Why I am being termed traitor? Naseeruddin Shah reacts to outrage about his 'poison spread' remarks

Actor Naseeruddin Shah has now reacted to massive outrage following his 'poison spread' remarks which has attracted angry comments from many netizens and commentators. Shah reacted to the outrage saying, "What I said earlier was as a worried Indian. What did I say this time that I am being termed as a traitor? I am expressing concerns about the country I love, the country that is my home. How is that a crime?"

On Friday, the actor had to abandaon his plans of attending the Ajmer literatiure festival after facing massive protests on the way. The poster of the lit-fest were torn apart by groups who took offence to his statement. 

He had sparked outtrage saying, that he is worried for his children in today’s India and imagines a situation where they would be surrounded by an angry mob and asked: “Are you Hindu or Muslim?"He said: “My children will have no answer. Because we chose not to give a religious education to our children."

In a video message posted on YouTube by Karwan-e-Mohabbat India that ‘poison had been spread’ and that it will be ‘difficult to capture this genie back into the bottle’.He said, referring to the recent Bulandshahr violence: “There is complete impunity for those who take the law into their own hands. We have already witnessed that the death of a cow has more significance [in today's India] than that of a police officer."

His comments were put online by Karwan-e-Mohabbat (Caravan of Love), a collective that claims to focus on highlight and combat instances of hate crimes and lynching.

Naseeruddin Shah's comments were put online by Karwan-e-Mohabbat India (Caravan of Love), a travelling activist collective that is focussed on highlight and combating instances of hate crimes and lynching.

He added: “I was given a religious education...But Ratna [Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin's wife] did not get any religious education...[And] we chose not to give a religious education to our children.”

Nasiruddin Shah should first ask Rohingyas to leave Hindustan as according to him India is unsafe for him and his family! An artist should not be part of sinister design of anti cil society propaganda . His statement shows his low thinking.

— Prof Rakesh Sinha (@RakeshSinha01) December 20, 2018

He said he believed ‘good and evil have nothing to do with religion’ and said: “So I fear for my children...Because if a mob gathers around them and asks them are you a Hindu or Muslim, they will not have any answer...Because they have no religion. I am angry and I believe every right-thinking man must be angry and must not fear."

Reacting, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha wrote: “Nasiruddin Shah [sic] should first ask Rohingyas to leave Hindustan as according to him India is unsafe for him and his family," Sinha said in a tweet before suggesting that Shah was becoming part of a "sinister design of anti cil [civil] society propaganda. His statement shows his low thinking.”

Reacting, former FTII chief Gajendra Chauhan rubbished Shah’s claims. Former FTII chief Gajendra Chauhan rubbishes Naseeruddin Shah's claims of intolerance in India. Chauhan said, "Naseer ji serves this nation with the help of his talent. He should be devoted to this country. He is making a mistake when he talks of intolerance and fear in one of the safest countries." (sic)

Talking about Bulandshahr incident, Chauhan said that it's wrong of Naseeruddin Shah to talk about in judicial case. Authorities are yet to finish investigation. He should wait for them to finish and then voice his opinion."