React legally against someone who utters something legally
The intimidatory power of the mob made the Ajmer Literature Festival abruptly cancel veteran actor Naseeruddin
Shah’s keynote address after he spoke about the dangerous amount of power that
mobs wield in India. He spoke of the growing insecurity over being targeted by
vigilante groups. “There is complete
impunity for those who take law into their own hands,” said Mr. Shah. “I feel
anxious thinking about my children.”
Even an expression of anxiety is twisted out of context and portrayed as
disloyalty to the nation. That a mere
expression of anxiety about lawlessness and vigilantism could be fraught with
such repercussions is deplorable in a democracy. Three years ago, another
actor, Aamir Khan, was hounded for expressing alarm about growing intolerance;
Governments have often given in to the mob’s diktats. Ultimately, it is
the responsibility of those in power to support those who feel threatened for
their views and to come down hard on those who attempt to silence them with
intimidation and threats.
Every individual has the right to express his opinion in a democratic
country. But when a celebrity expresses his opinion there will be reaction from
people for and against his view. But while opinions can be expressed no abuse of individual is acceptable.
The main reason for the commotion is due to media playing up the issue for the
benefit of TRP or similar thing. If media just reports if at all and ignore the
remark as individual's view it is good. Taking the same as a subject for
discussion is not desirable. Few persons may have extreme views and that is not
the country's opinion. Politicising every issue must be stopped for the good of
the country.
The pre-election "fears" and "intolerance" debates
are ignited once again, and likely to continue till the general elections. The
leftist press will keep the embers aflame till then. India, in which majority
of population follow Hinduism, is the most tolerant society and state. Any
opinion contrary to this is highly mischievous. And that is what Naseeruddin
Shah has indulged in.
The fact is people of various Muslim denomination like Sunnis, Shias,
Bohras, Ismailies, Ahmedias etc live peacefully in India, which is a Hindu
majority country. Can Naseeruddin Shah name one Muslim majority country in the
world where all denomination of Muslims feel safe, let alone people of other
religion like Hindus.
If Shah has a right to his views so are others who criticise him. Hence
do not indulge in this kind of pamphleteering. The atmosphere of intolerance
and chaos is now the normal in our so called secular country. India has been a
mixing pot of diverse cultures and customs but nowadays it is being regularly
threatened by some jingoists. We became a sovereign country but not definitely
democratic. Words in our preamble of the constitution have become powerless in
the hands of some extreme right wing groups. A person cannot even say about the
situation of our country, it is horrible. The central government should look
into the matter seriously.
Naseeruddin Shah has every right to express his opinion about anything
but as an important public figure he also have a moral responsibility to quote
things which should not draw public ire. He expressed what he felt but that may
not to be necessarily true. Moreover some incidents should not be generalized
to fix the sentiments of the nation. His intention might not be wrong but the
choice of words surely is.
Lynching, vigilantism, etc. deserved to be condemned outright; such
people should never feel that they can indulge in such acts and get away with
it. But there can be no denying that Hindus have been on the receiving end ever
since independence: their religious customs & rights are constantly
interfered with, their temples are taken over by the government, their
population is converted by hyper proselytism that is funded by astronomical
sums of the breaking India forces.
Some years ago, when Shri Ashok Chavan was CM of Maharashtra, there was a
threat from similar forces against the release of an SRK film. The police were
instructed to hold firm and the CM watched the film himself. That was the end
of the matter. It would have been a fine gesture if CM Gahlot had graced the
Ajmer literary festival and shared the dais with Naseeruddin Shah.
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