Shiv Sena has come to the rescue of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (ideological guru of BJP) after poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar’s remarks likening RSS to Taliban.
Shiv Sena declared that Javed Akhtar was “completely wrong” in comparing the two.
In the editorial of the party’s mouthpiece face, the Shiv Sena pointed out that the RSS, for example, did not support the religious frenzy with the ‘beef’ issue, and underlined that “no hysteria in the name of Hindutva is accepted here … neither Shiv Sena nor Nor does he support the RSS”.
“We will not accept madness in the name of Hindutva. How can you tell those who are in favor of the concept of ‘Hindu’. Nation‘ Are you of Talibani mentality? We do not agree with this,” the party said.
The Sena editorial said, “Countries like Pakistan, China have supported Taliban rule because there is no value of human rights, democracy and individual liberty. This is not what the mindset of India looks like. We are quite tolerant in every way.” ” said.
“Some people may be trying to bring about dictatorship under the guise of democracy… Still they have a limit. Hence, it is not fair to compare the RSS with the Taliban.”
“On every occasion… Whenever radical and anti-national distortions have broken out in the country, Javed Akhtar has torn the masks of those fundamentalists. He has sung ‘Vande Mataram’ despite the threats from the fundamentalists. But we do not accept the comparison with it. The Taliban,” the party wrote.
“Despite being a Hindu-majority… this nation still carries the flag of secularism. It is a reasonable expectation that majority Hindus should not be relentlessly suppressed… Javed Akhtar, what we are saying is correct, no? ” the editorial asked.
Mr Akhtar, during a conversation with NDTV last week, drew a parallel, “an uncanny resemblance”, between the Taliban and “those who want a Hindu”. Nation“.
The RSS, the ideological parent of BJP, has long considered India to be a Hindu.Nation‘ or the state.
“Just as the Taliban want an Islamic State, there are some who want a Hindu Nation. These people are of the same mentality – be it Muslims, Christians, Jews or Hindus.”
The remarks were immediately condemned by the BJP, with Maharashtra MLA Ram Kadam declaring it “painful and derogatory” and that no film involving Mr Akhtar can be screened until he apologises.