Naseeruddin Shah backs Jamia students, calls himself Dimagi Naxal

Actor Naseeruddin Shah has called himself a proud “Dimagi Naxal” in a Facebook video, criticizing the government’s treatment of students and educational institutions and voicing support for Jamia Millia Islamia students protesting for restoration of their elected union. Shah questioned the government’s handling of demonstrations and said he was concerned about the state of education and democracy. He referred to labels including “anti-national” and “tukde-tukde gang,” which he said had been used for people like him, and turned the latter accusation against the government. Those assertions were Shah’s political allegations; the reports of his remarks do not independently establish them. He linked the Jamia protests to earlier student disputes at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Shah said the treatment of students would be remembered and argued that the confidence of young people and the country’s educational institutions should not be undermined. His comments were contained in a video shared on Facebook, the common basis for reports of his statements. Jamia students are seeking the restoration of the elected student union, a...