Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and Maharashtra MLA Ram Kadam on Saturday said that no film involving lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be allowed to be screened in India until he apologises for comparing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the party, with the Taliban.
In a video message on Twitter, Kadam called Akhtar’s statement “painful and humiliating” and asked whether he could have made such remarks if Taliban’s ideology existed in India. The BJP MLA further said that the lyricist should apologise to the RSS with “folded hands”.
Kadam, who is a BJP spokesperson, said Javed 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.
He added that functionaries of these organisations serve the poorest of the poor and the poet-lyricist has insulted them.
“Before making these remarks, he should have thought that people with the same ideology are running the government now, are fulfilling raj dharma. If the ideology was Talibani, would he have been able to make these remarks? This shows how hollow his statements are,” the BJP spokesperson said.
“We will not allow any of his films to run in this land of Ma Bharti till he apologises with folded hands to the functionaries of the Sangh who have dedicated their lives to the nation,” Mr Kadam, who is MLA from Ghatkopar West, said.
Mr Akhtar, also a former MP, is the father of filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, and the husband of renowned actor Shabana Azmi.
Speaking to NDTV yesterday, he said the right-wing across the world want the same things. “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 said.
Responding to a question on remarks by some Muslim leaders welcoming the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mr Akhtar said “these people are a miniscule of the Muslim population of our nation”.
“Most of the Muslims I spoke to were shocked and appalled that such statements were made by some. Today, most young Muslims in India want a good job and a good education for their children in good schools. But on the other hand, there are some who want to believe in this kind of regressive thinking — where men and women are segregated, where regressive mindset is promoted. But like I said, these people are a handful, so let them say what they want, they will not achieve it,” he said.
Mr Akhtar added, “I have 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.”
