Bengaluru : About 100 activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, on Sunday protested against the anti-India slogans allegedly raised at a human rights event in a college here.
“We demand the arrest of all those who raised slogans against our country and the Indian Army and action against the organisers (Amnesty International India) for holding an anti-national event here,” BJP’s Parliament member from Mysuru and ABVP leader Pratap Simha told reporters later.
Accusing the police of inaction on Saturday’s incident, Simha said they (police) had refused to register an FIR (first information report) even after the activists filed a complaint against the culprts on the event at the United Theological College in the city centre.
“It is shocking that the local police allowed such an event and the state intelligence agency was unaware. The state government should order an inquiry into the event where pro-azaadi and anti-national elements from Kashmir participated,” the ABVP leader reiterated.
The ABVP activists, some of whom were present at the event, alleged that a group of Kashmiri youth raised slogans claiming atrocities by the army.
“Such an anti-national event ahead of the Independence Day vitiates the peaceful atmosphere in the city and sends wrong signals to the people about the army,” Simha lamented.
The 90-minute event was held to interact with some Kashmiri families who were victims of alleged human rights violations in the strife-torn Valley and hear their struggle for justice.
“For years, these families have been waiting for information from the government about the status of their respective cases (of enforced disappearances, fake encounters and killings) and grant of sanction,” Amnesty said in a statement on the event.
Admitting that some persons at the event had raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for ‘azaadi’ (freedom), Amnesty India programmes director Tara Rao said it was important that the conduct of some should not distract attention from the denial of truth and justice to those who have suffered in Jammu and Kashmir.
“As a matter of policy, Amnesty International India does not take any position in favour of or against demands for self-determination. It, however, considers that the right to freedom of expression under the international human rights law protects the right to peacefully advocate political solutions,” Rao said in the statement.
“We have received the complaint and will investigate the charges made in it. We will also look into the compact disc the activists submitted on the event’s proceedings,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) T.R. Suresh told reporters.