Have you been wondering as to what happened to actor Amitabh Bachchan and why he has been quiet on the brutal gang-rape and murder of the 8-year-old child in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua? Well, you weren’t the only one wondering.
This was first highlighted by Janta Ka Reporter in its report published on 13 April when we asked why an actor, who’s usually vocal about such acts of crime, Amitabh Bachchan has been silent on this matter. Even his son Abhishek had simply tweeted a photo of the eight-year-old with a hashtag #Asifa. Job done and the box ticked.
Senior Bachchan’s silence was bewildering particularly in light of his role as the brand ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet scheme, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. Well the good news is that senior Bachchan finally spoke on Thursday, but the bad news is that the comments made by the ambassador of Beti Bachao , Beti Padhao campaign will disappoint parents, who’re concerned about the safety of their girl children.
When asked to comment on Kathua gang-rape and murder, Bachchan asked the journalist to not ‘bring up this issue.’ “Even discussing this issue feels disgusting, don’t bring up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it,” Bachchan was quoted by ANI.
Bachchan’s Twitter activity in the recent weeks shows that the actor, admired by millions of Bollywood fans across the world, has openly aligned himself with the Hindutva fanatics, some of whom had come out in support of the rapists and murderers of the 8-year-old child in Kathua.
Not so long ago, he tweeted a video of known Hindutva troll on Goa Inquisition and how Hindus were allegedly persecuted by the erstwhile Portuguese rulers of the western coastal state.
Only days later this is what Shefali Vaidya tweeted asking Hindus to boycott the movies of all those Bollywood actors, who outraged on Kathua gang-rape and murder. She wrote, “Dear Hindus, if you have any self respect or dignity left, PLEASE do not watch any movie that stars @ReallySwara, Kareena Kapoor, @humasqureshi Kalki Koechlin, Sonam Kapoor and all other placard wala B grade actresses. Hit them where it hurts.”
Bachchan’s recent comments are incredibly disappointing given that he seeks to convince India to protect and educate their girl children. His silence would still be pardonable if he quit his role as the ambassador of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign and made it clear that he found it utterly disgusting that Hindutva fanatics were being projected as rapists and murderers.
Meanwhile, Bachchan’s bizarre logic to justify his silence on the gang-rape and murder of 8-year-old child has evoked angry reactions from social media users.
People who grew up admiring you for your roles in #Adaalat, #AajKaArjun, #AakhiriRaasta must be regretting wasting their money, time and admiration on a ‘hero’ whose head is like an Ostrich and feet are of soggy clay. @SrBachchan https://t.co/GLpt2WCqW0
— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) April 20, 2018
So Mr @SrBachchan it’s just okay to make films on rapes & molestation and cash it but not talk about it when in real? https://t.co/XVjyAQPIUR
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 19, 2018
While it’s clear that powerful forces are ensuring that Justice in the #KathuaCase is a long way off (if any)… What this case HAS DONE is expose a lot of hypocrisy.
In 2016 @SrBachchan spoke strongly about #SexualViolence (after #Pink)
In 2018 the topic has become #GandiBaat ? pic.twitter.com/aHlr7JN5yT— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee) April 19, 2018
.@SrBachchan you are spineless coward and morally corrupt!
You penned a letter to your grand daughter just to promote a movie, while when asked about RAPE of daughter of country…You found it not Worthy enough? Disgusting?
LOSER.— rajat sharma (@rsrajat365) April 19, 2018