Aaditya Thackeray slams social media posts against cricketer Mohammed Shami and lyricist Javed Akhtar

Former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray criticizes online trolls targeting Mohammed Shami and Javed Akhtar's patriotism based on religion.

Taking a sharp jibe at posts by online ‘trolls’ on social media platform X, former Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT or Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Monday (February 24, 2025) criticised comments against cricketer Mohammed Shami, and screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar’s patriotism based on their religion during the India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Expressing his displeasure, Mr. Aaditya Thackeray shared a post with screenshots of Javed Akhtar’s tweets on Sunday, praising the Indian cricket team, in which Mr. Akhtar said: “Virat Kohli, zindabad.!!!. We all are so so so proud of you!!!”

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Mr. Akhtar’s tweet followed antagonistic comments from social media users, including, “Aaj suraj kaha se nikla. Andar se dukh hoga apko to (where did the Sun rise from today? You must be disappointed inside)“.

“Javed Babar ka baap kohli hai bolo Jai Shree Ram (Javed Babar’s son is Kohli, say Jai Shree Ram),” another post said.

Mr. Akhtar responded: “Maen to sirf yeh kahoonga ke tum eik neech insaan ho aur neech hi marogay. Tum kya jano desh prem kya hota hai (I would only like to say that you are a vile person, and you will die a vile person. How would you know what patriotism is).”

To another commentator, Mr. Akhtar said, “Beta jab tumhare baap dada angrez ke jootay chaat rahe thay tab mere aazadi ke liye jai aur kala paani mein thay. Meri ragon mein desh premion ka khoon hai aur tumhari ragon mein angrez ke naukaron ka khoon hai. Iss anter ko bhoolo nahin (son, when your ancestors were licking the boots of the Britishers, mine were fighting for freedom and were imprisoned in Kala Pani. I have the blood of freedom fighters running through my veins. And you have the blood of the British servants running in yours. Never forget this difference).”