18 December,2025 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Javed Akhtar
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar took to X to share his stance on the controversial act by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which is being widely debated on social media. The CM recently, while honouring a young woman for her work, forcefully pulled down her hijab. The act led to massive outrage on social media.
Javed Akhtar wrote on X, "Every one who knows me even in the most cursory manner knows how much I am against the traditional concept of Parda but it doesn't mean that by any stretch of imagination I can accept what Mr Nitish Kumar has done to a Muslim lady doctor. I condemn it in very strong words. Mr Nitish Kumar owes an unconditional apology to the lady."
Akhtar also took to the comment section of his post and hit back at people questioning his opinion on the matter. Commenting on his post, a user wrote, "Says a man who wrote some of Bollywood's most regressive, objectifying scripts, now suddenly discovering moral outrage. To find offence everywhere, you first need the intent to find wrong. This isn't about dignity. It's about selective outrage - and Javed Akhtar proves it once again."
Reacting to the user, Akhtar hit back- "How dare you accuse me of selective outrage. If you don't know how strongly I oppose the right wingers and regressives of my own community you are an imbecile. So just shut up . Before shutting your dirty mouth can you name the film in which I have shown a female character in a poor light. Actually your frustration is that you are a nobody and die as a nobody."
Another person commented, "How convenient. You oppose the parda of tradition but wear the parda of selective outrage. Condemn Kumar's vulgar act, yes. But spare us the sermon; your principled stand seems tailored to fit only political opponents, not a consistent philosophy."
To which, Akhtar wrote back, "I am against smoking tobacco, does it give me the to right snatch a cigarette from your mouth?"
"Nitish Kumar did nothing wrong.. Wo buss security check kar rahe the," wrote another person under his post. To this, the snir lyricist and screenwriter said, "Nitish maen dum hai ke eik ghoonghat palat ke security check kar sakay".
When another user questioned his values as an atheist, Akhtar wrote, "I don't have to learn secularism and progressive values from a creep like you. You spineless creature have you ever raised your voice against the fanatics of your own community. So get lost".
