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

Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar hailed letter written by Aparna Sen, Anurag Kashyap and 47 or celebrities to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging intolerance in 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 country', adding that it's hard to "turn our face away from harsh reality" of increase in such cases in country.

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

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

Trinamool MP Nusrat Jahan backs Letter

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

“re 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. first-time MP from West Bengal's Basirhat termed that mob lynching criminals as ‘terrorists’ adding that y are thing but enemies of country.

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

Celebs write to PM Modi

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

Read here:

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

Arnab exposes hypocrisy of lobby

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

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

Mamata Banerjee refuses to comment

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

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

READ | Mamata Banerjee Says ' Problem' With Jai Shri Ram Chant, Calls 49-celebrities 'intolerance' Letter To PM 'genuine Grievance''

(With ANI inputs)