Javed Akhtar Slams Asif Ali Zardari Over Hindu Remark, Says 'Mr Ten Percent' Is Insensitive

Bollywood Mascot: Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has once again spoken out on a controversial issue, this time targeting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over his remarks about the country's Hindu minority. Akhtar criticised Zardari's choice of words and called the statement insensitive.

The controversy began after a video from Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations surfaced in which Zardari spoke about the country's Hindu population. Referring to Hindus as a minority community, he said that Pakistan's Muslim population "tolerates" around 3–4 per cent Hindus and claimed they are free and treated well in the country.

Javed Akhtar reacted strongly to the remarks on social media. In his post, he questioned Zardari's use of the word "tolerate" while referring to people belonging to a minority community. He also took a pointed swipe at the Pakistani President by referring to his long-standing "Mr Ten Percent" nickname.

Akhtar's response was not limited to Zardari's comments about Hindus. He also described the Pakistani President as someone who has historically been insensitive towards those who make up less than 10 per cent, turning Zardari's own reference to the Hindu population into the central point of his criticism.

Zardari's original remarks also included a comparison between India and Pakistan. He claimed that Indians have a different point of view and referred to the idea of "Akhand Bharat", while saying that Hindus in Pakistan would prefer to remain there rather than be in India. The comments have since sparked criticism and discussion across social media.

Javed Akhtar is no stranger to expressing strong opinions on issues involving religion, minorities and politics. The veteran writer has frequently used social media to respond to statements that he considers problematic, and his latest reaction has once again generated considerable attention.

The controversy is particularly notable because Akhtar himself has previously described himself as an atheist and has said that his sense of community is rooted in being Indian rather than in religious identity.

For now, the exchange remains a war of words, but Javed Akhtar's latest remarks have added another layer to the debate surrounding Zardari's comments on Pakistan's Hindu minority.

What do you think about Javed Akhtar's response to Asif Ali Zardari's statement?