Naseeruddin Shah wants to weaken democracy in country: BJP

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. File

A war of words has erupted after veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he backed students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) staging an indefinite sit-in over violent incidents on the campus.

Mr. Shah alleged that the BJP was taking “revenge” on anyone not subscribing to its beliefs and policies. The BJP leadership in West Bengal questioned the motives of the actor and said the actor wanted to weaken democracy in the country. BJP Rajya Sabha member Rahul Sinha called for a full investigation into the veteran actor’s criticism of the party over the ongoing agitation at the SRFTI, alleging his remarks could be linked to an international conspiracy.

Mr. Sinha alleged that Mr. Shah had suddenly emerged from a long period of inactivity to make political statements against the BJP. Another BJP leader and MLA Ritesh Tewari said Mr. Shah was an opponent of the BJP and the Sangh. “I also know his elder brother. His daughter is married in Kolkata; she is the daughter-in-law of a CPI(M) leader and has even contested elections. When ministers from West Bengal and the Mayor of Kolkata were raising the slogan of Dawat-e-Islam, why was Naseeruddin silent?” the Kashipur Beleghata MLA said.

In a video message, Mr. Shah had urged all right-minded citizens to support the demands of the SRFTI.

“The latest victims of this vendetta are the students, the aspiring filmmakers of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. In return for their demand for accountability from the administration, they have been served show-cause notices, put under surveillance, threatened and now have even been asked to vacate the hostels,” the actor said in the video message.

On Sunday (October 25, 2026), a section of SRFTI students claimed power supply to the only classroom they had been accessing for Internet connectivity and workstation facilities was cut off, accusing the administration of intensifying measures to pressure them into calling off their agitation.

Earlier on October 15, 2026 six students of the SRFTI were rusticated for allegedly vandalising the Vice-Chancellor’s office and manhandling him. The students and administration of the film school are at loggerheads after a clash broke out inside the campus between a right wing organisation and a section of students on October 4.

SRFTI registrar Deepak Kumar in a statement on Sunday clarified that disciplinary action against certain students was initiated over alleged misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault, and not for exercising their right to protest.

“The institute categorically clarifies that the disciplinary action initiated against certain students are related to specific acts of misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault ... Any attempt to link these actions to students’ legitimate exercise of their right to protest misrepresents both the facts and the specific grounds on which proceedings were started,” the statement added.