"No one has the right to question our loyalty and suggest that Muslims should leave the country," Shah said yesterday while addressing a school function.
Shah's remarks come in the wake of controversies after celebrities including Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and A R Rahman raised concerns over 'growing intolerance' in the country.
"Indian Muslims are second to none in their loyalty to the country and they have as much role to play in the nation's affairs as any other section," Shah said.
"It is the moral responsibility of Indian Muslims to spare no efforts for defending India from all challenges," he said. This, he felt, would be a befitting reply to those who are hurting the community's sentiments.
He also advised Muslim youth to keep abreast of latest technological developments.
"Once Muslim youth are able to prove their worth, no one is going to stop them from making rapid gains in modern Indian society," he said.