Shiv Sena slams fatwa on Nahid Afrin, says India is not under Taliban rule

Condemning the fatwa issued against a 16-year-old singer Nahid Afrin by Muslim clerics in Assam, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday told ANI that such people are misusing their power to sabotage young talent and added that India is a democratic nation and not under Taliban's rule.

"Assam has a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. These clerics need to understand that Assam is in India and not in Pakistan. Taliban rule, which exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, is not implemented yet here. They are misusing politics to demoralise a 16-year-old," Raut said.

"If they have the guts then they should try issuing fatwa against men. The new generation has confidence and immense talent which they want to showcase in front of the world. These clerics should not stop such enthusiasm," he added.

He further said the government should also take steps to curb these issues, adding, "all political parties including Shiv Sena should stand by the girl and provide her security."

As many as 42 clerics issued a fatwa against reality singing star Afrin, who was the first runner-up of a musical reality TV show, asking her to stop performing in public.

According to the reports, the fatwa has been issued against her keeping in view an upcoming event that was to be held on March 25.

Since the venue of the event was in the vicinity of a mosque and a graveyard, the clerics announced to boycott her singing programmes and have asked her to stop performing in public.

Afrin, made her Bollywood singing debut for actress Sonakshi Sinha in the 2016 movie 'Akira', first rose to stardom after a successful stint on a reality singing show in 2015.