Actor Naseeruddin Shah's "I fear for my children in India," remark has irked ministers and fringe groups across political lines. While Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Prakash Javadekar condemned Shah’s comment, UP’s Navnirman Sena booked Shah's ticket to Karachi.
No Question of Intolerance in India: Rajnath Singh
Commenting on Shah’s remark, Singh said that there’s “no question” of intolerance in India and that India is the most tolerant country, reported PTI.
He said "The tolerance that exists in India, I don't think can be found in any corner of the world."
“India is the only country where people of all religions live together peacefully. There are 72 sects in Islam, all of them are found here, not even the Islamic countries have all. There’s no question of intolerance in the country,” the union minister said.
This comes after Shah on Monday, 17 December, in an interview to Karwan-e- Mohabbat, had talked about lynching and hate crimes in India referring to Bulandshahr violence.
Shah had said that death of the cow is given more importance than killing of policemen referring to the Bulandshahr mob violence. He also said that he is anxious over the well-being of his children.
“I feel anxious for my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks, ‘Are you a Hindu or a Muslim,’ they will have no answer. It worries me that I don’t see the situation improving anytime soon.”Naseeruddin Shah said in his interview to Karwan-e-mohabbat.
Sign of Insecure Mentality: Prakash Javdekar
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, too, condemned Shah’s remark.
“If anyone feels unsafe in the safest nation then it's a sign of insecure mentality. Everyone gets the chance to put forth their views & express their art in this country. Therefore, such accusation is not correct,” said Javadekar.
Uttar Pradesh's Navnirman Sena President Amit Jani booked Shah's ticket to Karachi, Pakistan.
Jani booked his ticket for 14 August, Pakistan's Independence Day so that "India has one less traitor," after Shah had commented on the recent Bulandshahr incident, The Times of India reported.
“If Naseeruddin Shah is scared in India, he should not delay in leaving for Pakistan. I have booked a ticket for him for August 14, the Pakistan Independence Day, so that India has one less traitor.”Amit Jani, President, Navnirman Sena, told The Times of India.
According to the The Times of India, hinting on the BJP MLC's claim of Hanuman being a Muslim, the Navnirman Sen president said, "But if Shah does not want to go to Pakistan, he should read Hanuman Chalisa, because after all BJP MLC Bukkal Nawab has said that Hanuman is Muslim."
Shah’s comments were met with backlash to which, on Friday, 21 December, he said that he stands by his statements and he just expressed concern about his country.
“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?”Naseeruddin Shah
(With inputs from PTI and The Times of India.)
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