Kangana Ranaut on Shabana Azmi cancelling Karachi visit post the Pulwama attack: They're just trying to save their faces
Terming Shabana Azmi an "anti-national", Kangana Ranaut slammed her for organizing events in Pakistan in the first place
Bollywood veteran Shabana Azmi and her husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar had been invited by the Karachi Art Council for a two-day literature conference to celebrate the actress's father, the late Kaifi Azmi's writings.
However, the duo declined their invitation on Friday, as a sign of protest against the dastardly Pulwama suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
While the couple got much praise for their action, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut questioned why did they organize the event there, at the first place.
On Friday, Shabana Azmi and Javed AKhtar got praised by one and all after they declined the invitation to join two-day literary event on her father Kaifi Azmi in Karachi, Pakistan, as a sign of protest against the cowardly Pulwama suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
“Karachi Arts Council had invited Shabana and I for a two day literature conference about Kaifi Azmi and his poetry. We have cancelled that,” he tweeted.
Shabana Azmi wrote, "@Javedakhtarjadu and I were invited for a 2 day event celebrating Kaifi’s Centenary and were truly looking forward to it. I appreciate that our hosts the Karachi Arts Council mutually agreed to cancel the event at the nth hour in the wake of Pulwama attack."
The event now stands cancelled
"I am filled with pain and grief and all else ..by the dastardly #Pulwama attack. For the 1st time in all these years I feel weakened in my belief that people to people contact can force the Establishment to do the right thing. We will need to call halt to cultural exchange," she wrote.
She added, "There is no way we can carry on with cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan even as our martyrs are laying down their lives for us. I stand in solidarity with the grieving families. Javed Akhtar and I have cancelled Karachi Arts Councils celebration of my father Kaifi Azmi's centenary and Rekhta’s 3 day celebration in Dubai which included a show of our play Kaifi aur Main by IPTA. All Indians stand united as one."
"But lets not lose sight of d fact dat there is a difference between d Pakistani Establishment n d people of Pakistan n vice versa. On both sides of d border stand sisters n brothers divided by circumstances with which they had nothing 2 do."
Talking about Shabana's move to opt out of the Karachi event, Kangana said, "People like Shabana Azmi calling for halt on cultural exchange -- they are the ones who promote Bharat Tere Tukde Honge gangs... why did they organise an event in Karachi in the first place when Pakistani artistes have been banned after Uri attacks? And now they are trying to save face? The film industry is full of such anti-nationals who boost enemies' morals in many ways, but right now is the time to focus on decisive actions... Pakistan ban is not the focus, Pakistan destruction is."
Kangana, who cancelled the success bash of 'Manikarnika' in solidarity with the martyred jawans also added, "Pakistan has not only violated our nation’s security they have also attacked our dignity by openly threatening and humiliating us. We need to take decisive actions or else our silence will be misunderstood for our cowardice... Bharat is bleeding today, the killing of our sons is like a dagger in our gut; anyone who lectures about non-violence and peace at this time should be painted black, put on a donkey and slapped by everyone on the streets."
In a recent interview with In.com, Shabana Azmi reacted to Kangana's recent remarks and said, “You really think at a time like this a personal attack on me can be of any significance when the entire country stands as one in our grief and in condemning this dastardly Pulwama attack ? May God bless her. Shabana Azmi.”