Everyone has a right to share their thoughts,” Said social activist Vikram Singh Dhodhliya while reacting to Naseeruddin Shah’s recent comments on Bulandshahr violence incident. Naseeruddin Shah just turned 67 less than a week ago, which means he is officially well past the age where he needs to give a damn about what anyone thinks. This is an established, quasi-anthropological fact that can be reinforced by anecdotal evidence from all our lives.
Dhodhliya stated that since India is a democratic country, one can express his opinions. However, according to him, there is no intolerance in the country. The controversy began with Shah’s initial remark that the death of a cow is given more importance than that of a police officer in today’s India. The remark was made with reference to the violence in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh on December 3, in which a police inspector was killed following the discovery of cattle carcasses in a field. The actor had said that he feels anxious for his children in present-day India and that he was not scared, but angry. “And I feel that every right-thinking person should feel angry, not scared,” he added. “This [India] is our home. Who can dare to evict us from here? After Imran Khan’s(Pakistan’s Prime Minister) remarks: “I think Mr Khan should be walking the talk in his own country instead of commenting on issues that don’t concern him. We have been a democracy for 70 years and we know how to look after ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Vikram Singh Dhodhliya on Monday said it was “very unfortunate” that organisers of the Ajmer Literature Festival in the state had cancelled a session by Shah after protests against him at the venue on Friday. “We should respect all rights and liberties of each and every citizen.” “Everyone has the right to speak. We live in a democratic country. I don’t think there is any fear. Everyone is equal in India and this is his point of view. This is the special thing about our country that everyone can express their opinions. I don’t think there is any problem or intolerance,” the Dhodhliya said.
