I'm glad film fraternity has come forward to protest the lynching: Shatrughan Sinha

The most outspoken soldier of the ruling regime, Shatrughan Sinha is shattered by the spate of mob lynching across the country. But he is happy at the show of solidarity by the film fraternity to protest against these gruesome acts.

“My friend Shabana Azmi has always been fearless in protesting against anti-establishment issues. I wish more from the film fraternity would come forward to speak up about real issues rather than waste time discussing whether Fawad Khan should or should not be acting in Indian films,” he stated.

Says Shatrughan Sinha vehemently, “I strongly condemn the lack of urgent and immediate police action against mobs who pick on individuals. This is a new trend, and it is spreading across the country. If we don’t control it now, we would soon be staring in the face of utter chaos with the mobs deciding what we should eat and what we should wear.”

Without taking any names, Shatrughan said there was a need for stronger action against the mob attacks. “I am afraid the condemnation of mob attacks is a case of too little, too late. We need much sterner action.”

Shatrughan continued that he is a proud Hindu, but the actions of the mobs have left him deeply mortified. “We are all Indians first, then Hindus or Muslims. The hapless Muslim boy Junaid, who was lynched on a train on the eve of Eid, was also an Indian. What crime had he committed? Who decides what is the correct way for an Indian to eat or behave?”

The outspoken Shatrughan feels this whole rigmarole over cow protection is a farce. “First, protect the cows from hunger and homelessness. Then protect them from beef eaters. Cows are mercilessly neglected in our country. We have cows on the roads that eat plastic bags and die. Where are the gau rakshaks then?” he questioned.

Never the one to mince words, Shatrughan wonders why goons and self-appointed moralists get to decide our clothes and food. “Why should we be told what to eat and what to wear? Are we not responsible citizens? It is time strict laws are implemented against the mob mentality. Otherwise, our democracy is heading towards mobocracy,” he warned.

He feels we are wasting our time on non-issues. “China is getting more aggressive while Pakistan is killing and mutilating our jawans. There are rapes and violence against women and children. And we are concerned with people’s food habits. What example are our politicians setting! One of them has been caught on camera urinating in public. Just the other day a young man was lynched when he tried to stop public urination. If public figures spread the wrong message how can we control mob mentality?” he stressed.

Shatrughan is all for swift laws against mob action. “I’ve always considered our Prime Minister the biggest action hero of our country. It is time for him to take firm and swift actions against those who take the law into their hands. The lynching mobs represent neither the BJP nor India. They represent only the hooligan class,” he concluded.