Naseeruddin Shah champions freedom of expression in new Amnesty video, alleges 'journalists are being silenced'Jan 5 (AZINS) There are many more to come like Naseeruddin Shah in the near future, who would try to influence people, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy while reacting to the latest controversy triggered by the actor who alleged that India is no safer and has become "awash with horrific hatred and cruelty."

Swamy stated that there would be many more Naseeruddin Shahs who will try to dismay people "but all of them would fail". Adding to his statement, Swamy said, "I do not give any importance to whosoever he is but the fact that international organisations are intervening in our domestic election."

"The poll of national thinking is the BJP. Because of that fact they do not want us to come in power again. Even the loss in the three states the margin was so narrow. With just a little more care and focus on topics we could have won," Swamy said.

In addition, Shiv Sena party member Sanjay Raut denied allegations on any form of human rights violations in the country. "Regarding Naseeruddin Shah, he is still speaking what he wants to say. We have democracy in our country and nobody is violated of their rights. For his statements but Shah must be getting praised in Pakistan but not in India," Raut added.

The latest comments came from Shah came in the form of a 2.14-minute video uploaded by the Amnesty India on its official Twitter handle on Friday in the mane of 'Ab Ki Baar Manav Adhikaar'. In the video, Shah is heard alleging that artists and actors were "being stifled" and "journalists being silenced".

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha took sides of the Bollywood veteran actor and urged that human right guarantees to protect the rights of every citizen of the country."I do not understand what is so wrong in this campaign. It doesn't matter to which state, culture, caste or religion we belong to. The Human Rights organisation guarantees to protect our rights. I say 'Ek baar nai baar baar Manav Adhikaar 2018'."

Congress leader KTS Tulsi noted that the calling for human rights is not a crime. "Talking about 'maanav adhikar' or human rights is not wrong. Human rights have been guaranteed to the citizens of India by the constitution and demanding for the implementation of those rights is no crime," Tulsi said.

Aligarh Muslim University Professor Rehan Akhtar Qasmi also took sides of the veteran actor claiming that every citizen of the country should have the right to voice his or her opinion over the issue of human rights, and nobody has the right to point a finger at him. "Human rights and freedom of expression are there in the country. Everybody is talking about their rights in the country and voicing out their own respective opinion on the issue. The burning example is of two different religions, namely Hindus and the Muslims, who are equally fighting over the temple and masjid issue. Nobody should be pointing at a single person for this country. There should not be any voice or power intending to break the integrity of the country."

Member of Parliament (MP) Rajya Sabha and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon further noted that Shah's statement is widely publicised and criticised."It will be wrong to say that Naseeruddin Shah is promoting Amnesty report. He has already spoke his heart out a week before. Amnesty report speaks very poorly of India. Naseeruddin Shah's statement is widely publicised and criticised," Memon said.

"One of the BJP MLA said such people who feel insecure in India should be bombed. Can people not show dissent to government malfunctioning. Amnesty report has made us laughing stock in the world," the NCP leader further added.