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Over 600 Indian theatre artists including Naseeruddin Shah ask citizens to vote against BJP, its allies

Over 600 Indian theatre artists including Naseeruddin Shah ask citizens to vote against BJP, its allies

The signatories said the Indian Constitution and institutions are under threat and ‘have been suffocated’.
Updated 05 Apr, 2019

Over 600 theatre artistes on Thursday issued a joint statement appealing to citizens to “vote bigotry, hatred, and apathy out of power”.

The 616 signatories of the statement include Amol Palekar, Anurag Kashyap, Dolly Thakore, Lillete Dubey, Naseeruddin Shah, Abhishek Majumdar, Anamika Haksar, Navtej Johar, M K Raina, Mahesh Dattani, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah and Sanjna Kapoor.

The statement appealed to people to “vote against the BJP and its allies” and to vote for a secular, democratic and inclusive India.

“Vote to empower the weakest, protect liberty, protect the environment, and foster scientific thinking,” it said.

The statement was released in 12 languages.

The statement said the upcoming elections are the most critical in the history of independent India.

It said the Bharatiya Janata Party, which came to power with the promise of development, gave a “free rein to Hindutva goons” to indulge in the politics of hate and violence.

“The man who was portrayed as the saviour of the nation five years ago has destroyed the livelihoods of millions through his policies,” it said.

The artistes said “the very idea of India” was under threat today.

“Today, song, dance, laughter is under threat,” their statement said.

“Today, our beloved Constitution is under threat. The institutions that have to nurture argument, debate and dissent have been suffocated. To question, to call out lies, to speak the truth, is branded ‘anti-national’.”

They appealed to citizens to help safeguard the Constitution, India’s “syncretic, secular ethos” and to vote to “defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism”.

Filmmakers and writers too have issued similar statements, appealing to citizens to vote the BJP out of power and to vote out hate politics.


This article, originally published at Scroll.in, has been reproduced with permission.

Comments

Rohan Apr 05, 2019 05:06pm
We citizen appeal to those artists to change there thought process, focus on their work and allow us to vote in free and fair manner to bjp. It's our vote, our right, our choice.
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Babu Apr 05, 2019 05:20pm
This Communists association of artists is the biggest danger to Indian democracy.
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Babu Apr 05, 2019 05:22pm
This much freedom of speech is no where in the world, that is why they can utter and write any thing.
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Divakar Apr 05, 2019 05:37pm
People might have heard about three or four of them. Let them tell that in public meetings. Meanwhile you guys can be happy till 23rd May.
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Desi Dimag Apr 05, 2019 05:38pm
And BJP will win.
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Pak uk Apr 05, 2019 05:50pm
Great signs.. society must stand itself for its right. Time for change in leadership in sub continent. Sadly it has been ruled by criminals most of the time.
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Bob Apr 05, 2019 06:00pm
Those who are against BJP have been enjoying extra freedom all these years. BJP has just snatched away that "extra" from their freedom. That is their grievance. But for a strong and united India, we need BJP back.
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Sha b Apr 05, 2019 06:01pm
Why cant they contest and win against bjp ?
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Asish Apr 05, 2019 06:16pm
What a shame. My Vote goes to BJP.
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Vishal Apr 05, 2019 06:28pm
your appeal to vote againts BJP is your choice , we will do whatever we best for our city our coummunity, weather we vote against or favour.
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venkat Apr 05, 2019 06:35pm
@Sha b they know they will lose even deposits
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Jameel Apr 05, 2019 06:55pm
My vote is with BJP...
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Rao Apr 05, 2019 07:05pm
Where were these guys when there were so many corruption scams during Congress rule?
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Mahesh Vyas Apr 05, 2019 07:17pm
These guys are not representatives of Indian people. Allow people to vote as per their wishes and judgement.
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Khan Apr 05, 2019 07:43pm
Its good that some sane voices are still alive in india
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Deepak Apr 05, 2019 07:44pm
Modiji going to win by even bigger margin than 2014. We will show you that on 23rd may.
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Jjacky Apr 05, 2019 08:21pm
@Babu people of India will vote for Bjp.
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Lost cause Apr 05, 2019 08:38pm
They have the right to express but people have already made up their mind.
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Farooque Apr 05, 2019 08:39pm
Secularism is the only hope for India.
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Sudhanshu Swami Apr 05, 2019 08:54pm
Crores of People will not Modi and BJP, Crores of people will not even vote, rest crores of people will vote for Modi.
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Mb Apr 05, 2019 10:09pm
Exit poll: 600 votes for khangress rest all India votes to BJP
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Ash20 Apr 05, 2019 11:11pm
All these artists should support whichever party they want to support but stop giving ‘duhai’ of secularism and constitution. They hate Modi and BJP which is ok but stop giving illogical reasons.
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mady Apr 05, 2019 11:24pm
If these artists believe in freedom of expression, democracy than pls avoid threats like danger. Encourage public to exercise voting-right. Participate in democracy for betterment of public which only each individual can think and decide.
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mady Apr 05, 2019 11:27pm
Did not see reactions of such celebrities when crimes against women, terror or poor were robbed due to corruption. Looks kind of elitist.
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Sutch Apr 06, 2019 12:26am
And they say don't mix art with politics...
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Chango Apr 06, 2019 12:58am
@Bob what is Extra? There is freedom or there is nothing
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Hemant Apr 06, 2019 03:36am
@Farooque Unlike Pakistan in india all parties claims to be secular and also act as secular! Please note that Imran could not keep an advisor that was Ahmadi, While Modi has four ministers from minority! We in india do not make just sloganeering, but we act, if a politician is none secular he will not survive! Probably people have larger brain compared to so called artist! All of these artist have their own rights to give advice to their followers. Same way all their fans have their own rights to vote for leader of their choice!!
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Rajesh Srivastava Apr 06, 2019 06:29am
Most people without work have joined together to get their 5 minutes of glory.
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Mehboob Apr 06, 2019 07:14am
These are the same people who wouldn't condemn the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits or the ant
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Sharan Apr 06, 2019 07:47am
@Sha only your one vote and the artist
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Sameer Apr 06, 2019 08:18am
There is no space in Bharat for Hindutva zeolots. India can survive as a secular entity only. Else religious harmony may be broken.
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Techscribe Apr 06, 2019 08:22am
@Khan If these are sane voices I am Narendra Modi.
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Fakland Apr 06, 2019 08:22am
Few happy words for Pakistan during these dismal days.
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RK Apr 06, 2019 08:23am
Now I decided to vote BJP
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Manvendra Apr 06, 2019 08:28am
We MODIfied Indina in 2014 and will do it again...these lefties have no impact in Indians choice...most of the people don’t even know who they are. Set aside their appeal
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MG Apr 06, 2019 08:33am
Whole world knows what kind of money is flowing in Bollywood and is controlled by underworld dons. These folks are puppets and help in securing more votes to Modi
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MG Apr 06, 2019 08:36am
Modi stopped free money in form of social clubs grant, NGOs, many useless posts in the name of artists etc and these are really struggling to feed their families as they don't want to work and earn,
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Murali Apr 06, 2019 09:16am
Good people, standing up against majoritarian politics. BJP and it’s supporters cannot claim it’s right just because it’s supported by upper caste North Indians.
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Asif Apr 06, 2019 09:30am
India has never been so safe to all religions before. All those corrup and hungry are using religion and try to come to power. They always used religion as a card to keep honest people. From coming to power. These 600 are actors who will act if paid.
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Jeevan Apr 06, 2019 09:37am
Do these artists have any responsibility? Are they accountable to public? Do they know hiw to build a country?? All they know is how encash poverty and chaos in society, make a movie or drama on it and fain publicity. They cannot change any life. If at all they have a vision, let them contest elections and bring manifesto.
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Park logic Apr 06, 2019 09:41am
These 600 are on someone's payroll. We know whose...
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Bharat Dave Apr 06, 2019 09:46am
These people may have their own views but they do not read the pulse of people. Moreover if they are sighting threat to democracy and institutes the fact that they are able to voice their views openly contradicts them. Mob lynching and other events have tarnished image of government but still they are isolated cases and not state sponsored. If any time democracy was under threat it was at the time of emergency.
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Sat Apr 06, 2019 09:49am
These so-called theatre artists will have to eat humble pie on 25th May. Where will they hide then?
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Nirmalya Apr 06, 2019 09:51am
These persons have a view and they have full freedom to express the same. Somebody calling them communists or anti national proves that he or they have run out of logical reasons for arguments. Be mature friends...... We are planning to send rocket to Mars!!!!!
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mkbarua Apr 06, 2019 10:30am
@Khan it is bad that some crooks are advising people whom to vote. It is peoples choice, no body should advice me.
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mkbarua Apr 06, 2019 10:33am
@Sudhanshu Swami My vote is for BJP.
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mkbarua Apr 06, 2019 10:34am
@RK good decision.
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Basharat Apr 06, 2019 10:35am
Any one can issue statement to vote for this party or that. If some big business houses can advertise for bjp why not these actors. It is right for all to have their openion. No one should question their integrity.
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Vedant Apr 06, 2019 10:40am
The more they talk, the more people will vote for BJP.
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Avijit Dey Apr 06, 2019 10:50am
@Farooque Secularism has been replaced by sickularism in India.
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Khurram Apr 06, 2019 11:30am
@Babu Are you sure ??
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Venkatesh Apr 06, 2019 11:42am
Sad that so many people whom we love for their artistic work come together to hate the one man who wants to make India a better place. Don't think you are trying to save the constitution but yourself.
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KHADAGG CHAUDHARY Apr 06, 2019 12:02pm
Its their freedom to express their opinion, and its our right to vote whom we think for the country. when they can say openly not to vote to running govt, means they enjoy freedom. we love them as artist. this gov. has some minuses also but feel larger better than corrupt old govts.
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Kailash Chandra Kaushik Apr 06, 2019 12:22pm
These artists should mind their own business.Citizens will decide whom they have to vote for.
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ABD San Francisco Apr 06, 2019 12:36pm
@Farooque Why don't you first practice it. Charity begin at home.
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Delhiite Apr 06, 2019 01:11pm
@Bob really? Can you please explain the meaning of "extra freedom"? Is questioning the prime minister, ruling party, their decisions wrong? They all exist only because of us. Each and every politician is the servant of the people who've voted for him. Be it modi, rajnath singh, gadkari or anyone, they are the servants of the people. We thus have every right to have that "extra freedom" to question them whenever we want. Burst the bubble and see the real situation India is in today. You'll see a much poorer India (all thanks to people like us) than it was after independence not in terms of its money but in terms of the tolerance level and humanity.
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Sanjeev Yadav Apr 06, 2019 01:21pm
They are losing their credibility only.
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Rav Apr 06, 2019 01:34pm
I'm convinced that BJP is the true savior of India.
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Bipul Apr 07, 2019 08:15am
Of course, lot of wealth looted by congress has landed in their kitty. Enjoy and vote for BJP.
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sheraz rasheed Apr 07, 2019 02:05pm
@Rohan if so why Modi ji asking Khan's to raise a campaign to vote for BJP?
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Pervez Apr 07, 2019 07:25pm
Lets not interfere in a foreign countries election as we won't want others to do the same.
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Cheruvu Srinivas Apr 07, 2019 10:08pm
@Basharat .yes one can advise to vote for this or that party. But can not advise to vote against this or that party. This is a rule of democracy and they violated it
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Gamal Apr 08, 2019 09:08am
I doubt this initiative will change the election outcome. Modi has tapped into the bigotry and Hindutva sentiments quite wisely.
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Neshi Apr 08, 2019 10:53am
Nobody should doubt his credentials. He is a proven secularist.
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