- Friday, May 02, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE Shiv Sena on Monday (6) slammed noted writer-lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar over his remarks comparing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India’s right-wing Hindu outfit, with the Taliban, saying such an analogy is “disrespectful to Hindu culture”.
In its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena, which is also right-wing party known for its aggressive Hindutva ideology, called all those making such comparisons to “introspect”.
“These days, some people are comparing anyone with the Taliban as it is the biggest threat to the society and mankind. Pakistan and China, which are not democracies, are backing the Taliban in Afghanistan because human rights do not have any place in these two countries. However, we are a democratic nation where an individual’s freedom is respected. Hence, it is erroneous to compare the RSS with the Taliban. India is tremendously tolerant in every way,” a Sena editorial in Saamana said.
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Hindutva is a “culture” for organisations such as the RSS and VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), the editorial said.
It said, “RSS and VHP want that the rights of the Hindus should not be suppressed. Moreover, they have never imposed any restrictions on women’s rights. The situation in Afghanistan, however, is gut-wrenching. People fled from their country out of fear, and women’s rights are being suppressed.”
The editorial also called Akhtar, 76, as someone who is known for his “outspoken” remarks and has also attacked extremist views of the Muslim society.
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“However, comparing the Sangh with the Taliban is not acceptable. Most people in our country are secular and will not accept the Taliban’s ideology. India is proudly secular despite Hindus being the majority community,” it said.
The Sena was once a political ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s ruling party but quit the alliance in 2019 over political differences.
Last week, Akhtar, a former nominated member of the Indian parliament, said while speaking to Indian news channel NDTV, “Just like the Taliban desire an Islamic State, there are those here who want a Hindu Rashtra. They have the same mindset, be it Muslims, Christians, Hindus or Jews. What the Taliban is doing is barbaric, of course, but those supporting the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal are the same. However, India will never become a Talibani country because majority of the people in our country are extremely tolerant and decent.”
His remarks did not go down well with many people, including those of the ruling BJP, of which the RSS is an ideological mentor.
Ram Kadam, a BJP legislator from the state of Maharashtra where Akhtar resides, warned that Akhtar’s films will not be allowed to release in Maharashtra till he apologised for his remarks with folded hands. A lawyer in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, has also filed a police complaint against Akhtar, who has won several awards in his field.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up outside the residence of the lyricist in the wake of Kadam’s warning to him.
