Actor Swara Bhasker had an interaction with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Mumbai on Wednesday. During a Q&A session with the CM, the actor mentioned that the union government is using sedition law and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act indiscriminately.
The actor said that common citizens like herself are facing an “unaccountable mob, which is being used by the ruling dispensation, while the police and the State are giving it free rein.” On the other hand, Bhasker added, the State is “distributing UAPA and sedition charges like it is ‘prasad’ from a god we don’t want to pray to, but are forced to bow down to.”
“Artists today are facing a lot of resistance in telling stories. There are many who have risked their livelihoods and careers to keep the resistance alive,” the actor further said.
Bhasker spoke about how right-wing groups are targeting comedians like Munawar Faruqui, Aditi Mittal, and Agrima Joshua. She pointed out that Faruqui had even spent a month in jail for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
She further stated that there was also an instance of a venue being vandalised for hosting some comedians.
Talking about the consequences of criticising the ruling government in India, Bhasker said, “There is no Meryl Streep in India because Meryl Streep could stand in front of the President-elect of her country and critique him in the harshest way, and not a hair on her head was harmed. We are all unemployable today. For all of us, going to jail is a reality.”
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“If I visit the Arthur Road jail here, it would seem like a family reunion – my friends are there, my teachers are there, people we’ve studied with are there. This is a crazy situation for a free democratic country,” the actor said, adding that she hopes Banerjee will be a voice for those who have no power but continue to resist.
In response, the chief minister said, “I think UAPA is not for civic society or for the common people. There are some laws in our country for internal security and to protect the country from external threat. But now, it is being misused. If anyone raises any question, certainly there will be an income tax raid, or CBI, or ED, or UAPA, or so many other things. I don’t agree with that.”