Filmfare Awards amid Protests "Insensitive" to People of Assam?

Guwahati, February 14, 2020:

With Guwahati city prepping up for the hosting of the first-ever Filmfare awards on Northeast Indian soil tomorrow, all eyes will be on Sarusajai stadium that has been chosen as the venue for the awards. However, a strong of A-listers have already opted out of the event that leads one to question -- will it be worth it?

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According to reports, all the 3 Khans -- Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir -- and Amitabh Bachchan, the Shahenshah of Bollywood, won't be a part of the gala event. Even Priyanka Chopra who was not long ago associated with Assam Tourism as its brand ambassador, have opted out. Another A-list star, Ajay Devgn, will also be absent.

However, several stars, such as young India's heartthrobs Ranveer Singh and Vicky Kaushal have confirmed their participation and will arrive in Guwahati's LGBI airport later today.

 Is 'CAA' the reason?

It may be recalled that the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from neighboring countries sparked protests across Assam.

In the aftermath of the CAA, the tourism industry in Assam as well as other Northeast Indian states saw a severe downfall, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to cancel planned visits to Assam twice -- once during the Indo-Japan summit and again during the inauguration of the Khelo India Youth Games.

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Meanwhile, protests against the CAA continue unabated in Assam even though five youths were killed in police firing during the riots. Although several prominent anti-CAA leaders have been arrested, "democratic" and "non-violent" protests are being continued by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU).

Meanwhile, the Tourism Department has also come under fire for spending exorbitant sums on hosting events like the Filmfare and Namami Bragmaputra, while 17 lakh educated uneducated youths continue to roam aimlessly on Assam streets.

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