Actors pitch in to fight AIDS in N-E

A question-and-answer session was held at the office of the Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR), where the celebrities fielded questions from students.

There were also public screening of films Phir Milenge and My Brother Nikhil at Anjali Cinema in the state capital. The usually empty theatre was packed to capacity as Phir Milenge lead Shilpa Shetty and the cast of My Brother Nikhil, Sanjay Suri, Purab Kohli, and director Onir took to the stage before and after the show.

Accounting for a five million HIV-positive population, India has virtually become the AIDS capital of the world, said Farooq Abdullah. ‘‘Use condoms for safe sex,’’ emphasised Shetty, as Suri appealed that AIDS be treated as a disease and not a ‘‘moral issue’’.

ARWWA president Winnie Singh said the 118 HIV-positive Assam Rifles jawans and the death of 32 jawans due to AIDS made the association sit up and take notice.

Singh said AIDS can not be tackled by one organisation and there’s need for a mass movement. The ‘‘stigma’’ attached to AIDS is as serious as the disease itself, she added.