On receiving threats to kill Nupur Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah said that it should be condemned.
New Delhi:
Amid a massive international blow to India over BJP leader’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should step up and “stop the poison”.
Naseeruddin Shah told NDTV, “I would appeal to the PM to instill some good understanding in these people. If he believes what has been said in the (Haridwar) Dharma Sansad, he should say so and if not, then They should say so.” in an interview.
“I want the haters who are followed on Twitter by the PM…they have to do something. They need to take steps to stop the poison from spreading.”
BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was suspended by the party 10 days ago over her remarks on the Prophet during a TV debate that drew fierce reaction and official protests from at least 15 countries including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi . Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Jordan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Maldives, Libya and Indonesia.
Another BJP leader Naveen Jindal was expelled for his post on Prophet Muhammad.
Nupur Sharma claimed that she was reacting to the “constant insult and disrespect towards our Mahadev (Lord Shiva)” and withdrew her statement.
The government attempted to quell the anger, saying the comments reflected the views of “vulgar elements”.
Naseeruddin Shah said, “Women are not a minor element. She is a national spokesperson.”
The 71-year-old actor referred to Nupur Sharma’s remarks on insulting Hindu deities and said that he does not remember any instance when a Muslim has made such a provocative statement on a Hindu deity.
“It was an insidious apology, hardly to pacify hurt feelings. You talk of peace and unity and you are sent to jail for a year. You talk of genocide, you talk of a slap on the wrist. There are double standards at work here,” he said in reference to George Orwell’s 1984.
On receiving threats to kill Nupur Sharma, he said that it should be condemned.
He said, “It is wrong to even think so. That’s why Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the position they are in. We don’t want to emulate these countries, but we are doing it somehow. People are killed on suspicion of killing a cow,” he said. go.” These things happened in barbaric Islamic countries – not in India.”
The actor said that he also blamed news channels for the hate speech.
“Hate is created and it is a poison that is spewed when you face an opposing viewpoint. TV news and social media are responsible for this,” he said.
The famous actor agreed that it had been in the making for years. “The fault is my parents’ generation. Jokes were made about you being an H or an M. Even though our parents didn’t hate it, they experienced a split and it went on for a long time and Now gradually it has been legalised,” he said.
Asked if he thinks the Khans of Bollywood should have spoken on the current controversy, Shah said: “I am not in the position they are in. But I think they are in a position where they have to lose. There’s a lot to do. I think they think they’re going to be taking too much risk.”
He referred to the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and his subsequent acquittal by the investigating agency.
“What happened to Shah Rukh Khan and the dignity with which he faced it was commendable. It was nothing but a witchcraft. He only supported Trinamool and praised Mamata Banerjee. Sonu Sood would have been raided. A reaction to whoever makes the statement. Maybe I’m next. I don’t know. (laughs) They won’t get anything though.”
Mr Shah said that despite everything, he did not feel marginalized or otherwise.
“I am in a luckier position than the majority of Muslims in India who feel threatened or marginalised. I do not feel marginalized. I do not feel sad in this country. This is the country in which I was raised and I’m lucky. A situation where I can’t be marginalized. It’s not that my anti-establishment statements have stopped me from working. I just hope that somehow good sense prevails. Personally, I I do not feel isolated. I am aware of my Muslim identity and my Muslim culture. My wife is a Hindu and we do not hold back. This wave of hatred will end. Someday.”