Image Source: twitter/yogi_adityanath
After Kailash Vijayvargiya called Shah Rukh Khan anti-nationalist, yesterday senior MP Yogi Adityanath compared him to Hafiz Saeed, the man who orchestrated the gruesome 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. Should politicians speak like this?
Shah Rukh Khan, for me, is not a reel life hero but a real life hero. That man has infused a new vigour into the core values of this country, which is to celebrate the right to free speech and thought. The freedom of fearless expression in a pluralistic society made our country the mother of civilisations. It is very sad that a swami who wears saffron and is supposed to be a symbol of the heritage which India proudly flaunts to the world, should compare a celebrated global icon of this country to a dreaded terrorist. And why? Just because he said that any kind of religious extremism is the worst kind of extremism in a society?
Shah Rukh is being targetted by a political outfit whose leadership does not do anything to reprimand the person in question to instill confidence in the people. This is tantamount to sowing seeds of fear and giving rise to a frightened society, which can foster to become a violent one. Fear is the most dangerous emotion.
What fear are you talking about?
There is a growing fear today that if you express your thoughts fearlessly and if they don't go down well with the Right Wing, you will invite their wrath and find yourself at the receiving end. We need to shake away the politics of silence.
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Are you referring to the Prime Minister?
I am referring to the silence of not only the political class that is leading India but also my own fraternity. The film industry should speak up. Okay, don't speak for Shah Rukh--- but speak for yourself. Today, it is your most iconic member, tomorrow it could be your turn to get intimidated in your own country. I wouldn't dare to advise how the Prime Minister should function. But there is a need to knock at his door and ask him that what is he going to do about the man who has intimidated one of our icons? How is he going to correct him? If he is going to get away sir, you will only be sending out wrong signals to the frightened people of this country who are waiting to hear from you (pauses).
Please continue...
Let me tell you that I can see that there are signals within the BJP that some of their members are distancing themselves from such statements. But...
But what?
But there is a growing apprehension as well, that it's a bad cop-good cop attitude being played out. One party member speaks obnoxiously, the other one goes silent.
I can hear a big hue and cry across the country now. A man like Shah Rukh who expresses his thoughts bravely should be protected by the Constitution and not a political party.
The film fraternity is quiet on this...
On the SRK controversy? Certainly not. Anupam Kher lashed out yesterday, didn't he? I reiterate that the industry has gone silent, it is engulfed by fear psychosis. But don't blame them. They are not comfortable at the receiving end.
Do such controversies tarnish the face of India?
No, India is too big a country. We have gone through many painful political scenarios in the past. Intolerance did not stem two years ago. You might be alarmed by the hostility towards a minority, but we have not been blissed since a long time now. In fact, we have been violent since quite some time.
We need to learn to co-exist. There is a tendency in us to behave immaturely if and when we disagree. Anyway, I think we have gone through many highs and lows, and this too shall pass.
The first thought that came to your mind when Shah Rukh was spoken about in such a manner?
It will be a tragedy if the world's largest entertainment tribe loses its right to question the politics of time. We are a thinking fraternity. We can't be reduced to providing only brainless entertainment.
Image Source: blogindia
You interact with Muslims, you have often spoken for them. How do they feel in India today?
There is growing fear in them. Ditto in Christians. It's so palpable.
So what's the solution to curb intolerance?
Speaking up against it is one of the ways. But we need to walk our talk. We need to implement it. The time has come for the leadership at the steering wheel to take that turn, which will decide the course and future of our nation.
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