‘I Say With Pride, I Am A Dimagi Naxal’ — Naseeruddin Shah Releases New Video Supporting Jamia Protesters, Slams Govt

NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah on Tuesday released a new video on Facebook, declaring with pride that he is a “Dimagi Naxal”  a term coined by PM Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in August after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had to resign under public pressure.

 In the selfie video, a visibly angry Shah said:

“Main fakr ke saath kehta hoon ki main dimaagi naxal hoon… Dimaagi naxal ke alawa malum nahi kya-kya title mujh jaise logon ko diye hain anti-national, tukde-tukde gang, malum nahi kya-kya. Agar koi tukde-tukde gang hai iss mulk mein, toh woh yeh najayaz hukumat hai.”

Translation: “I say with pride, I am a Dimagi Naxal. Apart from Dimagi Naxal, I don’t know what other titles the chowkidar has given to people like me  anti-national, tukde-tukde gang and whatnot. If there is any tukde-tukde gang in this country, then it is this illegitimate government.”_

Attacks Govt Over Campus Crackdowns:

 Questioning the government, Shah added: “I want to ask this government a question What else will you do? How much more will you do to break the courage of the youth of our country, to destroy educational institutions and to put our democracy in danger? How far will you go?”

 He also slammed what he called a “platoon of foolish and dishonest people” gathered around the government and the “pet dogs barking in Godi media” and “ignorant people employed in BJP IT cell.”

 He said: “Pehle Jawaharlal Nehru University, phir Satyajit Ray Film Institute, aur ab Jamia Millia mein jo chhatron pe zulm kiya ja raha hai woh yaad rakha jayega. Sab yaad rakha jayega.”

The video comes amid ongoing protests at Jamia Millia Islamia, where students are demanding restoration of student union elections dissolved in 2006. Similar protests have been happening at JNU and at Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), where clashes on Sept 27 between students and RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat led to indefinite sit-in demanding VC’s resignation.

Shah, 76, has been posting frequent videos in support of student movements, including CJP-led protests over NEET irregularities in July and the SRFTI agitation backed by filmmakers Payal Kapadia and Anand Patwardhan. He was seen wearing a ‘Dimagi Naxal’ pin and badge in the latest clip.

 Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra reposted the video, writing, “I proudly declare that I am a Dimagi Naxal. Sir, we too are proud of you for being a nationalist.”

 The BJP criticized the remarks, while the video left internet divided, with many calling it bold and others calling it political.