Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar is widely recognized for his outspoken nature and unreserved expression of his thoughts. One particular incident stands out when he fearlessly addressed Pakistan on its own soil, delivering a scathing critique of its hypocrisy. The old video, of his speech is gaining traction, highlighting Akhtar’s bold stance.
This powerful moment unfolded during a festival commemorating the eminent Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz in Lahore. In the video, Javed Akhtar sternly called out the prevailing hypocrisy in Pakistan. He emphasized that the terrorists responsible for the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks did not hail from distant lands like Norway or Egypt; they were unequivocally traced back to Pakistan and continue to roam freely within its borders.
Akhtar’s words carried a message of understanding and introspection, urging against mutual blame and emphasizing the need for productive dialogue. He remarked, “Let us not blame each other. That won’t solve issues. Jo garam hai fiza, woh kam honi chahiye. Hum toh Bambaiye log hain. Hamne dekha wahan kaise hamla hua tha. Wo log Norway se toh nahi aaye the naa Egypt se aaye the, wo log abhi bhi aapke mulk me ghum rahe hain. Toh ye shikayat agar Hindustani ke dil mein ho toh aapko bura nahi manna chahiye.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the cultural exchange between India and Pakistan, indicating India’s welcoming approach towards Pakistani artists. However, he lamented the absence of reciprocal gestures, noting that while India had organized grand functions for Pakistani artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan, such events had not been reciprocated for Indian luminaries like Lata Mangeshkar.
“Humne to Nusrat ke bade bade function kiye hai Mehdi Hasan ke bade bade function kiye aap ke mulk mein tu Lata Mangeshkar ka koi function nahi hua.” he said.
Talking about Mumbai terrorist attack on Ten Pakistani terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba unleashed coordinated assaults on prominent locations in Mumbai, including the Taj Hotel,CST station and other locations. The attack claimed the lives of around 164 individuals. Nine of the assailants were neutralized, and one, Ajmal Kasab, was captured. Subsequently, Kasab faced trial and was executed in November 2012.