Ugly scenes at Anupam Kher’s march, women journalists ‘bullied’

[Maarkhoor]

Actor Anupam Kher raises slogans during the march in New Delhi on Saturday against the return of awards by writers and artistes. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Actor Anupam Kher led a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday, alleging that the return of awards by writers, artistes and others against “rising intolerance” was an act to defame the country.

A delegation of a select few artists from the group met Prime Minister Narendra Modi later, who said “Indian culture goes beyond tolerance and talks of acceptance”. The President’s office posted a picture of the delegation’s meeting with him on Twitter.

As the contingent marched down the Rajpath to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, some of the participants burst out against questions posed by media persons, including two women television reporters, leading to ugly scenes.

Many film-makers, artistes and others from the film fraternity, including Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashoke Pandit, Priyadarshan, Manoj Joshi and Abhijeet Bhattacharya, and writer Madhu Kishwar joined what they dubbed the ‘Tolerance March’ to hand over a memorandum signed by over 40 persons to the President.

Woman journalist heckled

Bhairavi Singh, a senior NDTV reporter, was allegedly heckled, harassed and bullied before other media persons intervened and escorted her to a police cordon.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in her support later in the day, and the Aam Aadmi Party condemned the march and the episode.

Ms. Singh told The Hindu that the attack on her was “ironic” because it took place at an event at the core of which was an attempt to portray “tolerance” espoused by Indian society.

“This was purely a case of shooting the messenger and nothing more; I not only did not ask any question about paid participation in the rally nor made a query similar in nature to it, but tried my best to give as many interviewees a chance to put their views out there as possible,” Ms. Singh said adding that both she and her channel were likely to press criminal charges.

Anupam Kher expresses regret

Mr. Kher reportedly expressed regret to the channel.

In a statement, the AAP said Mr. Kher and his associates had “set an extremely wrong precedent” by countering the arguments of intellectuals from various walks of life and hurling threats and abuses on them during the march.

The party condemned the “decision by the marchers, a majority of whom appeared to be political workers, not even to spare journalists who were subjected to shameful behaviour.”

Mr. Kher said the protests against “intolerance”, which began with writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards, showed that rather than addressing their concerns through their respective fields, these people were using the media to hurt the spirit of India.

“We had a meeting with a lot of writers, artistes, filmmakers and they also believe that there is no intolerance in the country ... This march is a symbolic gesture on part of a lot of people over here who say India is one and free of intolerance,” Mr. Kher said.

“Any brutal killing is condemnable. We strongly condemn it and expect swift justice,” he said while reading out their letter to the President.
Ugly scenes at Anupam Kher’s march, women journalists ‘bullied’ - The Hindu

 

[Maarkhoor]

@haviZsultan @nair @Imran Khan @engineer saad

 

[Gibbs]

@haviZsultan @nair @Imran Khan @engineer saad

So this blokes wife is a member of the BJP government who's members have been issuing some of these intolerant statements.. No wonder he is up in arms against the media and those with opposing views.. And looks like not he first time

Anupam Kher lashes out at wife Kirron’s protesters | The Indian Express

 

[SrNair]

So this blokes wife is a member of the BJP government who's members have been issuing some of these intolerant statements.. No wonder he is up in arms against the media and those with opposing views.. And looks like not he first time

Anupam Kher lashes out at wife Kirron’s protesters | The Indian Express

Every Indians have their own right to express their views .Both radical and liberal .It is up to the Indians that chose the rational choice .And we will chose that .
WE know the hypocrisy of secularists and stupidity of right wing guys.

 

[The-king]

It becomes clear and clearer that divides in Indian society widens up day by day, now intellectuals and artists also divided on intolerance issue, A big part of Indian society specially Hindus adopting Hinduvta views while some shows neutral and the other major group supports secularism. I am not forecasting but it is imminent a single violent incident turns into a civil war which consume millions of lives. Politician specially Modi is playing very dangerous game for political gains and the results will be devastating for union of India.

@Joe Shearer @WAJsal @Spectre
Gents you views

Regards,

 

[livingdead]

yes, its all conspiracy to defame India... lolz...

 

[Ajit Kumar]

Yes. I wanted this to happen. Finally.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

So is this guy also a racist hidden extremist, quite disappointed

 

[Tricktor]

It becomes clear and clearer that divides in Indian society widens up day by day, now intellectuals and artists also divided on intolerance issue, A big part of Indian society specially Hindus adopting Hinduvta views while some shows neutral and the other major group supports secularism. I am not forecasting but it is imminent a single violent incident turns into a civil war which consume millions of lives. Politician specially Modi is playing very dangerous game for political gains and the results will be devastating for union of India.

@Joe Shearer @WAJsal @Spectre
Gents you views

Regards,

Yes, this is going to backfire on Modi and India. They had a chance to move India forward, but they just seem to be going backwards, they seem to be making racism, hatred, and violence the norm of Indian culture.

I don't think hatred used to be the norm of Indian culture, but it seems like this is happening more and more every passing day. Seems strange so many Indians are enthusiastically advocating for their country to be ruined.