Dear citizens of India,
I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the happenings on January 1 when hooligans in Juhu traumatised two US-based couples. I read about the incident in the papers. Though I know it’s disturbing for them to relive the incident, I would like to request the ladies to file a police complaint because that is the only way we can bring the perpetrators to justice.
It’s a shame that such people exist within the fabric of our society. If we as people don’t take a stand, then what will stop these offenders from repeating such acts? Tomorrow, this ugly episode can also happen to your sister, wife or daughter. Why wait till that happens? If not for anyone else, raise your voice and protest for the coming generation. Because if you don’t, things will get worse. I urge please not to keep silent till justice is done!
I have always taken a stand for what I believe in. I will continue to fight against whatever I feel is wrong. It was while working on my film Halla Bol that I realised how much keeping silent has seeped into our characters. We are constantly stifling our voices and conscience. People ask me what Halla Bol means — it means to raise your voices, not physically but against something the ills in society. It was also a war cry in the olden days.
The incident that happened in Juhu is somewhat similar to a scene in Halla Bol, where I witnessed a similar molestation on two women —of course, reel life is more dramatic — and the women in Hala Bol are murdered. Why do we stand for such things happenings in our society? I am sure there were many people in the mob attack who simply stood and watched. Why didn’t they step forward to help these women? If we don’t help, hooliganism will keep increasing.
It’s unfair to blame the police for everything — they are doing their job to the best of their ability. We need to act too. People have to understand the collective might of the public and media. If we raise our voices together, we can change anything — including the system. We have to raise our voice and say Halla Bol against anything what is wrong. It’s pointless to complain against the government when we don’t want to do anything to change the system and remain mute spectators to every violent or wrong incident that happens.
If we as a nation decide to keep quiet and stifle our conscience, eventually we will all suffer. Within the law, I would like the offenders to be dealt with as harshly as possible and made such an example of, so that they never repeat such an act again. We have to make an example of them so that it sends out a message to anyone who thinks he can commit a crime and get away with it.
— Ajay Devgan
(As told to Upala KBR – Midday)
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