MumbaiNoted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar on Monday said that he is astonished by the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everyone, including himself, on the harassment of Muslim women on an online app. The morphed photographs of hundreds of Muslim women, including some prominent personalities, have been put up for ‘auction’ without permission by uploading them on the ‘Bulli Bai’ app. This is the second time this has happened in less than a year. This app is similar to the ‘Sully Deals’ that came into controversy last year.
Akhtar, in his tweet, said that he is surprised at the “silence” on these issues. The seventy-six-year-old lyricist tweeted, “Hundreds of women are being auctioned online. The so-called Dharma Sansad is being organized, the army, the police and the public are being asked to kill 20 crore Indians. I am surprised by the silence of myself and especially the Prime Minister on these issues. Is this everyone’s company?”
Akhtar also reacted to the Dharma Sansad held in Haridwar last month. The event has sparked controversy over alleged hate speeches by some speakers against Muslims. An FIR has been registered against 10 more people in connection with the event on Monday. Akhtar’s son, actor-director Farhan Akhtar also slammed the women’s auction incident when it came to light on Saturday.
Farhan tweeted on Sunday, “This is sickening. I request the police to take swift and stern action against those who are behind this shoddy work.” Swara Bhaskar, Richa Chadha, Shruti Seth and screenwriter Varun Grover have also slammed the incident, calling it “disgusting”. Grover said that Muslim women in the country are being targeted in an organized manner and deliberately.
He tweeted, “Islamophobia is not the right word for what we are seeing today. In spite of being nonsensical, phobias still contain suspicion, outside interference and the possibility of correction etc. ” Delhi Police on Monday sought information from ‘GitHub’ about the developer of the controversial ‘Bully by App’ and the handle that was the first to post in this regard from Twitter.