Prominent Bollywood actors and filmmakers have reacted angrily to reports of alleged police excesses in various parts of country amid the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.
The country is witnessing a 21-day lockdown, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to contain the spread of the virus, which has claimed the lives of over 24,000 people globally.
Several disturbing videos have appeared on social media showing cops allegedly thrashing people with sticks at several places, over-churning vegetable carts and making migrant workers, who are travelling to their home from cities on foot, do sit-ups and or crawl on the road.
Sharing one such video, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap tweeted, “This is horrible.”
Writer and comedian Varun Grover posted the same video, asking if the country belongs to those with “houses and power”.
“Can a worker not even walk barefoot 300 km to his village? Does the government want them to die of starvation in the cities, for the sake of a germ they don’t even know,” he added.
क्या भारत सिर्फ़ उनका है जिनके पास अपने घर और ताकत हैं?
क्या मज़दूर शहर से 300km पैदल चलकर वापस अपने गाँव भी ना जाये ?
क्या सरकार चाहती है ये शहरों में ही भूखे मर जाएं, एक ऐसे कीटाणु की खातिर जिसका उन्हें पता भी नहीं।
(Video from Badaun, UP via @Zebaism)
pic.twitter.com/3Y03KOWQmf— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) March 26, 2020
Director Sanjay Gupta also reacted angrily, tweeting, “Stop Lathi Charging Period.”
Thappad director Anubhav Sinha shared a video of two policemen beating up a motorist, who was carrying a sackful of essential supplies.
“Is it even legal to beat up someone like that,” Sinha asked.
Is it even legal to beat up someone like that????? https://t.co/SjRn7822oX
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) March 25, 2020
Actor Richa Chadda wrote, “What’s the logic behind beating people to death in order to prevent them from dying of a virus?”
What’s the logic behind beating people to death inorder to prevent them from dying of a virus ?
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) March 26, 2020
Meanwhile, filmmaker Shekar Kapur expressed his disappointment over the class divide visible in the country and said his heart went out to thousands of migrant workers, who are struggling to get back home.
“Even as we struggle to overcome the #CoronavirusOubreak, we are facing what could become a class war in India. For never have the inequalities within India been so apparent, as thousands of homeless jobless hungry migrant workers struggle to get home,” Kapur said.
Tagging Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sonu Sood appealed to him to help the workers to reach their home.
“Help them reach their homes sir. As mostly these labourers are from UP and Bihar they need a place to stay or means to reach their families. Time to find a way sir @CMOfficeUP @ArvindKejriwal.
Help them reach their homes sir. As mostly these labourers are from UP and Bihar they need a place to stay or means to reach their families. Time to find a way sir🙏 @CMOfficeUP @ArvindKejriwal https://t.co/YgWtlqpieA
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) March 26, 2020