By TCN Staff Correspondent,
The All India Democratic Womens Association (AIDWA) Convention against Communal Conflicts strongly condemned recent incidents in several States like Uttar Pradesh [UP], Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, where members of the minority community faced violence at the hands of the police.
The convention observed that, most of these cases did not involve any kind of communal clash nor did they witness violent confrontation between communities but all of them saw the police behave in the most partisan manner, leaving many, belonging only to the minority community dead in their wake – a 14 year old in Moradabad, UP; 10 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan; 6 in Forbesganj, Bihar including a woman and an infant; 5 in Rudarpur, Uttarakhand.
The convention also highlighted that the minority community has also suffered much damage of property in all these areas and many people have been seriously injured. It is most reprehensible that irrespective of the Party in power – BSP in UP, Congress in Rajasthan, JD (U)-BJP in Bihar and BJP in Uttarakhand – the role of the police and administration have been identical.
The AIDWA convention expressed its strong belief on the fact that these incidents are not the result of communal clashes but certainly being instigated by communal, political forces who are preparing for the forthcoming assembly elections by heightening communal polarization.
The AIDWA convention has resolved to campaign for an effective law against communal violence. The Convention demanded that all these incidents be enquired into seriously and officers guilty of dereliction of duty and partisan behaviour be punished. It also condemned all efforts to deny justice to victims of communal violence, especially continued efforts in Gujarat to victimize those who are trying to hold the State to account.
The convention asked for adequate compensation, medical treatment and speedy delivery of justice. Besides steps must also be taken to restore amicable relations between communities and sores must not be allowed to fester. Its members pledged to undertake to fight against communalism and communal violence in all its forms. AIDWA also expressed its solidarity with victims of communal violence as well as with those who are fighting against it.