Kangana, 61 Celebs Pen Counter Letter Against ‘False Narratives’

In response to the open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 July by the likes of Aparna Sen, Shyam Benegal and Konkona Sen, among others, 61 well-known personalities have penned another letter “against selective outrage and false narratives.”

In the letter, the signatories have accused the 23 July letter, issued on 23 July, of being an attempt at “tarnishing India’s international standing” and to “negatively portray Prime Minister Modi’s untiring efforts to effectuate governance on the foundations of positive nationalism.”

The letter also accuses the signatories of the 23 July letter of compromising India’s integrity in return for freedom of speech and expression. It then lists out 12 specific issues that have apparently not been addressed by the signatories of the open letter to PM Modi. Most of the points pertain to West Bengal.

It is signed by lyricist Prasoon Joshi, classical dancer and MP Sonal Mansingh, instrumentalist Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar& Vivek Agnihotri and many more.

You can read the letter here:

The letter also talks about PM Narendra Modi’s governance:

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has very succinctly put forward the mantra of his governance and that is SABKA SATH, SABKA VIKAS and to that he has now included SABKA VISHWAS. Lynching is a social malady which has to be dealt up front, Prime Minister has spoken out against it repeatedly and respected state governments are empowered to take action.”

The open letter also accuses the signatories of the 23 July letter of not supporting women struggling against the regressive Triple Talaq tradition:

“This very group did not display the courage to stand beside women who were opposed to and are struggling against the regressive Triple Talaq tradition and did not speak out for the need of equality and empowerment in this case.”

The letter also says:

“The selective outrage and amnesia of this particular group makes us believe that they are working to a certain agenda and are only playing into the hands of those forces that are out Balkanise India and destabilise her.”

“The ‘open letter’ comes across to us as an attempt to mock the mandate of the marginalised, to create a false sense of fear and seige and to try and derail India’s march towards collective empowerment of all sections of society. It is clearly an attempt to defame the nation. WE DO CONDEMN the conspiracy.”

Kangana Ranaut in Support of the Counter Letter

In a statement to ANI, here’s what Kangana said regarding the counter letter published today:

“Some people are misusing their position to generate false narrative that under this Govt things are going wrong, whereas for first time things are going in right direction. We are a part of a major shift, things are changing for betterment of the nation and few people are rattled by this. Common people have chosen their leaders, ones who disregard people’s will are the ones who have no respect or consideration for democracy.”

Kangana Ranaut, Actor

Prasoon Joshi in Support of the Counter Letter

“They (49 people who wrote to PM Modi) seem hell bent to portray that there is deliberate wrongdoing prevalent- thereby dishonestly creating a false narrative.”

Prasoon Joshi, CBFC Chairman