But does not talk in threatening tone like the BJP
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — After BJP, Shiv Sena has also taken exception to poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar’s recent statement comparing Taliban with India’s right-wing organisations, especially Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Marathi daily Samna, the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena, said in an editorial that Javed Akhtar is “completely wrong” in drawing a comparison between RSS and Taliban.
The BJP has warned that it would not allow screening of films which have name of Javed Akhtar unless he apologises to RSS for his remarks which he made in an interview to NDTV.
Defending RSS, Samna claimed that RSS has never supported the religious frenzy around ‘beef’ issue. “No frenzy in the name of Hindutva is accepted here… neither the Shiv Sena nor the RSS support that,” it said.
Ordinary Muslims have found themselves under attack by Hindu nationalist mobs. The attack has seen a sharp rise in the past seven years, ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power in 2014.
Declaring that “we won’t accept madness in the name of Hindutva,” the Sena mouthpiece asked, “How can you say those who favour the concept of a ‘Hindu rashtra‘ are of Taliban mindset? We don’t agree with this”.
It added that “nations like Pakistan, China have supported Taliban rule as human rights, democracy and personal freedom are of no value there. The mindset of Hindustan does not look like that. We are tremendously tolerant in every way.”
The editorial further said that even if some people may try to bring dictatorship in the veil of democracy they cannot do so because there is limit. “Therefore, it is not proper to compare RSS with Taliban.”
The party acknowledged Javed Akhtar responding to “fanatic and seditious distortions” in the country and singing ‘Vande Mataram’ but added they do not accept his comparison of RSS with the Taliban.
The editorial said that India was a secular nation despite Hindus being in majority and asserted that they expect “majority of Hindus should not be suppressed continuously”.
In his interview to NDTV last week, Javed Akhtar had drawn a resemblance between Taliban and “those who want a Hindu rashtra“.
“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 Muslims, Christians, Jews or Hindus,” he had said.
He had said that the idea of Taliban cannot appeal Indians.
BJP MLA in Maharashtra Ram Kadam sharply reacted to Javed Akhtar’s remarks declaring it “painful and humiliating”. He demanded apology from him, otherwise they would not allow screening of his films.
