Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar cancel Karachi Arts Council event after Pulwama attack
Mumbai : Veteran actor Shabana Azmi on Friday said she and her husband, lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, have decided not to attend Kaifi Azmi's birth centenary celebrations in Karachi in the wake of Pulwama terror attack.
The couple was invited to Pakistan by the Karachi Arts Council for a two-day event.
@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, Azmi posted on Twitter.
"Karanchi art council had invited Shabana and me for a two day lit conference about Kaifi Azmi and his poetry. We have cancelled that," Akhtar added.
Azmi said after the attack, she feels weakened in her belief that people to people contact can force the establishment to do the right thing.
"We will need to call halt to cultural exchange... 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," she wrote.
Azmi, however, said one should differentiate between the establishment and the people.
"But lets not lose sight of the fact that there is a difference between the Pakistani Establishment and the people of Pakistan and vice versa. On both sides of the border stand sisters and brothers divided by circumstances with which they had nothing to do," she added.
In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 40 personnel and leaving many critically wounded.
Azmi condemned the attacks and said she stands united with the grieving families.
Will there be no let to these heinous attacks? These mindless killings. This utter disregard for human lives? Extremely shocking news coming from Pulwama. I strongly condemn the worst terror attack on CRPF convoy, she wrote.
Akhtar, who had penned the CRPF anthem which was launched in 2014, also took to Twitter to pay his condolences.
I have a special relation with CRPF. I have written their anthem before putting the pen to paper I met a number of CRPF officers and whatever I learned, my respect, admiration and love for these braves increased by many a fold. Today I share the grief of the dear ones of the martyrs, he wrote.
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AR Rahman sends notice to 'slanderers' over speculations surrounding separation with Saira Banu
Chennai, Nov 23: Music composer AR Rahman on Saturday issued a warning to individuals speculating about his separation from his wife, Saira Banu.
Taking to social media on Saturday, the 57-year-old musician shared a three-page legal notice addressing those spreading defamatory and "objectionable" content targeting him and his family.
"Notice to all slanderers from ARR's Legal Team," Rahman wrote on X.
It comes days after Rahman and Saira Banu announced that they are ending their marriage of 29 years.
The notice provides a 24-hour window for the removal of such content, stating that failure to comply could result in legal consequences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
"My client informs the hatemongers and sharers of abusive contents to remove the objectionable content within the next one hour and a maximum time duration of 24 hours," read the notice.
Rahman’s legal team said the actions of these individuals not only tarnish his reputation but also cause distress to his family.
Rahman and Banu tied the knot in 1995 and share three children-- daughters Khatija, Raheema, and son Ameen.
Notice to all slanderers from ARR's Legal Team. pic.twitter.com/Nq3Eq6Su2x
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 23, 2024
