Actor Swara Bhaskar has applauded the efforts of 49 celebrities who wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their concern over mob lynching.
“Mob lynching has become an epidemic in the country today and I don’t think that we can turn our face away from this harsh reality. There’s no point in falsifying it,” ANI quoted the 31-year-old star as saying at an event in Mumbai.
She appreciated the filmmakers and writers who have come together to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to the “tragic events” happening all over the country.
” I believe that it is very commendable that artists, filmmakers, writers in our country are engaged and affected with whatever is happening in the society.” Swara added.
She further stated that the need of the hour is a strong law. “I have been trying to talk on the issue of mob lynching for the past 3-4 years and even asked for a Manav Suraksha Kanoon. But it’s sad that things have got worse rather than improving. It is very important that district authorities, where such incidents happen, take full accountability in the matter. I believe that the PM who has the power to do it will look into the matter.”
A letter was written on Wednesday expressing concerns over the rising incidents of lynching and the provocative use of “Jai Shri Ram” leading to law and order problems in the country.
49 celebrities including the likes of veteran filmmakers like Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Mani Ratnam, Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen, to historian like Ramchandra Guha had signed the letter.
“… We were shocked to learn from the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) reports that there have been no less than 840 instances of atrocities against Dalits in the year 2016, and a definite decline in the percentage of convictions,” said the letter.
It also said that 254 religious identity-based hate crimes were reported between January 2009 and October 2019, in which ““at least 91 persons were killed”.
The letter also alleged that 90 per cent of the attacks were reported after May 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power.
The celebrities also stated that PM Modi had criticised the lynchings in the Parliament adding that it was simply “not enough”.
When Swara Bhasker was asked about the political inclinations of those associated with the letter, she replied, ” So what if they are inclined. It is not bad. We live in a democracy where ideoogy is welcome.”
“Mob lynching is wrong and if anyone is voicing their concern on the matter, their ideology or inclination shouldn’t matter. I wholeheartedly support the artistes, filmmakers, people who have written this letter.” she said affirming her support.