By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Regional convention on International Day in support of victims of torture at Ravindralaya provided the stage for airing anti-state government sentiments at Lucknow on Sunday. Targeting the various human rights commissions of the state, the chief guest of the event, President of National Commission for SC/ST- Dr PL Punia claimed that various commissions are playing insignificant role under the leadership of Mayawati.
“The commission formed for the support of schedule caste and tribes and other backward classes are doing nothing and are a just puppet in the hands of the Chief Minister Mayawati,” Punia said.
“The people are being harassed a, lot, be it by the administration or the police. The government is being a mute spectator of the whole situation and is doing nothing,” Punia added.
Punia further said that the commission has written to the state government to go ahead with the CBI investigation in regard to case of Dr YS Sachan. “We have given the government the time till July 4 to tell us how they are going to go ahead with the investigation. If they are not ready for CBI investigation, then the commission will take action under its own jurisdiction,” Punia pointed out.
Other speakers of the day included Ram Kumar Sanyojak from Dynamic Action Group, Project Manager (human rights), delegation of the European Union -Renuka Srinivasan.
The program was presided over by Joint Registrar and Focal Point Human Rights Defender from National Human Rights Commission- Anil Parashar.
Close to 1500 people from backward class turned up for the convention and shared their grievances. Mrityunjay from People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), said that the victims are from various class and caste and they have come to express their experiences.
“The people have been tortured either by administration, police or a sect of people. Many of the people have lost their family and house during riots and have not been compensated yet,” he said. He added that a total of 1500 applications of such cases have been submitted to Punia for his consideration, for speedy decision.
Survivors of torture of victims were also honored for their effort during the program. The organizing committees included Dynamic Action Group, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Voice of People, National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy and others.