Over 80 CSOs join hands to protest the increasing intolerance towards marginalized, minorities during the Narendra Modi-led NDA government
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Ranjita Pilu, Caroline and Prabina Lepcha, students of Theology from Delhi’s Vidya Jyoti College were part of the motley gathering at Jantar Mantar on Thursday.
The three girls who said they believe in secularism and hence were there in solidarity listened intently to the speakers. “I had had some hopes from (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi when he came to power last year. But it seems now he is turning more and more into the religious discourse. This has made me feel unsafe,” Lepcha said.
Speaker after speaker highlighted the plight of minorities and the marginalised under the 300 days of Modi-rule. And for sure, the three Theology students were not alone. There were women, there were farmers, there were a few tribals, there were people from minority communities – Christians, Muslims and Sikhs – and then there were a litany of politicians, a range of social activists and a handful of civil society activists.
Students of MA Theology, Prabina Lepcha, Ranjita Pilu (Centre) and Caroline (Blue scarf) said they were at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity as they believed in secularism.
Zulmaton Ke Daur Main
Indeed, the statistics is staggering to say the least. Even more astounding in the intensity of hate that the statistics has pointed out. But reassuring was the gathering of those determined to protect what they believe is enshrined in the Constitution.
At least 43 deaths in over 600 cases of violence – 149 targeting Christians and the rest Muslims – have taken place in 2014 in the country till March this year, marking 300 days of the Narendra Modi-led National Development Alliance (NDA) government.
Parmila, in pink chunni, and Meera, in black chunni, from Sultanpuri in Delhi were at Jantar Mantar along with scores of other women under the banner of Bhartiya Mahila Federation. “What has Modi done for women’s safety?” they asked.
“The number of dead is over and above the 108 killed in Assam in attacks by armed tribal political groups on Muslims. Desecration and destruction of churches, assault on pastors, illegal police detention of church workers, and denial of Constitutional rights of Freedom of Faith aggravate the coercion and terror unleashed in campaigns of Ghar Wapsi and cries of Love Jihad. Since May 2014, there has been a marked shift in public discourse. There has been a relentless foregrounding of communal identities, a ceaseless attempt to create a divide between ‘us’ and ‘them’,” said civil society and political leaders, academics and social activists at the ‘Zulmaton Ke Daur Main’ dharna.
Ram phal, a farmer from Jind, Haryana, is worried about the problematic Land Act brought in by the Modi government. He says, all need to be united to protest what they believe is wrong.
“The official patronage and impetus given to the divisive and corrosive politics of the Sangh Parivar in the 300 days of the Modi government has endangered the security of religious minorities, assaulted national institutions and the education system,” they said at the dharna at Jantar Mantar.
If these were not enough, the latest Land Acquisition Act brought in by the Modi government further targeted the vulnerable, they said.
In the gathering sat Ram Phal, a poor farmer from Haryana. He was at the Jantar Mantar with 100-odd other farmers, all part of Bhartiya Kisan Union. Although he could not articulate as well as the speakers on the dais, the farmer from Haryana’s Jind district, embodied what the gathering aimed at. “Modi had promised so many things in the run up to the polls. He has not fulfilled any of those promises. Poor farmers like me have neither got water nor (subsidised) power. Moreover, now this government has brought this Land Act. We all need to be together and oppose this tooth and nail.”
Some distance away from him sat a bunch of rustic women, who, it was clear, were brought to the venue. The women wearing the ‘Bhartiya Mahila Federation’ tags whispered and giggled as this correspondent approached them with questions. While most of them were unable to answer or were unwilling to answer this scribe’s questions, Parmila came forth: “What has Modi done for us? Mahilaon ki suraksha ke liye kya kiya? (What has he done for women’s safety?) He made us open those zero-balance accounts but we have not received any gas subsidy as yet.”
Although the women were not sure what will the gathering achieve, they nevertheless said they wanted to be together in opposing what was wrong.
A comprehensive report ‘300 Days: Documenting Sangh Hate and Communal Violence Under Modi Regime’ (see link below) was released on the occasion documenting the hate and violence that marked the 300 days of Modi government. Veteran activist John Dayal, the lead architect of the report, said: “We are today talking about the 300 days of Modi government. But the real story started even 100 days before he took oath. He had started spewing the communal venom since his election campaign days.”
Targeting Muslims, Christians, women, Ghar Wapsi, burning of churches are happening regularly and then there are those big blot incidents such as Jhabua, Kandhmal and now the nun’s rape in West Bengal, he said, adding, “These kind of incidents bring infamy at the international level.”
Apart from exhaustively summarizing the series of events over the 300 days since May 26 – the day Modi government took oath – the report then goes on to document state-wise list of incidents with relevant documentary evidences. It also lists out newspaper clippings about hate speech documented by newspapers across the country. The report also documents some case studies of Love Jihad as performed by the right wingers.
Political patronage:
Ahmed Patel, senior Congress leader, considered close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, another Congress leader Ajay Maken, Shobha Oza, Mahila Congress president, Brinda Karat, CPIM leader, Raghuwansh Prasad Singh of RJD and Ali Anwar Khan from JD(U) were some of the politicians who spoke.
Amarjeet Kaur, a top rung CPI leader, said, “This Modi rule is a combination of FDI, rabid communalism and pro-Corporate policies, so no wonder we get to see that the poor are beaten up every day, left out of development. Moreover, different leaders from the BJP continue to spew venom through various statements which is nothing but an effort at diverting attention.”
Referring to Sangh Parivar’s repeated attempts at making India a Hindu Rashtra, Ali Anwar sought to remind: “We have seen what has happened to Pakistan, which was formed on the basis of religion. Sangh Parivar is taking India towards it. But I am proud to say today, Muslims in India are in far far better position than those in Pakistan.”
Ahmad Patel, who spoke later, also echoed similar sentiment. “India’s comparison should always be with progressive countries such as China and Japan and not with Pakistan.”
Long scrolls documenting the 300 days of Modi’s misrule too were released on the occasion.
The dharna demonstration also saw cultural presentations and performances by well-known artists and cultural troupes such as Asmita, IPTA Delhi, Janam, Kumar Ambuj, Manglesh Dabral, Manmohan, Nishant Natya Manch, Sangwari, Shubha, Vineet Tiwari and Vishnu Nagar.
Full Report: 300 Days: Documenting Sangh Hate and Communal Violence Under Modi Regime
(Photos Courtesy: Gufran Khan)