Tiwari: Marathi identity demands respect for women online

Actor Shweta Tiwari has publicly challenged Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray concerning the online harassment of women by individuals identifying as his supporters. Tiwari shared her dismay, noting that many perpetrators of gendered trolling, who employ derogatory terms like 'ra***,' come from educated backgrounds and respectable families, often including women. She highlighted the disturbing case of a doctor with a family whose online profile revealed such abusive conduct.

Tiwari, who proudly identifies with her Maharashtrian heritage and Mumbai upbringing, expressed her confusion. She questioned how individuals who claim pride in being a "Marathi manus" could simultaneously engage in abusive online behavior towards women. She directly asked Thackeray if he condoned such actions from his supporters, asserting that genuine Marathi identity necessitates respecting women's dignity and strength.

The actor further detailed the pervasive nature of this abuse, recalling instances during Instagram Lives where she and co-contestants from "The Traitors 2" were subjected to similar derogatory comments. Tiwari also revealed that some trolls have even targeted her children with disturbing remarks, underscoring a deep-seated hypocrisy where individuals protect their own family's dignity while attacking others. She questioned the normalization of such gendered attacks and the sense of entitlement felt by some social media users.