Naseeruddin Shah explains why he didn’t speak up about 1984 anti-Sikh riots or Kashmiri Pandit exodus

According to a report in The Hindu, he said that no one in his family ever faced discrimination. He said that he wasn’t only for speaking for himself but for everyone. He said: “The Dalits or the farmers or the Christian community or students or anti-traditionalists or citizens from India’s North-East are no less insecure in their own country and that fact, instead of being a matter of shame for us all, invites accusations of sedition if solidarity with any of them is shown.”

Why I didn’t speak up before

He also said he hadn’t spoken up when Sikhs were massacred or Kashmiri Pandits had been forced to migrate  because he was a ‘nobody’ and added, ‘Who’d listen to an unemployed actor mouthing off?’

About the accusations that he was being paid by Congress to defame the country, he called the ‘accusations dumb’ and said:  By that reasoning I was probably paid by the Aussies to diss Virat Kohli!”

The veteran actor had Friday said that the death of a cow was being given importance over killing of a policeman in the violence.

"Naseeruddin Shah has earned his popularity due to love of common people. I have not seen religious intolerance. I, of course, see political intolerance. I think accusing India of religious intolerance is equal to degrading country's pride," Ramdev said.

Rebuffing allegations that intolerance was rising in the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said there was no nation in the world as tolerant as India.

Singh, who was here to attend the 114th foundation day of King George's Medical University, told reporters: "The tolerance that exists in India, I don't think that it can be found in any corner of the world." "India is the only country in the world where people from various prominent religions co-exist peacefully... They have contributed in making India empowered, self-reliant and prosperous and will continue to do so," he added.

Rajnath's statement assumes significance in the wake of actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks in reference to the killing of a policeman in Bulandshahr earlier this month.

Amid a controversy over Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Saturday said the veteran actor's children need not feel scared as tolerance was in the DNA of the country.

Naqvi, while referring to Shah's remarks, also said a mountain was being made out of a molehill.
 

"I think his emotions may have been right, but his words were probably misconstrued and a mountain out of a molehill was made. India is a tolerant country. Tolerance and harmony are in the DNA of the country and despite any circumstances, nobody succeeded in destroying the strong legacy," Naqvi told PTI during his visit to the city.

"There is no need for his (Shah's) children to be scared. The country is moving ahead on the basis of the Constitution and in a democratic country, there is no need to fear anybody," the Minority Affairs Minister added.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he will "show" the Narendra Modi government "how to treat minorities", amidst a controversy over Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence in India.

Reacting, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi reiterated that India didn’t need to learn about ‘inclusiveness’ from Pakistan. He wrote:“According to the Pakistani Constitution, only a Muslim is qualified to be President. India has seen multiple Presidents from oppressed communities. It's high time Khan sahab learns something from us about inclusive politics & minority rights.”

How much more freedom do you need in a country,? actor Anupam Kher asked Naseeruddin Shah over his recent remark on Bulandshahr violence.
Speaking to ANI, Kher said, "There is so much freedom in the country that you can abuse the army, badmouth the air chief and pelt stones at the soldiers. How much more freedom do you need in a country?"

Kher also stated that what Shah said was his personal view and not the truth.