Celebs face public ire, accused of joining protests for publicity
Times of India | 6 September 2024
Celebs face public ire, accused of joining protests for publicity KOLKATA: Actors and other celebrities in Kolkata who have sought to join the protests seeking justice for the raped and murdered RG Kar doctor, have been at the receiving end of public ire for their alleged opportunistic activism.
During Wednesday's 'Reclaim the Night' protests at Shyambazar, a group of protesters heckled actor Rituparna Sengupta, chanting "go back" slogans, and then pounding on her car windows when she was trying to leave.
On Aug 13, filmmaker Aparna Sen was jeered at by protesters when she arrived at RG Kar Hospital to express solidarity with agitating doctors. Protesters called her "a sycophantic intellectual who remained silent against the attack over the past five days" and "had abruptly awakened for publicity".
Hitting back, Rituparna said, "I went there with pure intentions. The heinous assault on me appeared to be the actions of hooligans. It felt as if I was portraying my character from the movie 'Dahan' in reality. I could have been killed, and my car bears the fingerprints of the enraged and inebriated agitators, who seemed to be thirsting for my blood. I believe this section of protesters fails to comprehend the purpose of this demonstration and was merely heckling me. Such incidents are tarnishing protests' reputation, although only a small number are involved."
Actor Mimi Chakraborty, who was at a march in Jadavpur Wednesday, said, "The incident with Ritu di is unacceptable. It is crucial to recognise that the fundamental reason for these protests is to advocate for safety of women."
Actor Sreelekha Mitra, however, said celebs should not feel entitled and expect special treatment.
"This is a time when the common man is not afraid to call out celebs who suffer from 'fear of missing out' syndrome and have turned into activists. I understand the anger people have against celebrities," she said.
Rimjhim Sinha, who started the 'Women, Reclaim the Night' movement, appealed to the participants to keep the protests peaceful and civil.
" If you think Rituparna is fake or corrupt, you can protest, but you should not insult anyone or attack their car," she said.