The #MeToo campaign has not only exposed predators in the elite class of Indian intellectuals, it has also brutally ripped off the farcical stand of women empowerment that these so called liberals used to promote. The latest addition to this notorious list is ex NDTV journalist and the current editor cum journalist of The Wire, Vinod Dua, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a freelance journalist cum filmmaker, Nishtha Jain.
The case also hit another target bang on: Nishtha Jain brutally exposed the hypocrisy that Vinod Dua’s daughter and ‘feminist’ comedienne Mallika Dua would resort to. In her Facebook post, the victim criticized Mallika Dua for campaigning on women empowerment under #MeToo campaign, when her father himself committed such atrocious activities.
Stung by this accusation, Mallika Dua posted her reply addressed to Nishtha Jain on Twitter
https://twitter.com/MallikaDua/status/1051479783727685632
If hypocrisy could be described in one picture, this letter posted on Twitter is enough for that. Not only did Mallika Dua refuse to criticize her father, but she resorted to classic victim shaming. The so called liberals in India are only too good at. Not only did she lambast Nishtha Jain for dragging her into this issue, but like Utsav Chakraborty, she made a laughable attempt to make a scapegoat out of the right wingers, as evident in the second paragraph.
However, in the third paragraph of her so called open letter, Mallika Dua actually exposed her dubious stand. Notice these words:
https://twitter.com/MallikaDua/status/1051479783727685632
On one hand she says enough of bigotry and victim shaming. But at the other hand she posts in the last line she stands by her father. Is this not doublespeak? Needless to say, her clarification backfired badly, and she was trolled by Twitterati left, right and center. One Twitter user, who goes by the handle @attorneyBharti, posted a tweet that took her to the cleaners for dragging right wingers and nationalists in this issue:
— Spaminder Bharti (@attomeybharti) October 14, 2018
In case people are unaware, popular Twitter user NK Deewan exposed a dark side of this so called comedienne. As per his research, the victim, i.e. Nishtha Jain’s Twitter account has been suspended. If Mallika Dua really stood by the victim, what was the need of pulling the Twitter account down? Or did the accusations hit you really hard Miss Mallika?
Interestingly, Mallika Dua hinted at showing some basic decency and manners in responding to her. If that was the case, what was this?
https://twitter.com/westendy6_g/status/1051481118174789632
https://twitter.com/MallikaDua/status/1048249070148636672
https://twitter.com/MallikaDua/status/1048163990562643968
Though atrocious by sight, this is nothing new. Can we forget how Farhan Akhtar mocked actress Amrita Puri, labeling her criticism of Akhtar’s silence on Sajid Khan’s issue ‘a conspiracy theory?’
I deeply resent your insinuation that me or my family knew of his behaviour yet did nothing. Your anger is justified. Your conspiracy theories not. @_Amrita_Puri https://t.co/MCLptZioWR
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) October 13, 2018
Going by this tweet, it only proves that even in, or especially among them, liberals, blood runs thicker than water. Heckling is only reserved for those who are not their relatives or near and dear ones. Otherwise, get ready for some of the worst mocking and victim shaming, if the blame is on your own.
Another Twitter user, who goes by the name Swapneel Mohite pointed out her hypocrisy in a mock poem, which hit the nail right on the target:
Aapke #Babuji babuji, aur dusron ke #BabujiMyAss?
Aap karo toh support aur dusre karein toh #bhakt?
Aap karo toh #MeToo aur dusre karein toh #troll?
Wah re #Mallika, tujhe ab #Dua ki nahi dawa ki jaroorat hai!#VinodDua #mallikadua #Bollywood #MeTooIndia #MeToo4Publicity
— Swapneel Mohite 🇮🇳 (@SwapneelSMohite) October 14, 2018
It is a matter of shame that we had to tolerate such people for more than a while. If the perpetrator is out of their league, they’re just sitting ducks for these liberals to swoop down upon. But if the accused comes from their own league, they would leave no stone unturned to protect them, even if it means throwing their own ethics to the winds.
