(Image source from: Outlook India)

Just two days after 49 eminent Indian celebrities wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against violence and lynchings in the country against the marginalized, a counter-open letter has been released by 61 other celebrities criticizing the 'selective outrage'.

The open letter to PM Modi against lynchings and violence stated: “Regrettably "Jai Shri Ram" has become a provocative 'war cry' today that leads to law and order problems, and many lynchings take place in its name. It is shocking that so much violence be perpetrated in the name of religion”

The counter-open letter was signed by 61 prominent celebrities including actress Kangana Ranaut, chairperson of the CBFC Prasoon Joshi, MP Sonal Mansingh, instrumentalist Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Vivek Agnihotri.

The letter asks why these people were silent when separatists wanted to 'dismember' the country and making 'tukde tukde' of her.

“To us, the undersigned, this document of selective outrage comes across as an attempt to foist a FALSE NARRATIVE... to negatively portray Prime Minister Modi's untiring efforts... In fact under the Modi regime, we see maximum liberty to differ, to criticise and to abuse the government and dispensation in power - the spirit of dissent has never been stronger.”

The letter also slams the 49 personalities for trying to disorient the unity and integrity of India in the name of free speech and expression. It also said that some of the signatories of the letter addressed to PM Modi on July 23 have a "record of acting as mouthpieces and ideologies" for insurgents, separatists, and terrorists.

"Their concern, therefore, smacks of dishonesty and opportunism," the letter added.

In fact, the signatories of the fresh letter also defended the Modi government for trying to unite the country and curtail incidents of hate crime and lynching.

"We would urge everyone to give up selective outrage and condemn lynching, discrimination, and desecration of religious places with equal vehemence when they occur," the letter added.

The letter then goes on to praise PM Modi, essentially repeating his election slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Visvas'.

Since 2015, at least 99 people have been victims of mob lynchings for multiple reasons, according to The Quint.

By Sowmya Sangam