The BJP’s ideological parent, the RSS, has always maintained that India is a Hindu ‘rashtra’ or state.
Maharashtra MLA and BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam on Saturday announced that no film involving writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar will be allowed to be screened in the country till he apologises to functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for comparing it to the Taliban.
The sharp reaction from the BJP lawmaker came a day after the poet-lyricist, during an interaction with NDTV, drew a parallel between the Taliban and “those who want a Hindu Rashtra”. The BJP’s ideological parent, the RSS, has always maintained that India is a Hindu ‘rashtra’ or state.
In a video message also shared on his Twitter, Ram Kadam said: “This statement by Javed Akhtar is not just shameful, but painful and humiliating for crores of functionaries of the Sangh and the Vishva Hindu Parishad and crores of people across the world who follow their ideology.”
Functionaries of these organisations serve the poorest of the poor and Mr Akhtar 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,” the Ghatkopar West MLA said in his video.
Speaking to NDTV on Thursday, Javed Akhtar had said that 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 had said
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
