After the 2012 Nirbhaya case which shook the nation, the sexual assault and brutal murder of 29-year-old Jisha, a law college student from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam has been attracting attention. Many people, including celebrities, took to social media and created hashtags #JusticeForJisha to vent their outrage at the incident.
National award-winning actress Priya Mani’s views on the shocking incident, posted on her social media did not sit well with her followers — some of whom sent hate messages and blamed her for portraying the country in a bad light. It looked as though they took her tweets too literally!
Apparently, Priya posted, “Appalled and shocked to read about yet another tragic rape and murder! I don’t think India is safe anymore for women#JusticeForJisha. If this is the way it’s going.. Women and Girls in India I pls beg all of u to get out of India and live elsewhere where it is safer!” (sic) Unsurprisingly, the actress has been receiving bouquets as well as brickbats from the public!
Explaining what happened, Priya told this newspaper, “It’s so silly to read all the followers’ reactions to the tweet where I just mentioned that the women in India aren’t safe! It is sad that I am being targeted and called anti-Indian. Many similar crimes go unnoticed. Being a celebrity and having many followers, I felt it is my duty to voice out my opinion and create awareness among people. I have never spoken anything against our country. If they want to term me anti-Indian for expressing my views on heinous crimes, I am ‘proud’ to be called so! I wish there were stringent laws and punishments given then and there, without stretching the case.”
She adds, “Whatever happened to the Nirbhaya case? Everyone knows how it was handled. The law should be similar to the one in UAE, where if anybody is found guilty, the penalty is given immediately! My post was merely an expression of my concern for women, when such incidents occur.”
