An increasing number of female members of the Hindi film industry have stepped out in vocal opposition of the two dastardly rape cases that have shaken the conscience of the country.
Kathua, Unnao rape cases: Enough! say Konkona Sensharma, Swara Bhasker, Kalki Koechlin
Mumbai - 13 Apr 2018 13:00 IST
Our Correspondent
The last two days have raised quite a few questions on the nature and extent to which India's morality has fallen. The rapes of minor girls in Kathua in Jammu, and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh resulted in a severe backlash against authorities. The Hindi film industry, for once, did not shy away from the barbaric event and took to social media to express their disgust.
While Thursday (12 April) saw Farhan Akhtar, Riteish Deshmukh, Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan fire off tweets condemning the incident, female artistes took the torch on Friday (13 April). Actresses Swara Bhasker, Kalki Koechlin, Huma Qureshi and Gul Panag were among many who posted pictures of themselves as 'Hindustan', ashamed at the incidents.
I am Hindustan. I am Ashamed. #JusticeForOurChild #JusticeForAasifa
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) April 13, 2018
8 years old. Gangraped. Murdered.
In ‘Devi’-sthaan temple. #Kathua and lest we forget #unnao Shame on us! #BreakTheSilence #EndTheComplicity #ActNow pic.twitter.com/O8rABOrZq9
— Kalki à¤ÂÂÂà¥ÂÂÂà¤ÂÂÂला (@kalkikanmani) April 13, 2018
Director Alankrita Shrivastava, whose Lipstick Under My Burkha (2015) was among the first to suffer from the patriarchal system of censorship from the Central Board of Film Certification, also took the opportunity to make her stand clear.
I am Hindustan. I am ashamed. #justiceforourchild 8 years old! Gangraped! Murdered in 'Devi'-sthan temple. #kathua pic.twitter.com/s4U67mKR8H
— Alankrita (@alankrita601) April 13, 2018
The director was joined by her Lipstick Under My Burkha actresses, Konkona Sensharma and Ahana Kumra as well.
Rape is an act of violence. It should be banned.
— Aahana Kumra (@AahanaKumra) April 13, 2018
I am Hindustan.
I am Ashamed.#JusticeForOurChild #JusticeForAasifa
8 years old. Gangraped. Murdered.
In 'Devi' - sthaan temple. #Kathua and lest we forget #unnao
Shame on us. #BreaktheSilence #EndTheComplicity #ActNow #BanRape pic.twitter.com/lMAreG956F
I am Hindustan.I am Ashamed. #JusticeForAasifa
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) April 13, 2018
8 years old. Gangraped. Murdered.
In ‘Devi’-sthaan temple. #Kathua pic.twitter.com/vi62IueHDQ
Deeply ashamed and upset. pic.twitter.com/5502Iq40CH
— Konkona Sensharma (@konkonas) April 13, 2018
I am Hindustan.
— Shruti Seth (@SethShruti) April 13, 2018
I am ashamed. #justiceforourchild
8 years old! GANGRAPED!!!
MURDERED in ‘devi’sthan TEMPLE #kathua pic.twitter.com/Wm3Tf3o0ow
I am Hindustan. I am Ashamed. #JusticeForOurChild
— Gul Panag (@GulPanag) April 13, 2018
8 years old. Gangraped. Murdered.
In ‘Devi’-sthaan temple. #Kathua pic.twitter.com/pzC8bVaAY4
Strong, clear cut action against fiends who commit and defend rape. Standing up for our girls inviolable right to live. If our country does have laws then where is the justice? #Kathua #JusticeforAsifa #BetiBachao #EnoughIsEnogh #India #areyoulistening #ourgreatleader pic.twitter.com/juRZqMa4zu
— Tillotama Shome (@TillotamaShome) April 13, 2018
This has to stop. Give us strength to help stop it. #JusticeForAsifa. Let’s think beyond. #kathua #unnao pic.twitter.com/zP7F37v4v5
— Sai (@SaieTamhankar) April 13, 2018
Our hearts burn with tears & rage. #JusticeForOurChild#Kathua#JusticeforAsifa pic.twitter.com/TBaGVCpqZw
— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) April 13, 2018
#JusticeForOurChild #KathuaCoverUp #Unnao #EndRape #NoMoreRapeyCops #NoMoreRapistsInParliament pic.twitter.com/TkV92rGyGx
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 13, 2018
I am Hindustan.I am Ashamed. #JusticeForAasifa
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) April 13, 2018
8 years old. Gangraped. Murdered.
In ‘Devi’-sthaan temple. #Kathua pic.twitter.com/vi62IueHDQ
This has to stop. Give us strength to help stop it. #JusticeForAsifa. Let’s think beyond. #kathua #unnao pic.twitter.com/zP7F37v4v5
— Sai (@SaieTamhankar) April 13, 2018
The industry has already been reeling under accusations by the child abuse brought to light by veteran actress Daisy Irani recently, but this stance by the female members of the industry might just be an eye-opener. This is not to say that it was an all women movement. Rapper Baadshah was among the others who stood up against this ghastly occurrence.
#JusticeForAasifa #ActNow pic.twitter.com/jDlPrg4eBt
— BADSHAH (@Its_Badshah) April 13, 2018
Earlier in the day, lyricist Javed Akhtar and actress Priyanka Chopra had put out tweets condemning the crime, asking for justice for the 8-year-old girl Ashifa, who was raped and murdered in Kathua.
Who was Asifa ? She was an eight years old daughter of Bakerwals. Who are Bakerwals ? A nomad tribe who when spotted the Kargil intruders promptly informed the army .Who are the people who are trying to protect the rapists of this little girl . ? Now it is your turn to answer.
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 13, 2018
How many more children like baby Asifa will be sacrificed at the intersect of religion & politics? How many more children will have to suffer unimaginable crimes before we wake up? I’m disgusted. It’s time for swift action. We owe it to Asifa and to humanity. #justiceforAsifa.
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) April 12, 2018
With the film fraternity finally reacting to an event, it is perhaps time the industry also examines itself.
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