Sonam Kapoor, Richa Chadha, Farhan Akhtar demand justice for Ashifa

Even as the industry is struggling to come to terms with allegations of sexual abuse and discrimination, the country has been hit with two cases of rape so grotesque it defies description. Of these, it is the case of the rape and murder of an 8 year old girl in Kathua, Jammu, that has hit hardest among several members of the film industry.

Comedian and actor Vir Das took to Twitter to launch a vitriolic attack against the perpetrators of the crime, and any who stepped up in their defense.

Sharing a report of the incident, Das addressed politicians across the country, "I'd like to see every one of you miserable scum [sic] and your army of slimy sycophants put your parties and your bullshit aside and do something to make sure that no child ever has to face what this girl did. But you won't. Because you don't deserve this country." 

The incident in Jammu is shocking not just for the age of the victim, but for the brazen attempts by right wing groups to defend the perpetrators. A group of advocates had called a city wide shutdown after news of a chargesheet being filed against the accused broke. 

Actor-director Farhan Akhtar was another who could not digest this news. "If you don’t feel her terror, you are not human. If you don’t demand Ashifa get justice, you belong to nothing," he wrote. 

Not surprisingly, Richa Chadha lambasted the authorities for not stepping up and doing their duty. The actress did not hold back pointing at the hypocrisy of a country that worships goddesses while allowing such crimes against women to keep repeating. 

Actress Sonam Kapoor also tweeted out a story from the daily, New York Times, saying she was "ashamed and apalled" at it.