Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal on Friday expressed his disappointment with Bollywood for its silence over the ongoing farmers’ protest. He criticised the film fraternity for not standing up for Punjab in time when the state needed them the most.
The singer tweeted that every now and then movies have been shot in Punjab, everytime celebrities were welcomed with open hearts. But today when the state needed them the most, they did not show up and spoke a word in support of their protesting farmers.
Several groups of agitating farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana have been staging protests in and around the national capital for the ninth consecutive day, demanding all the three new farm laws to be taken down.The farmers organisation have called Bharat Bandh on December 8 to increase pressure on the central government.
Singer Jaswinder Singh Bains, popularly known Jazzy B, came in support of Grewal and said those people whose conscience is alive are coming forward in support, not ones who’s conscience are dead, he tweeted.
While actor Taapsee Pannu found the Grewal’s tweet quite demotivating. Just because ones expected did not come up, please don’t include us in the same umbrella, she said. Not that we need any kind of validation regarding our support but it really pulls down our efforts when disregarded, the actor added.
Further Grewal responded to the actor saying that his tweet was not meant for Pannu or others who are in support, but for those who call themselves from Punjab.They don’t utter a single word in support and just disappear, the singer added.
Further unconvinced Pannu quickly replied saying that calling out the entire Bollywood is unfair. Especially to few like her who have always stood up for the causes they believed right. While few who are in support do not even belong to Punjab, but their respect for farmers is what made them stand up, the actor further clarified.
Apart from Pannu, a slew of celebrities from the film industry including Richa Chadha, Hansal Mehta, Sonu Sood, Divya Dutta, Mohammed Zeesahna Ayyub among others have come out in support of farmers.