Several Bollywood stars have joined the public chorus of condemnation, shock, and dismay after a video of a mob of Hindu boys accosting a burka-clad student in Karnataka went viral earlier this week.
“I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa,” tweeted lyricist Javed Akhtar yesterday. “I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of ‘MANLINESS.'”
I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of “MANLINESS” . What a pity
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 10, 2022
Writing in Tamil, actor and director Kamal Haasan said, “What is happening in Karnataka is provoking unrest. A poisonous, religious wall is being erected among students […] What is happening in the neighbouring state [Karnataka] should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful.”
Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan warned, “Genocide is at the doorstep. It’s not just on Muslims (and Dalits) to fend for themselves. Progressive well-meaning Hindus will have to call out the hate within, demand accountability [and] force action!”
Genocide is at the doorstep. It’s not just on Muslims (and Dalits) to fend for themselves. Progressive well-meaning Hindus will have to call out the hate within, demand accountability & force action!
Your silent disassociation is meaningless.pic.twitter.com/9P9dHCndcO— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) February 8, 2022
“Raise your sons better! A bunch of ugly, cowards attacking a lone woman in a pack and feeling proud of it? WHAT LOSERS! Shameful. They’ll be jobless, more frustrated and penniless in a few years. What poor upbringing! No sympathy, no redemption for them,” said actress Richa Chadha, sharing multiple posts regarding the incident.
Raise your sons better! A bunch of ugly, cowards attacking a lone woman in a pack and feeling proud of it ? WHAT LOSERS! Shameful. They'll be jobless, more frustrated and penniless in a few years. What poor upbringing! No sympathy, no redemption for them. I spit on your kind. https://t.co/tvsdBwREZO
— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) February 8, 2022
On Tuesday, a video of group of Hindu boys sporting saffron scarves and harassing a hijab-wearing student went viral on social media, drawing ire and scorn from across both sides of the Line of Command (LoC).
