A video from the 7th Faiz Festival, held in Lahore, went viral on the internet where the renowned Indian poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar voiced how terrorists from the 2008 Mumbai attacks “still roam free” in Pakistan
The statement left many Pakistani artists livid while their counterparts in the neighbouring country lauded the Indian veteran for it
Actor Kangana Ranaut initially shared the video on Twitter to praise how Akhtar “attacked Pakistanis in their own country
” The short clip saw the poet answer a question from the audience
“You have visited Pakistan many times
When you go back, do you tell your people that (we) are good people?" a man asked Akhtar during the session he was invited as a guest
Javed Akhtar in Lahore, complaining in front of a crowd who still kept on cheering for him despite such allegations
This could only happen in Pakistan where people's hearts are as big as anything
Imagine a Pakistani in India and doing the same there!pic
com/imbNrYLX2H — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 21, 2023 “Let us not blame each other
That won’t solve the issues
We saw how Mumbai was attacked
They (terrorists) came neither from Norway nor from Egypt
They are still roaming freely in your country
If these complaints are in an Indian's heart, you shouldn’t take offence,” lamented Akhtar, adding that Pakistanis do not celebrate Indian artists the way that his country does
“We hosted big events for Nusrat and Mehdi Hasan but no performance of Lata Mangeshkar was ever organised in your country
” Sharing this, Kangana wrote, “Whenever I listen to Javed sahab's poetry, I feel like Goddess Saraswati has blessed him
There must be some truth within a person for him to be blessed with divinity
Jai Hind
He attacked them [Pakistanis] in their own land
” Jab main Javed saab ki poetry sunti hoon toh lagta tha yeh kaise Maa Swarsati ji ki in pe itni kripa hai, lekin dekho kuch toh sachchai hoti hai insaan mein tabhi toh khudai hoti hai unke saath mein … Jai Hind @Javedakhtarjadu saab… 🇮🇳 Ghar mein ghuss ke maara
ha ha 🇮🇳🇮🇳 https://t
co/1di4xtt6QF — Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 21, 2023 Pakistani artists speak up Akhtar was later invited to an event in his honour which was attended by a bevvy of Pakistani stars
The hypocrisy didn’t sit well with actor Saboor Aly
Taking to Instagram, she urged all those who showered Akhtar with immense respect and happily cheered for him despite the fact that he insulted the country while being on the soil to have some self-respect
“What a shame! All the educated illiterate – the so-called niche – you never gave the same respect to your own talent
There were so many artists in this country that didn’t even have money to afford healthcare at the end of their lives
Where were all of these appreciators of talent back then?” she asked
“If we can’t respect ourselves then how will others do it? I agree that art has no boundaries or borders but you can certainly draw boundaries when it comes to your self-respect,” she added in another Instagram Story
Resham, who was there at the after-party with Akhtar, also took to her Instagram to condemn his statement
Claiming that she was unaware of Akhtar's controversial remarks, she wrote, “My country is more dear to me than anything else
I absolutely had no knowledge of what Javed Akhtar sahab said about my country in the Faiz Festival session
I condemn his words
As per our customs of special treatment, we consider guests God’s mercy but Pakistan is more precious to us than our hearts and lives
” Actor and filmmaker Shaan Shahid also shared reservations about Akhtar being granted a visa to enter Pakistan when he held such hatred for the country
Inko gujrat main musalmanoon kai qatil ka tu pata hai lakin yeh khamosh Hain
or ab Yeh sahab Pakistan main 26/11 kai mulzimoon ko dhoond rahay Hain
#faizmela isko visa kis nai dia? @OfficialDGISPR @Shahidmasooddr @MirMAKOfficial pic
com/ekmSblS5wY — Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) February 21, 2023 “He knows about the murderers of Muslims in Gujrat but he’s silent about that
And this gentleman is now looking for the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks in Pakistan
Who gave him the visa?” he wrote on Twitter
Inko bulanay walay or inkay paoon mai baithnay waloon sai sawaal #faizfestival apnay mulk ki izzat sai zayada kuch nahi ♥️🇵🇰
Pls protect our cultural borders @OfficialDGISPR @MirMAKOfficial @Doppler023 @MoonisElahi6 @2Kazmi pic
com/UXKn7N33ES — Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) February 22, 2023 Aijaz Aslam simply said that the fact that Akhtar returned safely to his home country is a testament to how tolerant the country was
“Mr Javed Akhtar, would you mind shedding some light on the Kashmir issue? You shouldn’t have come if you have such hatred for Pakistan
We still allowed you to go back safely and that’s our answer to your nonsense,” read his tweet
Mr javed akhtar would you mind shedding some light on Kashmir issue ? You shouldn’t have come if you have so much hatred for pakistan, we still let u go back safely & thats our answer to your nonsense #javedakhtar #goback #nonsense # pic
com/b7DCIdnH1o — aijaz aslam (@aijazz7) February 21, 2023 Singer Haroon Shahid had a bigger issue with Akhtar’s statement on India doing so much for Pakistani artists
“Javed Sahab can party all he can in Pakistan, but I can't stand him suggesting that ‘India has given Pakistani artists a chance,'” he said adding that it's not the art or talent that India nurtured in Pakistanis but the business structure that they have that makes one a star
Javed Saab can party all he can in Pakistan for all I care BUT I can't stand him suggesting "India has given Pakistani artists a chance" I hear ill-informed ppl here "Artist to India hee banata hai"
While it's partially true BUT it has MORE TO DO WITH THE BUSINESS STRUCTURE
— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) February 21, 2023 THAN THE ART
Why is say that is because when the indians pick up talent from Pakistan, they don't pick up their music, they pick up the artist and mould his music according to their industry
In my view they pick up a rocker from Pakistan and send back a Bollywoodized — Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) February 21, 2023 “I’m saying this because when Indians pick up talent from Pakistan, they don't pick up their music, they pick up the artist and then mould their music according to their industry
In my view, they pick up a rockstar from Pakistan and send back a 'Bollywoodised' version of that singer,” and Shahid sure has a problem with that
“The problem that I have is about how we, as a nation, fail to see how we're being used
Sadly, it will go on till we give our people business and respect! To my fellow Pakistanis, please stand up for your country! We’re going through a rough patch but Nusrat, Atif, Rahat, Fawad, and Mahira are our artists, not theirs
” To my fellow Pakistani's PLEASE STAND UP FOR YOUR COUNTRY! SURE WE'RE GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH BUT Nusrat, Atif, Rahay, Fawad, Mahira hamaray hain, unn kay nahi! Pakistan Zindabad ❤️ — Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) February 21, 2023 Anoushey Ashraf also shared her two cents on the subject and shared that respecting guests is essential but not at the cost of your own self-respect
"Giving respect to a guest is essential
But never at the cost of your own self-respect
The way some were hanging off at Javed Akhtar sahab's leg in admiration was a tad-bit extra willingness to please
Maybe he’d be weary of his words if we’d shown him the dignity we have
(or lack?)" she wrote on the micro-blogging site
Giving respect to a guest is essential
But never at the cost of your own self respect
The way some were hanging off javed akhtar sb’s leg in admiration was a tad bit extra willingness to please
Maybe he’d be weary of his words if we’d shown him the dignity we have? (or lack?) — Anoushey Ashraf (@Anoushey_a) February 22, 2023 Akhtar recalls audience's reaction to his controversial statement In a new interview with NDTV, Akhtar has now said that his statement about the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was “well-received” in Pakistan
When asked about the audience's response to his remark, he said, "They all clapped
They agreed with me
There are many people who admire India and want to have a relationship with us
We tend to think of countries as monoliths
That is not the case
How do we connect with millions of people, who want to connect with India
" Upon being asked if this was the right time for talks between the neighbouring countries and if a middle ground can be achieved, Akhtar opined that he is not the right person to ask this
“I don't have that kind of calibre (to respond to this query)
People who are in power, who are holding that position, understand what is happening, what is the situation and how to go about it
People who run the country know better
My information is little
We, in India, have very limited information about Pakistani people
Same is the case with them,” he concluded
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Date: | 23-Feb-2023 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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