Mumbai: Slamming writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar for his comparison of Taliban with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena, Saamna, in its editorial has said that India is a tolerant country and it is wrong on the part of Akhtar to compare both.
It also stated that countries like Pakistan, China have supported Talibani rule because there is no value of human rights, democracy, individual liberty in these two countries. However, India is tremendously tolerant in every way.
People who support this ideology need to introspect. Javed Akhtar is known for his outspoken statements. He has strongly attacked the country's bigotry, extremist views of Muslim society, its policy of being cut off from the mainstream. Javed Akhtar has torn the masks of those bigoted people on every occasion. He sang 'Vande Mataram' without caring about the fundamentalists. Yet, we do not accept the comparison of the Sangh with the Taliban, Saamna further added.
It also pointed out Akhar's comments that the goals of RSS and Taliban are the same is wrong. There can be differences of opinion over the role and views of the Sangh and these differences are expressed by Javed Akhtar time and again.
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The bloodshed, violence committed by the barbaric Taliban in Afghanistan is heart-wrenching. Fearing the Taliban, millions of people have left the country. Women are being oppressed. In the past, the religious hysteria that flared up over the beef episodes was never supported by the Shiv Sena or even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Any kind of hysteria in the name of Hindutva is not acceptable here.
Saamna also stated that the Hindutva of Shiv Sena or Sangh is widespread. He is all-encompassing and includes human rights, individual liberty, women's rights, such progressive ideas. Had the Sangh or Shiv Sena been of Talibani views, there would not have been a law against triple talaq in this country and millions of Muslim women would not have seen the ray of freedom. There is not likely to be two opinions on this.
Most of the population of the country is secular. Along with being polite, they respect each other. Therefore, Talibani views cannot attract them, Javed Akhtar is right to say so.
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It also said that external attackers attacked Hindu India many times. There were conversions under British rule. Hindu society kept fighting against all of them but it never became Taliban. Hindu temples were demolished, forced conversions were done, but Hindu society did not give up restraint.
This society has been falling victim to this extreme restraint. Today every nation of the world is standing on the foundation of religion. The official religion of countries like China, Sri Lanka is Buddhism, America-European countries Christian and all other nations boast of their religion as 'Islamic Republic'. But is there a single Hindu nation on the world stage? Despite being a majority Hindu in India, this nation still stands waving the flag of secularism.
