“My head hangs in shame…” Javed Akhtar furious over lavish welcome for Taliban minister in Deoband

New Delhi: Writer and filmmaker Javed Akhtar has strongly reacted to the lavish welcome given to Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh. Seeing the welcome, Akhtar said, “My head hangs in shame.”

Javed Akhtar wrote in his post that the manner in which the Taliban representative was honored and welcomed was deeply concerning to him. He said that the honoring of a member of the world’s most dangerous terrorist group reflects the shifting priorities in society.

Javed Akhtar also targeted Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur. He wrote that the institution, which has always been an example of standing against terrorism and violence, was giving a lavish welcome to its “Islamic hero.” He expressed concern that the same person who had completely banned girls’ education was honoured.