Sometimes it's necessary to show nationalism Anupam Kher to pseudo intellectuals'

Mumbai: Anupam Kher has slammed ‘pseudo intellectuals’ for staying silent on videos showing soldiers being mistreated in Kashmir, saying sometimes it becomes necessary for one to show nationalism.

Noting that a new trend has emerged that whoever speaks for the country is said to have inclinations to the RSS or the BJP, the 62-year-old actor said, “We don’t flaunt the label of being a nationalist, we carry nationalism in our hearts. But I feel sometimes it becomes necessary to show your nationalism.”

He also criticised the human rights activists for ‘keeping mum’ over the heckling of CRPF jawans who stood guard at a polling booth during the bypoll in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir recently.

“Sadly, we look at jawans just like the men in uniform. We don’t look at them as sons, husbands and fathers. Pseudo intellectuals remained quiet on the videos about how soldiers were mistreated recently.”

“But when that video about a man being used as a human shield, all those people turned up like a bear and started talking about human rights. And why is nobody talking about that video where the army saved nine people from drowning,” he said.

He, however, stressed that there are many people in Kashmir who are in favour of development.

Asked about Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s remark that Kashmiris are being killed by both the Army and the terrorists, Kher dubbed it as ‘unreal’ and ‘stupid’.