Swara Bhasker & Nusrat Jahan back 49-celebrities 'intolerance' letter to PM Modi, call lynchings 'epidemic'

Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar hailed the letter written by Aparna Sen, Anurag Kashyap and 47 other celebrities to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging intolerance in the country and claiming that 'Jai Shri Ram' chants have become a war-cry. Addressing a presser in Delhi on Wednesday, Bhasker stated 'mob lynching an epidemic in the country', adding that it's hard to "turn our face away from the harsh reality" of increase in such cases in the country.

Praising the letter by the 'intolerance' lobby, the actress said that it is very "commendable that artists, filmmakers, writers are engaged and affected with what is happening in the society". 

On being questioned over political inclinations of signatories of the letter, Swara Bhasker said, "So what if they are inclined. It is not bad. Mob lynching is wrong and if anyone is voicing their concern on the matter, their ideology or inclination shouldn't matter."

Trinamool MP Nusrat Jahan backs Letter

Actress and Trinamool MP Nusrat Jahan extended her support to the 49 signatories on Wednesday, taking to social media, posted her views on the incidents of mob lynching. In a statement, she alleged that the lynch mobs have turned Ram’s name into a "murder cry", claiming that government is not taking any action against them.

“There are numerous incidents of citizens being attacked by so-called “cow vigilantes” over rumours of eating beef, or cow-smuggling, etc and government’s selective silence and inaction hits us hard,” she wrote in her post. The first-time MP from West Bengal's Basirhat termed that the mob lynching criminals as ‘terrorists’ adding that they are nothing but enemies of the country.

READ | As Arnab Goswami Exposes 'intolerance' Lobby's Hypocrisy, Here Are 10 Of The Many Things They Did Not Speak About

Celebs write to PM Modi

49 celebrities across various professions and fields including Bollywood filmmakers, actors, artists, historians and theatre on Wednesday wrote an open letter to PM Modi, alleging the presence of intolerance in the country and subsequent fear prevailing due to such incidents of mob lynching. In the letter, the 'intolerance' lobby claimed that the slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' have become a war-cry and alleged that lynchings take place in the name of chants. The letter also claimed that lynchings of Muslims, Dalits and other minorities, demanding it to be stopped. Likes of Aparna Sen, Anurag Kashyap, Konkana Sen Sharma, Mani Ratnam are among the 49 signatories in the letter.

Read here:

READ | 'Intolerance' Lobby Back: Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen & 47 Others Write To PM Modi; Claim 'Jai Shri Ram Now A Provocative War-cry'

Arnab exposes hypocrisy of the lobby

On Wednesday, Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami confronted the lobby-led by Bengali filmmaker Aparna Sen who was leading the press briefing on behalf of the other signatories. On being questioned by Republic TV on an array of issues, the lobby chose not to speak up, showing their hypocrisy on similar issues. They heard the questions, however, were unwilling to respond to queries regarding the selective nature of the incidents being highlighted in the letter. 

WATCH | Arnab Goswami Confronts Aparna Sen And 'intolerance' Lobby On LIVE TV, Exposes Their Hypocrisy

Mamata Banerjee refuses to comment

On being questioned over the lobby's letter to PM Modi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed that she 'respects the intellectuals' and that it is their democratic right. However, she refused to comment on 'Jai Sri Ram' being called a provocative 'war-cry' by the signatories in the letter.

"I will not say anything about this or make any comments on a particular slogan. It is their party, they can give any slogan, I don't have a problem," she said.

READ | Mamata Banerjee Says 'no Problem' With Jai Shri Ram Chant, Calls 49-celebrities 'intolerance' Letter To PM 'genuine Grievance''

(With ANI inputs)