Shark Tank judge Namita Thapar hit back at trolls via social media on Monday — having endured several weeks of abuse over an earlier post. The Emcure Pharmaceuticals ED had sparked heated debate in March after sharing a video outlining the health benefits of namaz. Thapar also urged people to speak up against wrongdoing and reminded viewers of the outrage that had erupted after the Women’s reservation bill failed to pass in Parliament.

“For making a reel on the health benefits of namaz. I’m a healthcare professional…I’ve made so many reels linked to the Hindu religion and related health benefits…about asanas on Yoga Day…at those times nobody said anything. I’ve been taught that r for religion also means r for respect. And this is how you respect? Especially women?” she asked.

Thapar cites women’s reservation bill

Thapar also touched upon the recent debate over the women’s reservation bill as she questioned the recent bout of trolling. Protests had been launched across the country last week after the ruling NDA failed to pass the women’s reservation bill during a special session of Parliament.

“When the reservation bill didn’t pass, everyone spoke up, but when women are disrespected like this, why the silence? I learnt long ago that no one will stand up for you; you have to speak up for yourself. So to all my trolls, please continue, but remember, Hinduism has a concept called karma, and I am a proud Hindu,” Thapar added.

‘Silence is not a virtue’

The Shark Tank judge said both she and her mother had been facing relentless abuse for the past three weeks after posting the contentious video on Instagram. The video was filmed while Thapar was in a car heading to work, and the Emcure MD insisted that it was necessary for people to stand up for themselves.

“I left for Bombay at 6.30 am like the hard working professional that I am and stopped the car at 7 am to make this reel as I’ve long realised that silence is not a virtue and one must speak up when they are disrespected. Yes if wrong things happen at any workplace that are against basic human rights, me and all of us should speak up. I don’t care about the personal trolling, I’m used to it last 5 years since shark tank but the purpose of this reel is to request all the proud Indians in this country to start speaking up when they see something wrong, out of humanity, out of patriotism,” she wrote in the caption.