Amnesty International and Naseeruddin Shah have released a video calling out authorities for their crackdown on activists, and have reiterated the values enshrined in our constitution. The video is called #AbkiBaarManavAdhikaar.
In 2018, India witnessed a massive crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights defenders. Let's stand up for our constitutional values this new year and tell the Indian government that its crackdown must end now. #AbkiBaarManavAdhikaar pic.twitter.com/e7YSIyLAfm
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) January 4, 2019
Through the video, Naseeruddin Shah says that the core value of our constitution is to ensure social, economic and political justice for the people of the country.
He says those who fight for this cause, including scholars, journalists, poets, actors and artists, are being locked away to dissuade them from doing the same. He also touches upon lynching, and the culture of hate-mongering in the name of religion.
“Darkness has taken the place of law,” he says, before concluding.
Shah was probably approached for this video because he was targeted as a part of a recent crackdown against dissent. In an interview earlier this month, he said that the plight of the country was such that we give more importance to a cow’s life than that of a police officer.
Referring to the Bulanshahr incident, he said he was worried about his children who didn’t have a religious upbringing, and would be at a loss of words if they were surrounded by a mob and questioned about their religion.
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“We chose not to give any religious education to our children. We taught them only about good and bad. I feel anxious about my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks them, ‘Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?’ they will have no answer,” said the actor.
In the past, Naseeruddin Shah has said he has been targeted for being a Muslim. In October 2015, when he was criticised for his comments at an event, he said only he was singled out among other panelists who made far more pertinent comments. He said in a ToI report, “My name is Naseeruddin Shah and I believe that’s why I was targeted. It really pains me to say this. I have never ever been aware of my identity until now.”