘These kinds of statements, which we hope to include in ‘Akhand Bharat’ someday, would result in a death sentence in a country like Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan because they would be considered blasphemous. ‘There was no sound from the top, no acknowledgement of the pain caused to millions of believers’.

Sharma issued an apology following her suspension from the ruling party, which the actor called ‘insincere.’

‘It’s not meant to soothe hurt feelings. Such hate speech would not surprise me if it occurred again. It’s ironic that you talk about peace and unity and then end up in jail for more than a year. You mention genocide, and you get slapped on the wrist.
There are two sets of rules at work here. It’s reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984.’

Shah stated that Sharma was not a “fringe element,” as the BJP claimed.

He also claimed that it was “high time” for rational Hindus to speak out against anti-Muslim sentiment.

Shah stated that he holds ‘complete responsibility’ for the ‘propagation of hate’ on TV news channels and social media.

‘It’s fabricated hatred.’ It’s the kind of venom that starts spewing when you’re confronted with someone who disagrees with you… ‘I wonder how long it will be before Shivlings are searched under every church,’ Shah said, referring to the ongoing investigation into the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. He did, however, condemn the death threats made against Sharma and her family, who are now under the protection of the Delhi Police.

‘This path (threats) is incorrect. That is why Pakistan and Afghanistan are in such disarray. We don’t want to be like these countries, but we’re doing it anyway. People are being lynched not just for slaughtering a cow, but also on suspicion of slaughtering a cow; untouchables who were skinning a dead cow are publicly whipped. This is not something that used to happen in India, but rather in barbaric Islamic countries.’

When asked if the Khans – prominent Bollywood actors such as Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir – could open up about their feelings today, Shah said he couldn’t speak for them.
‘They’d be taking too many risks, but I’m not sure how they’d explain it to their conscience.’ I believe they have far too much to lose.’

He also praised Shah Rukh, his co-star in several films including Chamatkar and Chaahat, for handling media scrutiny with grace last year when his son Aryan was wrongfully arrested in connection with a drug case.

Sonu Sood was also raided instead of being recognized for all of his efforts during the lockdown.

When asked about the film industry’s cozying up to the government, Shah stated that they want to be on the winning side. ‘It appears that the BJP will remain on top for the time being. It’s not new…’

The Kashmir Files, he says, is a “almost fictionalised version of the suffering of Kashmiri Hindus,” and the government is promoting it instead of ensuring the community’s security and rehabilitation.

‘It’s propaganda, and people are willing participants.’ I’m afraid there will be more of these phony patriotic films in the future.’

Shah also stated that he does not feel marginalised as a Muslim in India because he comes from a position of privilege as an actor with social capital.

‘I’m not dissatisfied or unhappy in the country.’ This is the country I was raised in, taught to love, the country I’ve been told I belong to, and the country I feel I belong to. I’m fortunate to be in a position where I cannot be marginalised.

‘I’m still getting work; my anti-establishment remarks haven’t resulted in me being blacklisted.’ I just hope that common sense prevails, but I’m not optimistic that will happen anytime soon. This hate wave will eventually pass. It might not happen in my lifetime, but it will pass.’