Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker, Javed Akhtar And Others Raise Their Voice Against Bulli Bai App, Call It Appalling.
The Internet has never been a safe space for women and sadly being vigilant doesn’t help much either. It’s common knowledge that internet trolls take the effort to defame and degrade women in different ways. Be it leaving disgusting comments on their pictures, unsolicited d*ck pics in their direct messages or using morphed pictures to shame women, these people have done it all. And while we hoped that 2022 would make this world a safer space, it seems like we asked for a tad bit too much. This year kicked off with a public uproar after the news of the Bulli Bai app went viral on social media. This app hosted on GitHub had been posting pictures of Muslim women on the online portal to auction them. And this is not the first time that this has happened. Earlier, in July 2021, a similar app called Sulli Deals used manipulated pictures of Muslim women without their consent in a bid to degrade and shame them. Disgusting, right? Surprisingly, Bulli Bai had an interface that was eerily similar to the Sulli Deals app. FYI ‘Bulli‘ and ‘Sulli‘ are derogatory terms used to disrespect Muslim women.
While several arrests have been made in the Bulli Bai case, the same did not happen at the time of Sulli Deals. Shockingly enough, the authorities have arrested an 18-year-old girl from Uttarakhand who is believed to be the mastermind behind the app. A 21-year-old youth has also been arrested from Bengaluru in the same case. As disgusting as this is, this news seems to have sent social media into a frenzy as several celebs voiced their opinions with regards to the case.
Taking to Twitter, actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar termed the incident ‘sickening’ and urged the concerned authorities to take strict action against the people involved in the Bulli Bai app case. Swara Bhasker termed the app ‘vomit worthy’ and point out that there is a ‘total lack of accountability’. She further pointed out that it is not okay to sell Muslim women online.
This is sickening!! Request authorities to take swift and strict action against the people behind this grotesque act. @GoI_MeitY @MahaCyber1 @NCWIndia @CPMumbaiPolice @CPDelhi @MardOfficial @unwomenindia https://t.co/3sWeq4oYLh
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 2, 2022
At that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to SELL MUSLIM WOMEN ONLINE! Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally & call for genocide! That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods. It’s on us!
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 2, 2022
Fukrey actress Richa Chadha also expressed her solidarity and hailed the journalist from The Wire who brought the incident to light. On the other hand, TV actress Shruti Seth opined that the country is not safe for the ones who live here, let alone the solo female travellers. She went on to term the Bulli Bai app ‘beyond disgusting’.
https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1477628234837598208?s=20
https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1478481262595784707?s=20
We’re auctioning women online!
This is what has become of us as a society.
And then we get upset when we rank high in unsafe for solo female travellers?
The ones who live here aren’t safe to begin with
Beyond disgusting #BulliDeals— Shruti Seth (@SethShruti) January 3, 2022
Also Read: Bulli Bai App Case: 18-Yr-Old 12th Pass-Out Girl From Uttarakhand Arrested By Mumbai Police
Lyricist Javed Akhtar also took to social media to raise his voice against the Bulli Bai app. Following his tweet, the lyricist was attacked by internet trolls for his opinion. Javed Akhtar also opined that the 18-year-old girl arrested in the Bulli Bai app case should be counselled and forgiven. Well, the last time I checked there is no forgiveness for such a sick crime.
There is an online auction of hundred women There are so called Dharm Sansads , advising the army the police n the people to go for the genocide of almost 200 MLN Indians .I am appalled with every one ‘s silence including my own n particularly of The PM . Is this Sub ka saath ?
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 3, 2022
The moment I raised my voice against the online auction of women n those glorifying Godse n preaching genocide to the army police n people some bigots have started abusing my great great grand father a freedom fighter who died in kala pani in 1864 What do you say to such idiots
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 4, 2022
If “ bully bai” was really masterminded by an 18 year old girl who has recently lost her parents to cancer n Corona I think the women or some of them meet her and like kind elders make her understand that why what ever she did was wrong . Show her compassion and forgive her .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 5, 2022
TBH, I’m all about counselling the girl but we’re talking about hundreds of Muslim women who were shamed and degraded here. It’s hard for those aggrieved to practice forgiveness, especially because for many of them, this is a consistent ordeal they have been facing for a while now. It’s up to the law to decide the fate of these culprits. But let’s face the truth, this communal hatred has been born out of political agenda and indoctrination, and is constantly also nurtured and harvested by those in powerful positions. So perhaps those are the elements we need to direct all our energies to.
First Published: January 05, 2022 2:20 PM‘Bulli Bai’ App Row: 21 Year Old Bengaluru Engineering Student Detained By Mumbai Police
