May 10, 2025: Soni Razdan, the mother of actress Alia Bhatt, recently shared a peace petition on her Instagram that has sparked significant controversy online. The petition, titled ‘India, Pakistan: Stop the hostilities’, calls for both nuclear-powered nations to avoid declaring war on each other amidst the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The petition, which is hosted on Change.org, has garnered over 4,000 verified signatures.
Razdan posted the petition on her Instagram with the caption, “Above all – PEACE ☮️ ✌️ Sign the petition. Link in bio.” While her intention seemed to promote peace, her post was met with backlash from a section of Indian social media users who criticized her for sharing the petition.
Some took to Reddit and Twitter to troll the veteran actress, mocking her call for peace. One commenter sarcastically wrote, “Why are Indian forces wasting all the money and risking their lives to save people? They should just sign her petition,” while others expressed doubts about the petition’s effectiveness.
Despite the criticism, the petition, started by peace activists from both India and Pakistan, calls for the condemnation of violent extremism and terrorism, particularly the targeting of unarmed civilians. It stresses the catastrophic potential of war between the two nations, highlighting the suffering of ordinary citizens, especially women, children, minorities, and vulnerable communities.
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In a statement on the petition website, the activists behind it said, “India and Pakistan must behave responsibly. Any war between these two nuclear-armed nations would be disastrous… We urge the people of India and Pakistan to hold their governments accountable and resist any speech or action that feeds war hysteria.”
Soni Razdan’s attempt to promote peace has stirred a debate online, with many questioning the impact of such petitions on the ongoing geopolitical situation. Some critics believe that public calls for peace are ineffective, while others support her stance, emphasizing the need for dialogue over conflict.