Bollywood reacts to CAA protests

MUMBAI: Several Bollywood celebrities posted opinions all through Monday on the amended Citizenship Act (CAA) and the countrywide tension it has unleashed, which was triggered off after Sunday's protests at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who took a break from Twitter in August, made his comeback on the microblogging platform by sharing a tweet attacking the government.

He tweeted: "This has gone too far.. can't stay silent any longer . This government is clearly fascist .. and it makes me angry to see voices that can actually make a difference stay quiet .."

Reacting to his tweet, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha tweeted: "Welcome back Kashyap. Was missing you here."

The "Article 15" helmer tweeted a clear contempt at celebrities who have not taken a stand on the issue since yesterday: "F*** you everyone who does not have an opinion!!! F*** you!!! F*** you again!!! you are no icons!!! You are businessmen!!!"

In a separate tweet, Sinha expressed: "When no one has the answers, students do. Look at history worldwide."

Taapsee Pannu, reacting to a video of police crackdown at Jamia, tweeted: "Wonder if this is a start or the end. Whatever it is, this is surely writing new rules of the land and those who don't fit in can very well see the consequences.
This video breaks heart n hopes all together. Irreversible damage,and I'm not talking about just the life n property."

Expression her reaction on the same video, actress Kubbra Sait tweeted: "If this voice and plea doesn't shatter your inner demons. I don't know what will. Is the end here? Or can we still save ourselves. Where is the Prime Minister? The silence is deafening."

Dia Mirza tweeted: "What is happening in our country should make us all hang our heads in shame. Shame. Now is the time to come together and act as one nation, one people, one country."

Pooja Bhatt tweeted: "To speak with silence when we should protest is what makes cowards out of men. India is burning. One can't be mute anymore."

Swara Bhasker tweeted on Sunday night. The actress' tweet reads: "Shocking messages of violence, tear gassing from #Jamia in #Delhi ! Why are students being treated like criminals? Why are hostels being tear gassed.. ??? What is going on #DelhiPolice ???? Shocking and shameful! #CABProtests"

Lisa Ray tweeted on Monday afternoon: "For all those who feel the violent response of the Delhi police to students is justified as they were ‘destroying public property' I say, we must immediately arrest all men urinating against public walls in India who cause far more destruction on a daily basis. Shall we begin?"

Filmmaker Onir tweeted: "Students showing the path to true secularism and democracy . #CABAgainstConstitution"

Singer-composer Anupam Roy tweeted: "In solidarity with students of Jamia! #JamiaProtests"

Earlier, as reported by IANS, Rajkummar Rao had also protested against the police's violence against students. He tweeted, "I strongly condemn the violence that the police have shown in dealing with the students. In a democracy the citizens have the right to peacefully protest.I also condemn any kind of act of destruction of the public properties. Violence is not the solution for anything!"

Alankrita Shrivastava had tweeted: "Sarfaroshi ki tamanaa ab hamaare dil mein hai, Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai...Hats off to the brave young students of India. You who can speak squarely in the face of such oppression are true citizens."

In earlier reports, too, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar had liked a Jamia tweet and then went ahead to declare it was a mistake. All through Monday, the conflicting hashtags — #BoycottCanadianKumar and #ISupportAkshay — trended on Twitter at once.

Akshay, his clarification about the violence, added: "In no way do I support such acts."

Although most of Bollywood celebs have voiced opinions condemning the violence against students, Koena Mitra has tweeted in support for Delhi Police.

The actress wrote: "Dear Jamia students, these are not protests these are terror attacks! Ab saren victims ban gaye? Public properties jalana students ka kaam hai? #ISupportDelhiPolice."

Source: IANS