Islamic groups opposed to inviting Javed Akhtar force Bengal’s Urdu Academy to call off literary event https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/islamic-groups-opposed-to-inviting-javed-akhtar-force-bengals-urdu-academy-to-call-off-literary-event/article69992880.ece
the decision to put off the event was taken by the government because at least two Islamic groups, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Wahyain Foundation, had expressed their opposition to the invitation extended to Mr. Akhtar as a guest at the event. Mr. Akhtar, one of the best-known living Urdu poets in the country, takes pride in being an atheist, which these groups oppose. The State government appeared unwilling to upset anyone ahead of an election year, and wished to prevent any unpleasant incident, such as an ink attack on the poet.
The Organiser https://organiser.org/2025/08/31/313449/bharat/islamist-groups-force-bengal-urdu-academy-to-drop-javed-akhtar-from-literary-fest/ aks
Will Akhtar, who never spares a chance to ridicule Hindus and right-wing activists, now gather the courage to call out the Islamists who are openly trying to silence him? Or will he maintain a studied silence, exposing the hypocrisy of a brand of secularism that bends before Islamist intimidation but postures only against Hindu voices?......
Shabnam Hasmo: https://x.com/shabnamhashmi/status/1962145677435457940?s=46&t=XZb9GvpO3RkbT1pH9Vvlbg This is the beginning. I have been shouting from the roof top , telling my fellow senior activists and the young ones to stop legitimising platforms run by the Muslim right I have been systematically pushed to a corner within the Delhi civil society because I refused to share platforms with Muslim right wing orgs while a large number of senior activists are fooling themselves in the name of fighting against majoritarian politics . Struggle for democracy , equality , dignity of minorities- Muslims, Christians, Jains, Sikhs can be fought only within the framework of the constitution .