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Deepika Padukone shows up at JNU protest, sparks Twitter calls for boycott of ‘Chhapaak’

Actor Deepika Padukone, who is Delhi to promote her upcoming movie 'Chhapaak', joined the crowd at a JNU protest meet where student body president Aishe Ghosh was speaking.

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New Delhi: Social media was flooded Tuesday evening with photos of actor Deepika Padukone standing in the crowd gathered for a protest meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Padukone was spotted standing behind Aishe Ghosh, the student body president, who was injured in Sunday’s masked mob attack.

The central university has been in the news since Sunday after an unprecedented attack by vandals. Students and teachers have alleged these armed attackers belonged to the Right-wing ABVP, while it has alleged that the Left student organisations were behind it.

Padukone eventually left without addressing the crowd, and her decision prompted Ghosh to comment, “when you are in a position, you should speak up”, according to news agency PTI.

On Monday, the 34-year-old actor told a news channel that she feels proud that people have come out and raised their voice without fear, in reference to the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the National Register of Citizens and violence in JNU.

“I feel proud to see that we aren’t scared to express ourselves… I think the fact that we are thinking about the country and its future…. Whatever may be our point of view, it’s nice to see,” she told NDTV India.

“I feel proud about it that people are coming out ⁠— be it on the streets or wherever they are ⁠— they are raising their voice and expressing themselves as it is important. If we want to see change in life and society, it is important that a point of view be put forward,” she added.

The actor is in the capital to promote her upcoming film Chhapaak, directed by Meghna Gulzar, which releases this Friday.

As news of Padukone’s visit spread, people on Twitter began splitting into two camps, with some commending her and others criticising her. The hashtag #BoycottChhapaak also gained traction.

https://twitter.com/BoseSugato/status/1214569635942731779?s=20

https://twitter.com/AshishMerkhed/status/1214569631853076480?s=20

As many as 34 people were injured, with several, including Ghosh, sustaining head injuries and fractures. Ghosh alleged she was specifically targeted, and that the campus security was in a nexus with the masked attackers. The police, who were outside the campus at the time of the attack, came under criticism for entering JNU only much later.

According to officials who spoke to ThePrint, the police were waiting for clearance from the JNU administration to enter the campus, citing the Jamia Millia Islamia controversy a few weeks before.

In a report to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, JNU administration said Sunday’s violence was the result of a scuffle between two groups of students during a meeting organised by the JNU Teachers’ Association — a claim denied by both teachers and students.

Earlier Tuesday, a fringe right-wing group, the Hindu Raksha Dal, took responsibility for the attack in a video posted on social media.

(With inputs from PTI)


Also read: JNU attack aided by administration, says teachers association, demands V-C’s resignation


 

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7 COMMENTS

  1. For instant publicity Joining with the cause of anti-Indian , anti-Hindu forces is instant mantra. But remember it back-fires.

    Leftists have been successful in turning an institution of higher learning called -JNU- . into a Womb from where anti-national toys are churned out. But remember India of 21st century is not going to accept this output . Over-politicization always dents the institutions credibility. The celebrities siding with tainted students will surely lose their celebrity status with common masses who disapprove of “leftitis Tamashas”
    In Delhi itself there are /may be 3 lacs students in the institutions of higher learning in DU, IITs, Engineering and management colleges, in AIIMS.and other medical and dental colleges, whereas in JNU it may be less than 10-15000. A handful of minority of so called lefties students always remain in news for political reasons. Why they can not devote exclusively to studies and research for which they have taken admission in a premier institution financed by the taxpayers and poor people of India. ?

  2. https://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/supreme-court-directs-centre-to-look-into-a-pil-seeking-investigation-into-exchange-by-rbi-of-30-cr-defaced-notes-by-kashmiri-separatist-81558 Does this not prove contrary to what ” said bythe HRD ministry told PMO last year. “Contrary to what is preached is practiced, in reality” as to what said , to our Honouable Prime Minister ” Baashan se Saashan Nehi Hotha ” .
    P.S.
    APPEARS Professional Pillars of Governance, kept under threat and pressure, by the majoritarian group of corruptive politicians and hence, neglection of the minorities who are harassed and humiliated to the core. Deliberate piling up of cases and delay being therefore caused. Ref:Citation e.g. W.P.2989/2014, while AFT having the illogica old-aged monopolistic rights, to the extent of getting the “Vakaltnama abused” – Client betrayed by withdrawing the case WITHOUT the concern/consemt of the aggrieved client.

    A Septuagenarian Ex-Serviceman of the National Emergencies, who himself an aggrieved citizen of India, after 72 long years of Indian Independence, aggrieved for lapses in Law & order Execution – for lawlessness.

    We pray, that all nations will learn the art of Mutual Love and Respect, with high sense of humanity, rather than on differences in class, religion etc. .

    Self, a Fellow-Chartered Engineer & Lawyer. Research Scholar Ph.D.Law. Foundation member & 1st General Secretary, Chennai Society for Fast Justice.

  3. Old times Village marrassi are now called film stars. There is nothing intellectual in them. They expose their cleavage,breast, thighs for money . So what’s big deal. Boycott is also part of freedom of expression and justified. Why perturbed?

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