By Muslim Mirror Staff
New Delhi: Shiv Sena has slammed Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar for comparing the Taliban with India’s right-wing organisations, particularly Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). An editorial in Marathi daily Samna, the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena said that Akhtar is “completely wrong” in drawing a comparison between the two groups.
Samna wrongly 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.
The aforementioned claim contradicts facts as RSS workers have indulged in violence against minorities particularly Muslims. Senior BJP and RSS leaders were involved in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, which led to the eruption of large scale communal violence in the country. Moreover, attacks against minorities have been rising since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power with the support of RSS in 2014.
The daily 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.”
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”.
Akhtar, speaking to NDTV news channel last week, had compared the RSS and VHP to the Taliban. He had said that just like the Taliban desire an Islamic State, there are those in India who want a Hindu Rashtra. “They have the same mindset, be it Muslims, Christians, Hindus, or Jews.”