Twitter backlash: Naseeruddin Shah says he was targeted because he's Muslim

The veteran actor was criticised for speaking in favour of peaceful relations between Pakistan and India

Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah faced severe backlash after speaking in favour of peaceful relations between Pakistan and India and urging people to focus on their similarities rather than their differences.

Shah's statement came in response to protests by Hindu extremist organisation Shiv Sena against the release of a book by former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. Shiv Sena also forced cancellation of Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai the same week claiming that Indian artists are not allowed to visit Pakistan.

Speaking at the launch event of Kasuri's book -- Neither a Hawk nor a Dove -- in Mumbai, Shah denied this claim. "I went to Pakistan several times but never has a performance been disrupted, disturbed or even threatened. I have never had to carry any security," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

Read: Blacklisting Pakistanis: Shiv Sena wants Kasuri’s book launch scrapped

“I wish we could have accorded Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri the kind of welcome I received when I visited Lahore. I would only like to tell hate-mongers and those who prefer confrontation over debate and discussion that they look for the differences between India and Pakistan rather than the similarities,” he added.

However, Indians were quick to turn to social media to criticise him for his statements.

Folks don't take Naseeruddin shah too seriously he's just male version of Alia Bhatt.

— Paresh Puranik (@paresh_puranik) October 12, 2015

Dear Mr Naseeruddin Shah I'm a great fan of yours. I humbly suggest you stay in Pakistan for 2 months for a drama workshop. Then we'll talk.

— Kaptan Hindustan™ (@KaptanHindustan) October 12, 2015

People like Naseeruddin Shah look at the world through tinted glasses & make popular statements without understanding ground realities.

— Kaptan Hindustan™ (@KaptanHindustan) October 12, 2015

Following the backlash on Twitter, Shah told India Today that he was targeted only because he was a Muslim. "My name is Naseeruddin Shah and I believe that's why I was targeted. It really pains me to say this. I have never ever been aware of my identity until now," he said. “Four generations of my family have lived in India. I am proud to be an Indian and I will not allow anybody to question my patriotism.”

Read: Foreign policy: Khurshid Kasuri to launch book next month

He also questioned why praising anything about Pakistan is deemed to be ‘anti-Indian’, saying, “If i say Imran Khan is great, does that make Sunil Gavaskar any less of a cricketer?”

Earlier, over 40 writers returned their awards to protest the lynching of a Muslim man in Dadri and several murders of intellectuals. However, Shah, a recipient of several prestigious awards did not follow suit.

He explained this action by saying, “Awards mean nothing to me and therefore I won't bother returning them. I wish those writers, instead of returning their awards, had written more strongly on what is happening to India in protest.”