Actors like Sonam Kapoor and sports personalities like Sania Mirza have condemned the Kathua rape and murder case, and demanded justice for the victim.
New Delhi: After international media outlets reported Thursday the protests in support of the accused in the horrific Kathua rape and murder of an eight-year-old, Indian celebrities weighed in demanding for justice for the victim. Their condemnation of the incident comes even as most politicians refrained from commenting on it.
Both The New York Times and Washington Post highlighted the communal angle being given to the gangrape and murder of the eight-year-old. The New York Times report emphasised the manner in which Hindu groups came out in support of the accused, and not the victim.
In India, the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl has led to protests by Hindu nationalists — coming to the defense of the accused https://t.co/9vAjVE6tF7
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 11, 2018
In a tweet, Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor shared The New York Times article, saying she was “appalled and disgusted by fake nationals and fake Hindus”.
Ashamed appalled and disgusted by fake nationals and fake Hindus. I cannot believe this is happening in my country. https://t.co/V8tKoo6viX
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 12, 2018
She also shared a tweet by Barkha Dutt, in which the journalist attached a link to her column on the issue for The Washington Post.
The #Kathua & #Unnao Rapes hold up a mirror to the worst in us- religious hatred & class bias (in Media too). They marched for rapists in #Jammu but we, the People, did not march for the women. Nothing changed after #Nirbhaya-my @washingtonpost column https://t.co/Ca2x5kcVtg
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) April 12, 2018
Professional tennis player Sania Mirza retweeted The New York Times‘ post and condemned the gruesome incident.
Is this really the kind of country we we want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender,caste,colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach pic.twitter.com/BDcNuJvsoO
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 12, 2018
Other celebrities too pitched in. Actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar asked his 11.4 million followers on Twitter to demand justice for the child.
Imagine what goes through the mind of an 8 yr old as she is drugged, held captive, gang raped over days and then murdered.
If you don’t feel her terror, you are not human.
If you don’t demand Asifa get justice, you belong to nothing.— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) April 12, 2018
Famous Indian poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar tweeted that people needed to raise their voice against the Kathua tragedy, as well as the alleged Unnao rape.
All those who wish justice for women should stand up and raise their voices against the rapists and their protectors in Unnao and Kathua .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 11, 2018
In their 18-page chargesheet, the J&K police crime branch has claimed the eight-year-old was kidnapped, drugged and killed in a bid to drive members of her community out of Rasana village in Kathua.
Eight people, including a juvenile, have been charged in the case.