HYDERABAD: Heinous crimes are no longer newspaper reports that be tutted and then tossed away. The country, and of course our very own Hyderabad, is speaking up, raging and demanding justice in their own ways to do their bit in ensuring justice. Recent incident being the reported Kathua and Unnao rape cases that has shaken the nation. Besides being profoundly active online regarding the issue, youngsters, socialites and stars alike are not shying away from expressing their outrage publicly. In just the last few days, the attention that the issue has garnered around India has also reflected in the city.
Anger is for all
Hyderabad is speaking up, it's awake and outraging on the streets. And so proves the last few days which saw a series of marches, candle light vigils and silent protests around the city. While Necklace Road came alive with protesters taking to the streets, other areas like AS Rao Nagar also saw large numbers marching with candles. Manasi Bharadwaj, a 17-year-old who participated in the vigil says, "This was a candle-light march that was planned by students with the help of a local leader. About 500 people showed up and showcased their outrage over the issue." Candles today, swords if no action tomorrow said some of the slogans.
Making noise when it matters
Citizens aside, socialites and even Tollywood stars staged protests in the wake of the tragedy. Pawan Kalyan was spotted protesting against the Kathua and the Unnao tragedies at the Indira Gandhi statue this weekend.
Aamer Javeed, a senior youth leader from the city organised a silent protest at Necklace Road which was called for just a day in advance and yet saw a turn-over of 150 active protestors. "It is a shame that we are having to gather here over the rape of an 8-year-old. This isn't a protest organised by institutions, communities or politicians. This is a protest of humanity. Until the two girls who have been wronged get their justice, this conversation, this protest will continue. It is our duty to our nation to ask for justice and we will ask for it," he rages.
Zara Shah, a Tollywood actress who was also present at the protest said, "It's necessary for us to speak up about it. It's not the time to be silent. I hope that this is the last such horrendous crime in this country to ever happen again."
Every move counts
Social media, particularly Facebook has been seeing a plethora of posts requesting to sign a Change.org petition to bring about the justice that is due. A petition that is targeting three million signatures which has already hit over 1,555,000 signatures and counting. The petition on hitting its target is intended to push for a fast track court to properly try the case. "There isn't much we can do to get justice for the child a world apart. But, the pain we feel for her is real and if signing a petition however small a move it may be, helps bringing justice then this is the least we can do," says K Ram Krishna a corporate employee What's more, while the petition itself is doing the rounds, tweets, posts and pictures in support of the issue are emerging, turning the hashtag #Justicefor..... a nationwide trend.
Meanwhile, spotted at an airport in Turkey, a picture is doing the rounds on social media. It features men wearing tshirts with lines that puts the country's situation to shame. One tshirt reads "Beware in sending your females to India. #JusticeFor....." while another goes, "Women, let India be the last country you visit, as it is your graveyard. #JusticeFor....."