Kiren Rijiju slams Naseeruddin Shah over ‘Dimagi Naxal’ remark | Jamia Row explained

A political controversy has erupted after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah over his remarks on India’s education system, democracy and student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia. In a post on X on Wednesday, Rijiju said he had previously respected Shah but claimed that the actor’s recent statements had changed his perception of him. The minister also described Shah’s views as harmful to Indian democracy. The controversy followed a video Shah posted on Facebook on Tuesday, in which he called himself a “dimagi naxal” and wore a pin displaying the phrase. Expressing support for Jamia students demanding the restoration of their students’ union, Shah questioned the government’s actions and alleged that its policies were undermining education and weakening young people’s confidence. The phrase “dimagi naxal” was previously used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address to describe individuals allegedly operating within the system to threaten society through policy manipulation. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also criticised Shah’s remarks in an interaction with PTI Videos on Thursday, questioning his views on nationalism and referring to his performance as Gulfam Hassan in the 1999 film Sarfarosh. Shah has also expressed support for student movements, including protests at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Watch the full report for details of the Naseeruddin Shah controversy, Kiren Rijiju’s response, the Jamia student protests and the debate surrounding freedom of expression, education and democracy in India. 📲 Follow Orissa POST – Odisha's No. 1 trusted English Daily 📰✨ 🔔 Subscribe to OrissaPOST Live and hit the Bell Icon to never miss the latest news, exclusive interviews, explainers, and trending stories from Odisha and beyond! 🔥 Watch More from OrissaPOST Live 👉 OP Podcast – Conversations on Culture, Content Creation & Educational Insights 🎙️    • OP PODCAST   👉 OP Khatti – Casual Discussions on Trending Topics ☕    • OP KHATTI   👉 OP Explains – In-depth Analysis & Facts 💡    • OP EXPLAINS   👉 Celeb Corner – Exclusive Celebrity Interviews 🎤    • CELEB CORNER   👉 Glitter & Glam – Movie Reviews & Entertainment Gossip 🎬    • GLITTER & GLAM   👉 Sports Unfiltered – Sports Explainers & Updates 🏆    • SPORTS UNFILTERED   👉 The Dugout – Exclusive Sports Personality Interviews ⚽    • THE DUGOUT   👉 Health Wealth – Health Insights, Doctor Interviews & Wellness Tips 🩺    • HEALTH WEALTH   👉 Arrey Suno Na – Fun, Youth-Centric City Explorations 🌆    • AREY SUNO NA   👉 Chal Haat – Inside Bhubaneswar's Secret Streets! 🍔    • CHAL HAAT   👉 Campus Diaries – Spicy Campus Stories 🔥    • CAMPUS DIARIES   --- 📰 What You'll Find on OrissaPOST Live ✅ Breaking News ✅ Odisha News & Politics ✅ Ground Reports & Investigations ✅ Sports News & Analysis ✅ Celebrity Interviews ✅ Entertainment & Movie Reviews ✅ Health & Wellness Content ✅ Campus & Youth Stories ✅ Podcasts & Expert Discussions ✅ Explainer Videos & Special Features --- 🌐 Stay Connected with OrissaPOST 🌍 Website: https://www.orissapost.com 📘 Facebook:   / orissapostlive   🐦 X (Twitter):   / orissapostlive   📸 Instagram:   / instaorissapost   ▶️ YouTube: OrissaPOST Live --- ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests in interviews, podcasts, and discussions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of OrissaPOST. 👍 Like • 💬 Comment • 🔄 Share 📢 Subscribe for breaking news, exclusive interviews, explainers, podcasts, sports, health, entertainment, and stories that matter from Odisha and across India. #orissapost #orissapostlive #naseeruddinshah #kirenrijiju #DimagiNaxal #jamiamilliaislamia #jamiaprotest #indianpolitics #politicalnews #educationsystem #studentprotest #shainanc #bollywoodnews #indianews #breakingnews #latestnews #nationaldebate