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India’s Bollywood Joins Protest Against Violence on University Students - Video

© Sputnik / Radhika ParasharIndians gather in Mumbai to protest against violence on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University on 5 January
Indians gather in Mumbai to protest against violence on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University on 5 January - Sputnik International
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New Delhi (Sputnik): India has been hit by a series of protests for the past month, first against a controversial citizenship law, and now against violence unleashed on students and teachers at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi by unidentified masked men and women.

India’s Bollywood fraternity joined a large number of people gathered in the western city of Mumbai on Monday evening to raise their voices against the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University that left dozens of students and teachers injured on 5 January.

Prominent directors Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Anubhav Sinha and Vishal Bharadwaj too part along with well-known on-screen faces Taapsee Pannu, Dia Mirza, Richa Cadhdha and Gauhar Khan. Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, known for his spicy remarks against the government, were also present.

​Bollywood is an integral part of India’s diverse social fabric, and B-town celebrities command considerable influence on a large chunk of Indian population.

The presence of popular stars drew many into the protests, and they also appreciated Bollywood’s sensitivity to important incidents that shook the nation.

​The hashtag #IStandWithAnuragKashyap was trending on Twitter in India with more than 80,000 mentions already.

The director, famous for his firm opinions and blunt comments on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, acknowledged the support he garnered from netizens and thanked them via Twitter.

​Indians in large numbers have gathered in different cities across the country to raise their voices against the brutality towards the university students.

Students at JNU have been protesting against a fee hike in recent months. After the post-winter break, the situation has again become tense on campus, with a section of students opposed to holding a new semester registration process, without resolving the fee issue.  

The controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) seeks to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants from three neighbouring Islamic countries, except Muslims. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the law “manifests India’s ethos of harmony and compassion", his detractors feel it goes against the provisions of the Indian Constitution and discriminates on a religious basis.

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