Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah has expressed doubts over the swearing-in ceremony for the new Parliament. Referring to PM Modi, the actor said the Supreme leader seeks to build something to remember him forever.
In a recent interview, when questioned about the inauguration of the new Parliament, actor Naseeruddin Shah stated that the “supreme leader wants to build a monument to himself.” The actor has been outspoken about his beliefs against the present regime. Shah made the comment in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The actor stated to Bollywood Hungama that “this is the way he will be remembered.” Shah agreed that a new structure was necessary, but he objected to the inauguration celebration. One may see why a new structure was required because the existing Parliament was 100 years old, but was a ceremony like this necessary? You place religious elements into everything, he complained.
The country was “suffering because of that,” Shah continued, referring to “delusions of grandeur.” You enter surrounded by priests, as if the King of England were entering flanked by bishops and bearing a scepter, he said. There has to be a ceiling on grandiose beliefs. And I believe that has a negative impact on us. Shah declared the new structure to be “a symbol of our democracy” and said, “I hope it manages to preserve our democracy.”
Shah had previously discussed “undisguised propaganda” and “Muslim hating” in an interview with the media. He had stated that “the kind of stuff that’s pure, undisguised propaganda is being lapped up and it’s a reflection of the zeitgeist of the times.” Nowadays, even among the educated, there is a trend toward hatred towards Muslims. It is what the ruling party has very deftly touched on. Why do you keep bringing up religion when we talk about being secular and democratic?
He concluded, “This administration has played a very cunning hand, and it has paid off. Let’s see how long it remains effective.”
