By India Tomorrow New,
Mumbai, 17 April 2014: Eminent members of India’s film industry Bollywood on Wednesday issued an appeal asking people across the country to vote for the winning secular party in each constituency because the “need of the hour is to protect our country’s secular foundation.”
“…Indian society has prided itself on being essentially secular in character, rejecting communal hatred, embracing tolerance… Today, that very sense of India is vulnerable. The need of the hour is to protect our country’s secular foundation…” reads the appeal signed by about 60 people including well-known directors, actors, screenwriters, editors, producers and lyricists. .
The signatories included:
Vishal Bhardwaj (Writer-Director: Omkara, Maqbool)
Nandita Das (Director-Actress: Firaaq, Fire)
Hansal Mehta (Director: Shahid)
Anjum Rajabali (Writer: Raajneeti, Satyagraha)
Shubha Mudgal (Singer-Musician)
Imtiaz Ali (Writer-Director: Highway, Jab We Met)
Mahesh Bhatt (Director-Producer: Saaraansh, Jannat)
They said secularism is more important today than anything else like corruption and governance.
“Undoubtedly, corruption and governance are important issues, but we will have to vigilantly work out ways of holding our government accountable to that. However, one thing is clear: India’s secular character is not negotiable! Not now, not ever.”
They appealed to people to vote for that secular party which is in the winning position in a constituency.
“As Indian citizens who love our motherland, we appeal to you to vote for the secular party, which is most likely to win in your constituency,” reads the appeal.
