BJP Demands ’Apology With Folded Hands' From Javed Akhtar For Comments On Taliban And RSS

BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam said that Javed Akhtar’s statement is not just shameful, but painful and humiliating for crores of functionaries of the RSS

Lyricist and film writer Javed Akhar (File Photo)

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted over lyricist and film writer Javed Akhtar's comments on Taliban and RSS and now BJP leaders are demanding an apology with folded hands from him. Ram Kadam, who is a BJP spokesperson and Maharashtra MLA has slammed the lyricist and said that his party will not allow Akhtar’s movies to be screened in the country till he apologises for his recent statements comparing the RSS and VHP to the Taliban.

The comments came after Javed Akhtar in an interview to NDTV said "Just like the Taliban want an Islamic State, there are those who want a Hindu Rashtra. These people are of the same mindset -- be it Muslim, Christian, Jews or Hindus," he said. "Of course, the Taliban is barbaric, and their actions are reprehensible, but those supporting the RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal are all the same," he added.

Akhtar's statement on RSS and VHP did not go well and BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam posted a video on Twitter saying, "Before making these remarks, he should have thought that people with the same ideology are running the government now and are fulfilling raj dharma. If their ideology was Talibani, would he have been able to make these remarks? This shows how hollow his statements are. But by making such comments he has hurt the sentiments of RSS workers who work with poor people in the country. If he doesn’t apologise to them we will not allow his movies to run in this country."

Kadam further said that Akhtar's statement is not just shameful, but painful and humiliating for crores of functionaries of the RSS, which is his party’s ideological mentor, and the Vishva Hindu Parishad. The writer has also humiliated crores of people across the world who follow their ideology. 

Ashutosh J Dubey, who said on Twitter that he is the legal advisor to the BJP’s Maharastra unit, has filed a complaint against Javed Akhtar with the Mumbai Police. “I have filed the complaint against #JavedAkhtar with the @MumbaiPolice for intentionally outranging to the RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal. Javed Akhtar called RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal supporters Talibani's! A complaint has been lodged with Javed Akhtar's residential police station,” Dubey tweeted on Saturday.

RSS thinker Sudhir Pathak welcomes Javed Akhtar's remarks

While BJP leaders have been demanding an apology from the lyricist, RSS thinker Sudhir Pathak in an exclusive interview with ABP News has welcomed Javed Akhtar's comments and called him a nationalist. Pathak said that Akhtar's remarks should be looked at in totality as his sharp statements target the radical Indian Muslims who are hailing the Taliban's actions.

Pathak said, "Javed Akhtar told in the interview that no Indian will support Taliban."

It is to be noted that Javed Akhtar said in the NDTV interview that he has “total faith in the basic sensibility of an average Indian.” “The majority of this nation is extremely decent and tolerant. That must be respected. India will never become a Talibani country."

Pathak further urged other Muslim celebrities and intellectuals to support what Javed Akhtar tried to convey by targeting those who are favouring the Taliban.  Pathak said that though Javed Akhtar is not politically aligned with us, no one can question his nationality. His remarks are being twisted and presented in front of the people. Pathak even said that Javed Akhtar ended his last speech in the Parliament by saying "Bharat Mata ki jai" and he said nobody can ever stop him from raising this slogan which is absolutely right.