Click to play videoNoted lyricist and member of the group, Muslims for Secular Democracy, Javed Akhtar joined CNN-IBN to answer some questions on the Antulay conspiracy theory.
CNN-IBN: To the Muslim community, Mr Hemant Karkare was in a sense a representative of everything that was going right for the Malegaon investigations. All that has happened over the last few weeks, including what A R Antulay has said - has this made the issue a communal one?
Javed Akhtar: Not at all. In fact, I am extremely disappointed, horrified and shocked that this statement could come from a Central Cabinet minister. A statement like this at this point of time is weakening the case of India in the international community as well as giving some kind of leverage to Pakistan. This is extremely irresponsible and the least that the Government can do is accept his resignation. As a matter of fact, I don't know why we have these kind of fears that if his resignation is accepted, Muslims will get upset and if we ban organisations like the Bajrang Dal, Hindus will get upset. How long are we going to accept things which are not secular because we are afraid of upsetting one community or the other? Let us behave like secular Indians and call a spade a spade.
CNN-IBN: That brings up the question of how representative Mr Antulay is of the Muslim community across the country? We did see one of the national papers quoting a poll that was taken by Siasat (the English-language website of India’s second largest Urdu newspaper of the same name) which said that 90-95 per cent Muslims agreed with Antulay.
Javed Akhtar: You see, every newspaper has its own readers and caters to a particular segment of society. Every newspaper is not read by everybody.
CNN-IBN: But are you saying that he doesn't represent the community?
Javed Akhtar: No newspaper can claim that they represent a community. The Organiser can't claim it represents Hindus or Saamna can't claim it represents all Maharashtrians. And in the same way, who made Antulay the representative of 15 crore Muslims in India? Just by virtue of the fact that he was given this portfolio, he suddenly becomes the representative of 15 crore Muslims in India? And even if he claims that, I don't accept it and whatever he claims is wrong. And sometimes I think that Mr Hemant Karkare - God bless his soul - is the personification of Indian democracy, and he is always abused or misused. Just the other day, the BJP and Shiv Sena were abusing him and calling him dishonest, manipulative and a puppet of the present regime and so on and now for these parties, Karkare has suddenly become a martyr.
On the other hand Antulay is misusing Karkare's name. If Antulay has any agenda, he can have it, but please don't misuse the name of a person who was responsible in all situations whether the terrorist is a Hindu or a Muslim.
CNN-IBN: Does it bother you now that inspite of making many statements, the Congress or UPA is completely conspicuous by its absence and is not taking any action. Is there a fair amount of blame that's to be shared by them too?
Javed Akhtar: Yes, it disappoints me that whenever there is an opportunity or need to stand up against the fundamental theories, stances, parties or persons, secular parties get unnerved about it. It's surprising that they are behaving like this with Mr Antualy in the same way it was surprising when they did not ban the Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal should be banned and Antulay's resignation should be accepted and Hindus and Muslims will not be upset. This is wrong thinking on the Government's part.
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