"you didn't show up and speak a word. Disappointed."
Punjabi actor and singer Gippy Grewal has criticised Bollywood’s silence over the farmers’ protest.
Thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and other states held demonstrations for the ninth consecutive day at Delhi’s border points, protesting against the new farm laws.
Farmers fear the laws will dismantle the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporates.
Gippy has now slammed Bollywood for not lending their support for Punjab at a time when the state needs them.
He took to Twitter and wrote that for years, Punjab has welcomed Bollywood with open arms but its silence over the issue was painful.
The 37-year-old posted: “Dear Bollywood, every now and then your movies have been shot in Punjab and every time you have been welcomed with open heart.
“But today when Punjab needs you the most, you didn’t show up and speak a word. Disappointed.”
Dear Bollywood,
Every now and then your movies have been shot in Punjab & everytime you have been welcomed with open heart. But today when Punjab needs u the most, u didn't show up and speak a word. #DISAPPOINTED #8_??????_????_????#TakeBackFarmLaws#FarmersAreLifeline— Gippy Grewal (@GippyGrewal) December 5, 2020
Fellow singer Jazzy B rallied behind Gippy.
He tweeted: “People whose conscience is alive are coming out in support, not the ones whose conscience is dead.”
However, Gippy’s criticism of Bollywood led to actress Taapsee Pannu to respond. She said that there are stars in the industry who have always been vocal about contentious issues, including the farmers’ protest.
She added that she found his general comment “demotivating”.
Taapsee said:
“Sir, just because the ones you expected to speak up did not please, don’t put us all under the same umbrella.”
“Not that the handful of us need validation regarding standing up but it really pulls down our efforts when disregarded.”
Gippy Grewal soon replied and said that his tweet was not aimed at Taapsee or those who are supporting the farmers, but for those who call themselves Punjabi.
He added: “My tweet was for them who call themselves from Punjab and not even utter a single word. They all vanish.”
Another netizen stated that same and aimed his tweet at actors like Akshay Kumar and Dharmendra.
Bollywood stars including Taapsee, Swara Bhasker, Richa Chadha, Sonu Sood, Hansal Mehta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Divya Dutta and Neha Sharma, have come out in support of farmers.
Swara and Richa had shown their support for Diljit Dosanjh amid his ongoing feud with Kangana Ranaut in relation to the farmers’ protest.
On December 4, 2020, the farmers announced a ‘Bharat Bandh’ set for December 8. This has reinforced their position ahead of the fifth round of talks with the government.
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