On October 28, 2026, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju blasted actor Naseeruddin Shah on X, labeling him a 'dangerous urban Naxal' and a 'subversive intellectual' after the veteran actor posted a video supporting students at Jamia Millia Islamia. NEWPAR In the 3‑minute clip, Shah, wearing a badge emblazoned with 'Dimagi Naxal,' called out the central government and urged it to break the courage of youth and destroy the education system, repeating lines from Bismil Azimabadi’s poem. NEWPAR The phrase 'Dimagi Naxal' was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech and later adopted by BJP leaders to brand opposition voices as Maoist sympathisers, a tactic that has resurfaced in recent campus protest rhetoric. NEWPAR The film fraternity and student activists are expected to file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, demanding an apology and clarification of the minister’s remarks. NEWPAR The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is anticipated to issue a statement within 48 hours, addressing the minister’s comments and the actor’s right to free expression. NEWPAR Meanwhile, students at Jamia Millia Islamia continue their protests, demanding a fixed schedule for elections that have been pending since 2006.