Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has extended his support to students protesting at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi for the restoration of their student union, accusing the BJP-led central government of undermining educational institutions, weakening young people’s resolve and putting democracy at risk.
In a video shared on social media, Shah, 76, described himself as a proud “Dimagi Naxal”, wearing a pin bearing the phrase and holding it up to the camera. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had used the term earlier this year to refer to critics of the administration.
“I proudly declare that I am Dimagi Naxal. I don't know what other nicknames the watchmen have given to people like me, anti-national, 'tukde tukde' gang, and I don't know what else,” Shah said in Hindi.
The actor posted the video on Facebook on Wednesday, questioning the government over its handling of student protests and its response to demonstrations at educational institutions.
“I want to ask this government a question. What else will you do to break the courage of our country's youth, to destroy the education system, and to put our democracy at risk? How much will you do? How far will you go?” he said.
Shah recalls protests at JNU and SRFTI
Shah has repeatedly spoken out in support of students and their causes. Before backing the Jamia protesters, he had expressed solidarity with students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).
Referring to the protests at three educational institutions, the actor said, “First Jawaharlal Nehru University, then Satyajit Ray Film Institute, and now Jamia Millia. The atrocities that are being done on students will be remembered. Sab yaad rakha jaayega (Everything will be remembered).”
He quoted the popular poem by Aamir Aziz while speaking about the treatment of students and also recited the line “Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai” from Bismil Azimabadi’s famous poem, ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’.
In July, Shah had also criticised the government’s handling of the Cockroach Janata Party-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Jamia students demand a timeline for union elections
The actor’s intervention comes amid a prolonged stand-off between Jamia students and the university administration over the restoration of the student union.
Students have been demanding a definite date for elections, which have not been held since 2006, along with a clear timeline for approval of the union’s constitution.
As the protests entered their 15th day on Monday, the university administration agreed to one of the students’ key demands, announcing that student union elections would resume after a gap of two decades. However, the announcement failed to end the stand-off, with protesters maintaining that the administration had not provided a definite election schedule.
Police said around 700 personnel from the local police and paramilitary forces had been deployed in the area amid the demonstrations.
Kiren Rijiju hits back at the actor
Shah’s remarks also triggered a political response. Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the actor, describing him as a “dangerous urban Dimagi Naxal” after his video supporting the Jamia protesters emerged.
The exchange added to the debate surrounding Shah’s comments, which focused on the government’s handling of student demonstrations and what he described as attempts to weaken the country’s youth and educational institutions.