Javed Akhtar campaigns for Kanhaiya in Begusarai
Poet, lyricist and screenwriter, Javed Akhtar at the Hindi Academy’s Award function at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi on August 01, 2018. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
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‘Don’t mix religion and politics’
Noted poet and Bollywood lyricist Javed Ahktar on Tuesday disapproved of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu urging Muslims to unite and vote against the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that a mind occupied with one’s religious identity can never make an informed political choice. At an election meeting here, Mr. Akhtar did not mention the Punjab Minister by name but dropped ample hints to suggest that he was speaking about the former cricketer. The poet, who campaigning in favour of CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, said that wherever religion is mixed with politics, human rights and civil liberties become the first casualty. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Mr. Akhtar said, “You deride the country’s liberals with labels like tukde tukde gang and descendants of Macaulay. These epithets fit you best since you want to divide the country on sectarian lines.” PTI
Indian Art Gallery 