Rijiju calls Naseeruddin Shah 'dangerous urban naxal'
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju labeled actor Naseeruddin Shah a 'dangerous urban dimagi naxal' whose views threaten Indian democracy.
The Cliff News | 29 October 2026
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticized veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, labelling him a "dangerous urban dimagi naxal" whose pronouncements are "extremely harmful" to Indian democracy. The remarks follow actor Shah's recent video accusing the central government of attempting to dismantle the education system.
In a post on X on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the Minister for Minority Affairs stated that he had formerly held respect for Mr. Shah but had discovered his "real character" belatedly.
Actor's 'Dimagi Naxal' Declaration
The controversy ignited after Mr. Shah posted a video on Facebook on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. In it, a visibly incensed Shah expressed solidarity with students of Jamia Millia Islamia, who are protesting for the reinstatement of their students' union. He provocatively declared himself a "dimagi naxal" while criticizing the BJP-led central government for seeking to undermine the education system and crush the spirit of the nation's youth.
"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."
During the video, Mr. Shah also displayed a "dimagi naxal" pin to the camera, a term that gained prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi used it in his Independence Day address to describe individuals allegedly embedded within the system who manipulate policies to pose a threat to society.
Ministerial Condemnation
Minister Rijiju's response was sharp. "I thought Naseeruddin Shah was just an ordinary actor. I used to respect & like him... I never knew that he was a dangerous urban Dimagi Naxal," he stated. The Minister further elaborated, "I came to know about his real character very late. (His views are) extremely harmful to India's democracy."
Political Reactions
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also weighed in on Mr. Shah's statements, questioning his stance in a conversation with PTI Videos. She invoked characters from the film 'Sarfarosh', asking if Mr. Shah identified more with the protagonist ACP Rathod or the antagonist Gulfam Hassan, and whether he supported "pro-India sloganeering or anti-India." Mr. Shah famously portrayed the antagonist Gulfam Hassan in the 1999 film.
Actor's Recent Activism
The 76-year-old actor has been actively posting videos in recent times, voicing his support for student-related causes. Previously, he had voiced criticism regarding the government's handling of the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests concerning NEET exam irregularities in July. He had also publicly supported the students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute during their indefinite sit-in over campus violence.
In his latest video, Mr. Shah directly challenged the government: "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?"