Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar under fire for comments on suspended Kashmiri students

Akhtar said that the suspended Kashmiri students should have been rusticated instead of being restored by varsity.

Indian film lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar came under fire on Tuesday after some comments he made on Twitter on Monday about the 67 students from Kashmir who were suspended by Sharda University in Uttar Pradesh for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a cricket match on March 1, in Asia Cup.

Akhtar said that the suspension of the Kashmiri students should not have been revoked, instead they should be rusticated from the varsity and forced to return to the occupied state.

Why the suspension of those 67 Kashmiri students who cheered Pakistan is revoked. They should be rusticated and sent back to Kashmir

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 10, 2014

NDTV reported on Monday that Swami Vivekanand Subharti University had revoked the suspension and assured the students that they will not be ‘hounded’ once they return to campus.

The Uttar Pradesh government, which had initially filed sedition charges against the students, later withdrew their complaint after human right Groups and media highlighted the issue.

Akhtar's tweet, however, stoked the matter further on social media. It was not long though before he came under heavy criticism for his stance..

@Javedakhtarjadu ...go get a life man..on one hand u say kashmir is integral part of India & on other hand you want to send them back.shame

— Ally Ozbri (@AllyOzbri) March 10, 2014

In response to a tweet asking him to be ashamed for demanding to sent back the students to Kashmir, Akhtar said such people should be ashamed of supporting those who celebrated a defeat of the Indian cricket team and went on to label them as 'traitors.'

@Asgarnisar shame on you that you are standing by those who were celebrating Indian team's defeat . They are traitors .

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 10, 2014

@Javedakhtarjadu Sir,when British Indian cheers up on indian victory then they should have to send their homeland ?? Agree ?????

— Maqsood Asi (@MaqsoodAsi) March 10, 2014

https://twitter.com/imanupamskl/status/442984716661055488