Several Bollywood personalities join protest against JNU violence

Directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha were among the host of Bollywood personalities who turned up at Carter Road in Mumbai in solidarity with those protesting against the violence at the JNU.

In a peaceful gathering of hundreds, Bollywood was at the forefront with prominent personalities from the fraternity, including Swara Bhasker, Sudhir Mishra, Rekha Bhardwaj, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, Rahul Dholakia, Ali Fazal, Neeraj Ghaywan, Reema Kagti, Hansal Mehta, Vikramaditya Motwane, Saurabh Shukla, Rajkumar Gupta, joining the protesters.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

The attack triggered protests across the country on Monday and the clamour grew for the resignation of the vice chancellor, who is being blamed for inaction during the violence that left 34 people injured.

"We are with the students of all the three universities (Aligarh, Jamia and JNU) who were attacked," Sinha said. "We want to tell them, we are with them and we will stand for them everytime."
"I condemn the way police are controlled. Common man has been intimidated so much that now he is not afraid," the director said. "We stand by the students and they are our inspiration."
"I returned because of them. I stand with them. I stand behind them. I am learning from them."
"We aren't fools. We are watching. We know how riots are caused, how these situations are created. We can see what you want to do and what's your intention and where you are taking us. We won't let you take us there," Kashyap said
"There's a saying in Hindi, 'Bahut hua sammaan (Enough of showing respect)," she said. "So, we have reached that stage in this country where we have shown enough respect to the government, the law and order machinery, which have repeatedly failed to fulfil their responsibility."
As the evening proceeded, people sang songs like "Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna", "Ho Gayi Hai Peer Parvat Si", "We Shall Overcome", "Tu Zinda Hai Tu Zindagi Ki Jeet Mein Yakeen Kar."
The crowd also chanted "Mumbai Police Zindabad", as Sinha quipped: "Thank you for not detaining us."
Bhardwaj was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks: "I want this government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong."
Lyricist Swanand Kirkire said they were there to protest against the violence at JNU, "which they are calling a 'clash' which it wasn't."
He then recited a poem, 'Hindustan Kehte Hai Mujhe Main Gandhi Ka Desh Hu'. Later, the crowd and Mishra sang "Bawra Mann" from his acclaimed political film "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi."