By Arré Bench Jun. 08, 2020
Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut claimed that Sonu Sood must have a political backer, alluding that he is a BJP pawn. But even if there is some truth to the allegation, the actor deserves credit for helping hundreds of migrants return home.
The coronavirus pandemic caused the government to declare a nationwide lockdown in the last week of March, which is only now being gradually lifted in phases across the country. However, during the course of the lockdown, the country witnessed a migrant crisis, as millions of labourers across the nation were left stranded away from their homes in other states with no means to return to their villages. Even as the Centre and state governments began organising trains and buses to transport migrants more than a month after the lockdown, some citizens took it upon themselves to lend a helping hand to those in need. One such citizen is the actor Sonu Sood, who emerged as a saviour to thousands of migrants as he arranged transportation for them to their hometowns via buses, trains, and even flights.
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Sood’s act of humanitarianism has rightly earned him praise across all quarters, but like so many good things that occur in modern Indian society, it was not long before this noble endeavour was tainted by politics. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who also serves as the editor for the party mouthpiece Saamna, attacked Sood in his latest weekly column, claiming that the actor must have a political backer and motive for his act of helping migrants.
‘There could be a political director behind what actor Sonu Sood is doing’: Sanjay Raut. | #SenaAttacksSonu https://t.co/zelaQXIvvN
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 7, 2020
In his column, Raut brought up how Sood was one of the celebrities found to be willing to promote the Bharatiya Janata Party government on social media during a sting operation last year, and claimed that his act of sending the migrants home was intended to portray the Maharashtra state government in a poor light. This allegation was not well-received by the public at large, with many coming out in support of Sood, including readers of Saamna.
Dear @SonuSood
My #OpenLetter to you.
I am Sorry.🙏🙏@rautsanjay61 @OfficeofUT @AUThackeray @Saamanaonline pic.twitter.com/KASUGWMOEm
— Shweta Shalini (@shweta_shalini) June 7, 2020
You are doing a great job @SonuSood . Ignore the naysayers and haters. You are doing more than the respective governments even when it’s not suppose to be your responsibility. More power to you . Just be at it brother . https://t.co/sxhfuFpSMI
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2020
On Twitter, some doubters found the fact that many of the accounts that contacted Sood for help had been deleted as suspect. However, Sood addressed those worries himself when he called out those who were appealing to him with fake requests.
सभी मजदूरों ने ट्विटर एकाउंट डिलीट कर दिया है। pic.twitter.com/7JJKqwo3M7
— Prashant Kanojia (@PJkanojia) June 7, 2020
“Would request people to send requests only which are genuine,” Sood wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
Would request people to send requests only which are genuine. Have observed people tweet and later delete their requests which proves their are many fakes. This hampers our operation and will affect the real needy. So kindly think about the ones who need us 🙏
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) June 7, 2020
Raut also claimed that Sood would soon have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ostensibly to formalise his association with the BJP. However, the same day Raut’s column was published, Sood visited Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other high-ranking members of the state’s ruling coalition, affirming his commitment to the cause of transporting migrants and providing them support.
This evening @SonuSood met up with @CMOMaharashtra Uddhav Thackeray ji along with Minister @AslamShaikh_MLA ji and me. Better Together, Stronger Together to assist as many people through as many people. Good to have met a good soul to work for the people together. pic.twitter.com/NrSPJnoTQ6
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 7, 2020
Was a pleasure. Thank you for all the support offered to help my migrant brothers reunite with their families. https://t.co/nNpAcPYwOI
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) June 7, 2020
At a time when many migrants are struggling to make ends meet during a difficult period, adding political colour to a humanitarian cause like Sood’s is narrow-minded. But the actor now has a new set of fans, who are ready to back him for his efforts no matter what.
The supposed exposé of Sonu Sood based on a few tweets seems absurd. Sure, he was seen on camera agreeing to do promotions, he was praised by the right-wingers and he might join BJP soon, for all we know. But how does any of that discredit his efforts to support migrant workers?
— Siddharth🌹 (@DearthOfSid) June 7, 2020
Curious. Have the twitter warriors attacking @SonuSood proved that he didn’t actually help migrants? The deleted tweets seem odd, but we all saw the visuals of his buses packed with workers. As things stand today, he’s helped desperate workers get home. That’s what matters.
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) June 7, 2020
Thankfully, Sood has already declared that he will not let such incidents get in the way of his mission.
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