As protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act intensified, Assam and the North-Eastern states spearheaded the movement with New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University joining hands with these states and standing in solidarity.
Over the weekend, students of Jamia and AMU were brutally attacked by the police, who stormed into their hostels and beat them up. In Jamia, the police barged into the library and released tear gas inside.
The situation is grim, with a number of students from both the institutions severely injured. The whole country is protesting against the violent clampdown on students who were peacefully protesting.
The Bollywood film fraternity also came out in support of the students and raised their voice against the injustice. Actors like Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, Huma Qureshi and many others came out in support of the students:
My heart goes out to all the students back home in Delhi. In a democracy like ours, its sad to see violence against citizens for voicing their opinion through peaceful protests. There should be no place for violence of any form & intent in our country. I strongly condemn this act
— Sidharth Malhotra (@SidMalhotra) December 16, 2019
A democratically elected Govt that creates laws against its own people is following the Nazi Germany model clearly. This government has failed the people of this country. See what is happening on the streets . India is protesting 🇮🇳 You cannot divide us https://t.co/5toqbTkSOS
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) December 17, 2019
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 16, 2019
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
With the students and their democratic rights to protest ! I condemn violence against protesting students!!!!!— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) December 16, 2019
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 ..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) December 16, 2019
Actors Call Out Colleagues
While voices were raised in support, many called out colleagues who had chosen not to speak up. Actress Sayani Gupta was the first to bring the issue to the fore, followed by actor Ali Fazal.
On behalf of the students of Jamia & AMU request at least one of you to tweet or message Mr.Modi condemning this act of police brutality and violence against students. The time has come to speak up guys. Yes? No? May be?@RanveerOfficial @karanjohar @ayushmannk @RajkummarRao pic.twitter.com/6l5ky5zbNt
— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) December 15, 2019
Its funny,i felt hey ali lets play it safe all these years. And now i cant. a lot of my colleagues may not speak up at all.But i pray we all realise there is no job no career above humanity. socho, aur time kam hai toh act fast.irrespective of your political ideologies right now
— Ali Fazal M / میر علی فضل / अली (@alifazal9) December 16, 2019
Actors Vicky Kaushal and Ayushmann Khurrana decided to speak up and voiced their opinions on Twitter after the backlash they faced for not doing so earlier.
What is happening is not okay. The way it’s happening is not okay. People have every right to peacefully voice their opinion. This violence and disruption is both saddening and concerning as a fellow citizen. In no circumstance, must our faith in democracy be shaken. 🇮🇳
— Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) December 16, 2019
This!🙏🏻 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/X8qj9sCdEO
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) December 16, 2019
While netizens are calling out a number of celebrities for staying quiet on a national issue, it is important that we recognize those who are speaking up.
Also Read: As India Burns, Students Unite Across The Country In Support Of Jamia, AMU Students
