By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: The Dadri lynching continues to see protests across the country. As many as seventeen minority and human rights organisations voiced their dissent against the Central Government and PM Narendra Modi on Thursday, October 15 in Kolkata, with calls for prompt action against the accused and compensation for the family.
Members of various minority and human rights organisations protesting against the death of Mohammad Akhlaq
City-wide protests saw some demonstrators start at Aliah University’s main campus at Haji Mohammad Mohsin Square and culminate at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, burning the images of PM Modi. Also, members of the “Bhasha O Chetana Samity (Language and Consciousness Association) protested against the murder of Mohammad Akhlaq in front of the Academy of Fine Arts. These protests saw the presence of Sahitya Academy Award winner Subodh Sarkar, Novelist Swapnamoy Chakraborty, Professor Imanul Haque and others eminent personalities.
Members of Bhasha-O-Chetana Samity, including Sahitya Akademi Winner poet Subodh Sarkar (fourth from right) protest against the Dadri Lynching in front of Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata.
At Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Choton Das, State Secretary, Bandi Mukti Committee (Prisoners Relief Committee) said the choice of what one ate was a personal one, and any infringement towards this was akin to clamping down on people’s constitutional rights. He also criticised Narendra Modi and said he had failed to respect the India’s constitution and secularism, adding that ruling parties and alliances did not have the right to make food choices for the citizens of the country.
Protestors burn a poster of PM Narendra Modi at the Rani Rashmoni Avenue
Tapas Chakroborty of human rights organisation APDR questioned why, despite the death of so many Muslims in the Gujarat and Bhagalpur riots, not one culprit had been punished. He also accused political parties of merely using Muslims for vote-bank politics.
Muhammad Kamruzzaman Secretary, All India Minority Youth Federation said, the lynching of Akhlaque in Dadri had deeply hurt the sentiments of secular people in the country. He added that unless the Central Government takes swift action against the accused, protests would continue after Muharram and Durga Puja.
Demonstrators burn an effigy of PM Modi during protests in Kolkata.
Besides AIMYF, the protests at Rani Rashmoni Avenue saw other organisations like All India Sunnatul Jamat, Minority Cordination Committee, Furfura Hejbullah, Jamiat-E Ahle Hadith, Jamiatul Ayemma Al Ulama and the All Bengal Students Council.
[Photo: Sandip Saha For TwoCircles.net]