B-town celebs hit streets to protest against Kathua, Unnao rapes
What's the story
Several Bollywood celebrities, including Rajkummar Rao, Twinkle Khanna, and Kalki Koechlin, joined a protest to demand justice for the victims in the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, which have caused nation-wide outrage. The protest, held in Mumbai last evening, saw hundreds of people gather at Carter Road holding placards with messages such as "Don't let this movement fade away". Here's more.
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I'm ashamed, I'm sad: Helen
During the protest Veteran actor Helen said, "I'm ashamed, I'm sad. I have no words to tell you...It's horrifying. What will be the punishment? After a few days, they'll make you forget about it. What can we do? The higher authorities should come forward."
The protest
There is strength in numbers and in unity: Priyanka Chopra
The protest was joined by actors Aditi Rao Hydari, Patralekhaa, Sameera Reddy, singers Sona Mohapatra, Anushka Manchanda, and music composer Vishal Dadlani, among others. Priyanka Chopra, who is currently in Ireland, tweeted and appealed to people to attend it. "If you can make it, please do. We all agree that armchair activism isn't enough. There is strength in numbers and in unity," she tweeted.
Punishment
Rapists should be given the harshest punishment: Vishal Dadlani
Vishal Dadlani feels rapists should be given the harshest punishment and said it was extremely sad that some people came in support of the perpetrators of such a heinous crime. Aditi said, "Till we do something, change won't happen. We need to understand the problem and make sure we tackle it because no one is doing that so we will have to do it."
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We need to wake up and save India right now
"But remember, those who tried to save the rapists in both the cases, they come from the same thought process. We need to understand, India doesn't belong to these people, it's ours. We need to wake up and save India right now," Vishal added.
Cases
Eight people arrested so far in Kathua rape case
An eight-year-old girl was raped and killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. A Special Investigation Team has arrested eight people, including two Special Police Officers and a Head Constable, in connection with the incident. In UP's Unnao, a teenage girl alleged she was raped by ruling BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been arrested by the CBI, which is probing the case.