india

Updated: Jul 26, 2019 12:48 IST

Days after 49 celebrities wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over mob killings, a counter-letter by 61 eminent personalities questions the ‘selective outrage’.

Among the signatories on the latest letter are actor Kangana Ranaut, lyricist Prasoon Joshi, classical dancer and MP Sonal Mansingh, instrumentalist Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Vivek Agnihotri, reports ANI

The open letter questions the ‘selective outrage and false narratives’. It asks why do the celebrities remain silent when tribals and marginalized are targeted by Maoists.

“The selective outrage and amnesia of this particular group makes us believe that they are working to a certain agenda and are only playing into the hands of those forces that are out Balkanise India and to destabilise her,” they said.

The 61 personalities who have written an open letter against 'selective outrage and false narratives'. pic.twitter.com/Fdeac3KCri — ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019

On Wednesday, expressing concern over instances of mob violence in the country, 49 intellectuals, artists and professionals had written an open letter to PM Modi asking him to institute exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of such crimes. “The lynching of Muslims, Dalits and other minorities must be stopped immediately,” the letter said.

“This group has also repeatedly expressed disdain for the faith of the majority in India. They have repeatedly heaped derision on those who believe in Lord Ram and who derive strength and solace by chanting his sacred name. This letter is a disguised attempt to pour disdain on the subalterns for whom faith and worship are defining dimensions,” the celebs added.

While concluding their letter, the 62 celebrities said, “We are confident that India shall continue her march of all round development, of progress and of social equity and not pay heed to those who try to destabilise her polity and society through trying to generate a false sense of siege and victimhood. Finally it shall be the triumph of democracy, of unity, of the Constitution and of the mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishvas!”

Signatories to the letter included filmmakers Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Aparna Sen, Mani Ratnam, Shyam Benegal, Ketan Mehta, Gautam Ghose; actors Soumitra Chatterjee, Revathy Asha; author Amit Chaudhuri; historians and academics, Ashis Nandy, Sumit Sarkar, Tanika Sarkar, Partha Chatterjee, Ramchandra Guha; and singer Shubha Mudgal.