Bollywood veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar was rapped over the knuckles for comparing the former US President Barack Obama with Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
The 76-year-old actor turned social activist has been part of the entertainment industry for many decades, however, his latest school of thought was grilled by Hindu nationalists.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the five-time National Film Awards winner created a link between Barack Obama and Shah Jahan.
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Javed Akhtar explained that Obama’s father was a Kenyan. Even though the former president was born in the United States and his relatives reside in Kenya, he was given the right to run in presidential elections.
In contrast to Obama, Javed Akhtar raised a query that if Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was the 5th generation in India and his ancestors were Rajput, why is he still called a foreigner.
Obama ‘s father was a Kenyan his paternal aunts still live in Kenya but since Obama was born in US he had the right to contest the presidential election Shah Jahan was the 5th Gen in India his grand mom n mom were Rajputni ( 75 %blood Rajput) but they call him a foreigner.
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) July 26, 2021
Javed Akhtar belongs to a Muslim family but he is an atheist. His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and poet while his mother Safia Akhtar was also a singer and writer.
However, India’s highly acclaimed scriptwriter seemed a little confused in relating the parental history of the Mughal emperor and former US president.
Responding to Akhtar, Netizens slammed the veteran for comparing an immigrant to an invader.
Someone needs to know the difference between a foreigner, an immigrant, and an invader.
Invest in a dictionary. It helps.— Ratna Bajpai (@ratna_bajpai) July 26, 2021
Mr. Obama took US Presidency through Democracy…Shah Jahan and Mughals had taken the throne through Conquest and Murder. Obama served His countrymen, Mughals Ruled…there is a vast difference. Having Hindu Wives was not Love of Land, it was Divide and Rule strategy..
— The Other Angle (@meaningless_Twt) July 26, 2021
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri disagreed with Javed Akhtar as well for comparing Shah Jahan with Barack Obama.
Javed saab, you are wrong here. Obama’s parents or forefathers did not invade USA. Also, if you are equating Obama with Shahjahan, then Obama neither destroyed churches in US nor did he convert Americans to his belief with sword. Obama wasn’t a tyrant. It’s illogical logic. https://t.co/79yfFO94Le
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 26, 2021