By TCN News,
Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee (CLMC) has expressed concern for gross human rights violations by the state government functionaries during the ongoing movement for Telangana in Andhra Pradesh.
Lateef Muhammad Khan, Gen Secretary, CLMC, has written to Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy, Minister for Home, Andhra Pradesh apprising her of the human and civil rights violations of citizens during the movement.
“From the past two months, democratic movement is going on in this region. People are demonstrating in a democratic and peaceful manner within the framework of Indian constitution. During this, two times rubber bullets firing and many times lathi-charge has taken place in Osmania University and state is not permitting to conduct any demonstration, protest and public meetings which is democratic right, as well as Fundamental Right,” said Khan in his letter to the minister.
Khan said that when we offer high regard to country’s freedom struggle and those who took part in it then why the government is suppressing a democratic movement for a constitutional right.
“It is just to remind you that National struggle movement took place in this country. That was for freedom, and to free ourselves from the clutches of colonial rule. Even today, we respect that movement and the people who participated in those times. Today in Telangana region, the movement is going on democratically. It is not illegal, and it is a demand of people for the last 50 years, it is very much constitutional. The Article 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution explains about the separate state. For separate state people have right to conduct public meetings, demonstrations, protests and express their emotions. Therefore, is it democratically right to bring permission from the Courts for public meetings and demonstrations? Police personnel should not create hurdles to the people and activists by stopping them to participate in the movement.”
“The standard of human rights is falling in your government because of which the Police is not allowing funeral processions; performing of last rites with human dignity is a right of human dead body, but it is matter of shame for whole civil society that police under your government is denying it. Moreover, in a planned manner police has disturbed the funeral procession of Venu Gopal, a student who sacrificed his life due to the confusion created by your Government on Telangana. Due to the brutal police action on funeral procession, the sentiments of 40 million Telangana people got hurt; it is an inhuman act and cannot to be tolerated,” Khan said.
He expressed concern over the violation of human rights and civil liberties of the people and condemned fascist attitude of police and demanded the minister to act decisively as the Home Minster of the state and fulfill her constitutional responsibility.