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Ruling and opposition party leaders, civil societies echo ‘Stand for Stan Swamy’

ScribeShah
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Ruling and opposition party leaders, civil societies echo ‘Stand for Stan Swamy’

Kolkata/Ranchi: Saturday witnessed several protests against the arresting of 83-year-old activist Stan Swamy in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon case both in Ranchi and Kolkata. While in Ranchi, from where Stan Swamy was arrested, representatives from several people’s organisations, movements, Left Party and its allies along with Jharkhand’s ruling party jointly took out a Nyay March, demanding the release of Father Stan Swamy and other political prisoners. In Kolkata, the protest was organized by Mother Teresa International Award Committee in which several prominent people from the Jesuit Christian community as well as other minority community participated in order to register their protest. They also demanded the immediate release of the veteran activist.

Kolkata stands with Fr Swamy

The protest in Kolkata was organized amid many Covid-19 related restrictions imposed by the local administration, which had not only warned the organisers to keep the number of participants well under 50 but had restricted the display of posters, banners or placards during the protest meet.

The participants still registered a strong protest against the arrest of Father Swamy. Father Felix Raj, the vice-chancellor of St. Xavier’s University told on the occasion that an 83-year-old man deserved mercy and not the inhuman treatment being met out by the government. “Father was not just a mere activist. He was serving the poorest of the poor for forty years and did not deserve the inhuman treatment that he is getting since the last ten days,” said Father Felix.

While Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D’Souza warned that the inhuman treatment meted out to Father Stan would not be tolerated. He also demanded for the immediate release of Father Swamy.

stan swamy activist ranchi kolkata protests
Participants of the protest organized by Mother Teresa Award Committee, Kolkata to condemn the arresting of Father Stan Swamy

Ranchi reverberates with echoes of “Release Father Stan Swamy”

The Nyay March took off from the Zila school and culminated with a dharna staged at the Raj Bhawan.

The District Secretary of Indian National Congress, Sanjay Pandey, said, “Stan’s arrest is part of the central government’s strategy to increase its loot of Jharkhand’s natural resources.”

CPI-ML MLA from Bagodar Vinod Singh, who travelled to Ranchi to register his protest, said “There is an increasing trend in the number of attacks against on human rights activists, intellectuals and others who speak out for people’s rights. On the lines of Bhima Koregaon, the government is now accusing political and student leaders opposing CAA-NRC of inciting the riots in Delhi.” He appealed to all the opposition parties and leaders to unite and demand for the release of Fr Stan Swamy and all others implicated in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Mahua Manjhi of JMM said, “Stan’s arrest under the cover of darkness is deeply condemnable.” She questioned the need for keeping a senior citizen behind the bars when the NIA could have interrogated him at his residence.

Congress spokesperson Prahakar Tirkey stressed on the need to repeal UAPA, which can be used to arrest anyone indulging in “unlawful” activity. He asked, “Who has the authority to decide which activities are unlawful.” He added that the NIA was acting on the whims of the central government.

Jharkhand’s well-known activist Dayamani Barla, who as present during the protest, said, “The entire country is condemning Fr Stan’s arrest.” She added that people across villages have kept the struggle against the policy of the land bank, of which Stan was a strong critic, alive.

Ratan Tirkey, ex-member of the state’s Tribal Advisory Council, said that until Modi came to power, no political leader stooped so low as to accuse Fr Stan Swamy with fake charges. “The BJP government has created an atmosphere of fear,” she maintained.

At the end of the dharna, the protestors presented a memorandum to the governor with an appeal, which was to inform the central government of their following demands:

  • Immediate release of Stan Swamy and all political prisoners
  • Bhima-Koregaon case to be closed immediately and false cases related to Delhi riots filed against CAA-NRC activists to be withdrawn
  • Repeal sections 124A (sedition) & 499 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Preventions) Act (UAPA) and National Security Act (NSA).

The march in Ranchi was attended by representatives of the following organisations: Adivasi Women’s Network, Adivasi Mulvasi Astitwa Raksha Manch, AIPF, AISA, Akhra, CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML), CSSF, Indian National Congress, Jan Mukti Sangharsh Vahini, Manaveey Ekta, JMM, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, MSS, National Domestic Workers Movement, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, Right to Food Campaign, Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan, NAPM, Singhbhum Adivasi Samaj, Sajha Kadam among others.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly by-elections and disquiet within the ruling BJP

N D Sharma
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Madhya Pradesh Assembly by-elections and disquiet within the ruling BJP

The 28 Assembly by-elections in Madhya Pradesh are becoming more problematic for the ruling BJP than for Congress. Of the BJP candidates, 22 are those who had quit Congress along with Jyotiraditya Scindia, to bring down the Congress government of Kamal Nath, resigned from the Assembly and joined BJP. They are at the root of the problem. A few more Congress MLAs had resigned from the Assembly later on and joined BJP.  Three vacancies were caused by the death of MLAs.

Scindia supporters were taken aback when their leader quietly joined the BJP because they were not sounded about it before they were asked to rebel against the Congress leadership in March this year. They were given the impression that it would possibly be a pressure group within the Congress or, if it became so imperative, Scindia would form a new party with them and ally with BJP to form the government.  It took Scindia some days to persuade them to join BJP along with him. A word was quietly spread at the time that Scindia might become the Chief Minister. Besides, an assurance was explicitly held out that the defecting MLAs would be given the ticket in the by-elections.

The BJP workers and those who had contested against these then Congress candidates have been feeling uneasy ever since. There is a discernible disquiet among the State leaders also. They have been trying to convince the party workers that the decision to engineer defections was taken by the party’s central leadership. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was reported to have told a meeting of party workers at Sanwer constituency in June that the decision to lure the Congress MLAs out of Congress to bring down the Kamal Nath government was taken by the central leadership. More recently a similar observation was made by BJP’s national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. He said that he could have brought down the Congress government within two months but was asked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to wait, insinuating that Shah was deeply involved in the toppling game.

With polling scheduled for November 3, the electioneering for the by-elections is at its peak. However, the reports from these constituencies suggest only a half-hearted attempt by BJP workers to work for the victory of these former congress MLAs whom they had jeered and abused only two years ago. There is also an apprehension at the higher ranks of the State BJP that victory of all Scindia supporters would adversely affect their own standing in the party. The way Forest Minister Vijay Shah made a mockery of the Scindia supporters recently indicates the true feelings of the State leadership. Shah said that he had not seen in his life such a vast Mandi where so many MLAs could be purchased like horses and donkeys. Shah is very close to Chief Minister Chouhan. 

The Congress, led by Kamal Nath, selected candidates for the by-elections after consulting, sometimes more than once, the local leaders — a practice which has not been witnessed in Congress for quite some time. Nath has been assuring the voters that the Congress will return to power after the by-elections. That, though, does not appear to be so simple. With its 88 MLAs now, Congress needs to win all 28 seats to reach the majority point in a House of 230. The BJP, on the other hand, needs only 9 as it has 107 MLAs at present. The Congress leaders’’ hope lies in the dissensions within the BJP and Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s own fear of Scindia becoming much too powerful in the State BJP if all or most of his supporters win in the by-elections.

How can an 83-year-old person be arrested and made to travel during pandemic, do we treat our senior citizens like this? Asks St. Xavier’s University VC

ScribeShah
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How can an 83-year-old person be arrested and made to travel during pandemic, do we treat our senior citizens like this? Asks St. Xavier’s University VC

Kolkata: Traditionally priests, missionaries and educational heads of institutions affiliated with the Church have maintained an apolitical stance while they continue doing social work at grassroot level. However, the unceremonious arrest of Father Stan Swamy from his Ranchi house by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) in “alleged” role in Bhima Koregaon Case, has made Rev. Fr J. Felix Raj, SJ, vice-chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, in one of the rare instances to not just come out in solidarity of his fellow Jesuit and speak out his mind in an exclusive interaction with eNewsroom.

The VC, who is also an economist has strongly condemned the arresting of Father Stan Swamy. During the candid interaction, Father Felix Raj highlighted the importance of Stan Swamy’s work for the downtrodden and explained why the arresting of the 83-year-old priest is part of the battle between the rich and the poor. Below are the excerpts from the conversation that took place:

eNewsroom: You are associated with St. Xaviers, which has been known as an apolitical educational centre. But you have raised your voice against the arresting of Father Stan Swamy and have written on your website too. What was the triggering point for you?

Father Felix: The triggering point for me was the fact that I have known Father Stan Swamy personally for so many years. We are from the same Jesuits community. I have admired the work he has been doing for the poor tribal community in Jharkhand who are often exploited by many. He has throughout his life served the poor. He was not against anyone.

His arrest has ignited anger not just in us but people across the globe. Protests condemning his arrest have been organised in Japan, the UK and the USA.

But my contention in the arrest of Father Swamy when the pandemic is on, stems from the fact that he is 83-year-old, hence a senior citizen of this nation. The law of this land gives many privileges in the form of concessions, pensions and even stipends for the senior citizens. But here, we have seen how a senior citizen, working for the good of the poor tribals was questioned for 15 hours prior to his arrest. Do we give such a treatment to a child?

I just want to ask, did they have any proof or any evidence? There was no compassion for a senior citizen shown in this case. I request our Prime Minister to intervene in this case and facilitate the release of Father Stan.

eNewsroom: Whenever  a Christian person in question, many allege that the social work being done is to convert people. However, for officials, it’s always easy to claim that the person working in tribal areas, has a Maoist link. In Stan’s case also, NIA officals told him that he has links with Maoists. So why is it in India, a Christian is either accused of facilitating conversion or having Maoist link?

Father Felix: As far as conversion is concerned, my first answer to it is – give me the proof of conversion by Christians, give me the proof of forceful conversion. We Christians have been working selflessly to serve the poor irrespective of one’s religion. In doing so, if one or two one or two such cases take place, by certain sects of Christians then the whole community should not be accused of making people accept Christianity. Serving humanity, serving the country selflessly is what we aim to do for our country, towards which we feel indebted.

Watch the full interview of Father Felix Raj below:

 

Take the example of Father Stan, he was an activist, who used to raise issues for the tribals, criticised the government and their policies if they were not pro-poor, publicly but accusing him of having a Maoist link is unfair. Given the work that he has been doing for the poor, Father Stan can be called a prophet of this era. He is a messenger of the God. And for whom does a prophet speak for? The poor and their rights. He has a spirit like Mother Teresa. He is fearless and only fears God, for he knows he is serving him by working for the poor.

eNewsroom: You appealed to the PM to release Father Stan, will you also appeal to Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to raise voice for him?

Father Felix: Yes we have written to the Prime Minister and have asked him to consider the case of Father Stan Swamy. We want him to be released from police custody, because of his failing health and age. He has been unwell. He could have admitted himself in some hospital to avoid his arrest. But he didn’t as he believes that he is good work for the poor.

Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren has raised his voice against the arrest of Father Stan Swamy. Everyone knows that he is an intellectual, who has been relentlessly working for the poor tribals and their rights.

I would also request our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to raise her voice against his arrest, He should be released and the case can be continued in the Court.

eNewsroom: Last year St. Xavier College students had hit the streets when students of Jamia and other universities were attacked, will they take on to the roads to protest against the arresting of Stan Swamy?

Father Felix: The rally was organised by our students but no authority was present there. Our institution has been apolitical, but we want our students to remain politically aware. And they are. So when the students were attacked across the country, Xaverians wished to protest in solidarity with other students, then we could not deny them. We do not want political activities inside our campus, and no party could have unions but we believe that our students should be aware about the issues, as some of them could become leaders too. India will have a better leadership in future. Coming to this issue, if we see that we are not being heard, and there is a need to hit the streets then we will come out once again.

Gunning For The Godman not only tells about the clout of Asaram but also that a few good officers are still around – who can make the system work

Nalin Verma
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Gunning For The Godman not only tells about the clout of Asaram but also that a few good officers are still around – who can make the system work

When the “Gunning For The GodMan” authored by the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Ajay Lamba and editor-writer, Sanjeev Mathur was delivered to me last month, I was busy covering Bihar elections for various news related journals and papers.

The journalists reflexively react to what is happening around and act in immediacy to gather the information, process it and write it. This is what was happening to me and in the process I was not in the mental frame to read the Gunning For The Godman telling the tale of Asaram Bapu who has been languishing in jail since 2018 after he was convicted for life in connection with raping a minor girl.

Incidentally, I picked up the book to glance through its pages for a change on Saturday. But as I began reading it, I forgot about everything else. The first sentence led to the second sentence, the second to the third and in the process I read the whole book from cover to cover in the next eight hours or so.

The salesmen use the word “unputdownable” or “page turner” to promote the books and draw the readers’ attention. But on the completion of reading it, I genuinely feel that the Gunning For The Godman is what the words, “unputdownable” and “page turner” actually stand for.

Reams have been written on Asaram and many of us may be under the impression that we know everything about the controversial Godman. But believe me—if you read The Gunning For The Godman, you will find a rare insight into the life journey of a cruel psychopath masquerading as a Godman and fooling the world.

We are living in an era when the people are fast losing faith in the system—the police, judiciary and political structure. The Gunning for The Godman is a kind of stuff that will tell that everything has not lost and if one works with diligence, honesty and commitment one can secure justice amidst a variety of elements working for the cross purposes with law and justice system.

“Who Is Asaram?”—it’s introductory chapter of the book giving factually authentic account of how Asaram—a small-time seller in tea and liquor grew into a Godman building his empire worth thousands of crores, getting high and mighty of the land on his feet and mesmerising the world. You will understand that it was not a miracle that he cured some ailing people and brought a dead cow to live. You will understand the real meaning of the miracle—how Asaram defiled and ravaged countless minor girls by fooling them and their parents to believe that he was an incarnation of the God.

The following chapters—The Beginning, The Testimony, The Tough Twenty, The Game of Many Manoeuvres, No Exit, Post Arrest Perils, Towards a Watertight Case, The Trial, The Judgement and Aftermath—will empirically unravel the manner in which Ajay Lamba and his team of police officers broke through the shady mechanism that the serial sinner in Asaram had built over the years to guard himself against the law—and brought him to justice.

The book brings to the fore a genuine leader in Ajay Lamba trusting and encouraging the team members towards righteous cause and at the same time guarding them against enormous threat on their lives. “Rape toh hua hai, Sir”—this is a small sentence that the woman station house office (SHO) of Jodhpur women police station, Mukta Parekh says to her DCP (Ajay) in the second chapter of the book on the basis of her interaction with the victim. And Ajay’s honest belief in Mukta’s sentence makes him work on it, gather the evidences and make such a water-tight case which eventually brings out the true colour of Asaram and puts him to justice. And Ajay—the lead author of the book—doesn’t claim the bravado of doing it alone. He works with his team, giving due credit to all the team members that comprise Mukta, another woman police officer, Chanchal and several other members of his team.

It is hard to say which chapter of the book is most interesting. All its ten chapters are equally gripping. While the first chapter gives the readers insight into the life and personality of Asaram, the second chapter deals with getting the testimony of the victim, the third chapter narrates the tough time Ajay and his team members undergo in gathering the evidence, the fourth one delves in the manoeuvres and manipulations that Asaram had built against the law, the fifth one tells how the victims had no escape once they got into Asaram’s clutch and then how Asaram gets his fortification impregnated and gets arrested, the sixth one is about the dangers coming in the way after his arrest, the seventh one is about making a water-tight case, the eighth one is about the intricate trial process, the ninth one is about the judgement and the last one deals with the Aftermath that is still continuing.

Thanks to the highly skilled co-author, Sanjeev Mathur who has put the facts in the manner that leads the readers through its pages in a magical manner. The facts furnished by the lead author Ajay and the craft employed by the co-author Sajeev have done wonders with the book. Here also it’s the team of Ajay and Sanjeev that has brought out the miraculous stuff in the shape of the book.

My only criticism and that is the minor one about the book is it lacks in psychological input about how Asaram morphed himself into an unbelievable demon from a small time grocer and tea/liquor seller at the very early age in his life. It would have been better if the authors had fleshed out more about his early life with the tools of social and behavioural psychology.

But in no way, my observation makes the book less interesting and less useful. I recommend to the readers to buy and read it with the assurance that they will surely enjoy it. Take it from me—once you start reading it you will forget about your tea and meal. It’s worth reading and also very necessary in the era of ubiquitous god-men ruling the roost all over in our land.

Publisher: Harper Collins

Price: Rs 499

“We Stand with Stan,” say more than two thousand concerned citizens of India

ScribeShah
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“We Stand with Stan,” say more than two thousand concerned citizens of India

Ranchi: More than two thousands concerned citizens from across India jointly issued an statement in solidarity with 84-year-old human rights activist Stan Swamy, who was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday in connection with Bhima-Koregaon case.

The under signies, which include several prominent dignetries from all walks of life also appealed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to intervene into the matter. Hemant Soren, as leader of opposition had opposed the action by Pune Police when they had raided Stan’s office first time.

“The recent arrest of Stan Swamy is a gross violation of human rights and democratic norms. We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the arrest of Jharkhand’s Stan Swamy by the NIA in the Bhima-Koregaon case on the evening of 8 October 2020. Stan Swamy, 84 years old, is a valued and public-spiritedness citizen who has worked for Adivasi rights since decades in Jharkhand. The inhuman and insincere act of the NIA authorities in arresting Stan Swamy stands out for its sheer vindictiveness for Stan fully cooperated with the investigating officers of the NIA when they questioned him at his residence in Bagaicha for over 15 hours (on 27-30 July and 6 August),” reads the statement.

It further said, “Stan has consistently denied any link with extremist leftist forces or Maoists. He had also clearly told the NIA that some so called extracts allegedly taken from his computer shown to him by the NIA were fake and fabricated and that he disowned them. It is deeply worrying that the NIA arrested an 84-year old with several health ailments during the Covid epidemic and made him travel to Mumbai. Stan’s statement, written two days before the arrest, is attached. His video testimony can be seen below.”

The statement also mentioned the main reason, why the veteran activist has been framed by Modi government, “Stan works for the rights of Adivasis and other underprivileged groups in the state. Among other issues, he works on displacement, corporate loot of resources, the condition of under-trials and PESA. Stan has been a vocal critic of the BJP government’s attempts to amend land laws and the land acquisition act in Jharkhand, and a strong advocate of the Forest Rights Act, PESA and related laws. We know Stan as an exceptionally gentle, honest and selfless person. We have the highest regard for him and his work.”

And added, “We firmly believe that the Bhima-Koregaon case, being driven by the Modi government, is a baseless fabrication. The central government, in the guise of the Bhima-Koregaon case, is trying to build a false narrative of a national Maoist conspiracy against the state that involves these activists. The main objective of the case is to target and harass activists who work for the rights of Adivasis, Dalits and the marginalised and raise questions against the anti-people policies of the government. The Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy case exposes the extent to which the central government is willing to undermine constitutional values and suppress dissent. The arrest of Stan Swamy is also an attack on all those working for human and constitutional rights in Jharkhand.”

Lastly, it appealed to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to oppose the arrest of Stan, “In June 2019, when the Maharashtra police had raided Stan Swamy’s residence at Bagaicha in the Bhima-Koregaon case, the then leader of opposition Hemant Soren had strongly condemned this and said: “Back in power, BJP government is back to dirty business, stifling all voices of dissent. Stan Swamy has been a leading voice tribal rights and welfare. I strongly condemn this forceful and unwarranted raids in his house.”

And demand from the central government for the immediate release of Stan Swamy and closure of the case.

Some of the names and affiliations are:

Name  Affiliation  Place
A C Michael Former Member, Delhi Minorities Commission New Delhi
A David Rebello Gurgaon
A D’Souza Mumbai
A F C Lopez Thiruvananthapuram
A P Josy PUCL Chhattisgarh
A. Joe Franklin Tamil Nadu, Trichy
A. Vasanthi Ssps T. N
Aabida Concerned Citizen Uttar Pradesh
Aameen AISA Ludhiana
Aaron D’ Almeida People who bring peace to Adivasi rights let them work Andheri Mumbai
Aashish Gupta University of Pennsylvania
Aashish Khakha Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai
ABHAY MOKASHI AAMRAS MUMBAI
Abhirup
Abinesh Bangalore
Abinesh Bangalore
Achintya Mukherjee Individual Panchratna, Almeida Road, Bandra West
Adele Pereira Mumbai
Adhersh I Tamilnadu
Adityanath Samajwadi Jan Parishad Rajasthan Jaipur
Adivasi Women’s Network
Admiral L Ramdas Former Chief of Naval Staff [retired] Alibag, RAIGAD Dist, Maharashtra
Adolfina Xavier Mount Carmel College Bangalore
Adrian Castelino . Mumbai
Adrian Correa Mumbai
Adv Charles DSa Voice of Kalina ALM , Mumbai
Adv. Jomol Joy Kerala
Adv. Razaullah Association for Protection of Civil Rights Ranchi
Advika Pandey Ranchi
Advocate Nikita Agarwal New Delhi
Agnel Pereira Mumbai
Agnelo Menezes St Xavier’s College, Mumbai MUMBAI
Agnes Mumbai
Agnes Almeida Gujarat
Agnes Lobo Pune
Agnes Mariyam
Aiman Khan Innocence Network India Bengaluru
Ajay J George Society of Jesus Mangalore
Ajay Minj Ranchi
Ajit CPIML Liberation Maharashtra Mumbai

BJP marches against Mamata to highlight rise of crimes in Bengal

ScribeShah
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BJP marches against Mamata to highlight rise of crimes in Bengal

Kolkata: At a time when there is rage against Bharatiya Janata Party led government in Uttar Pradesh for large number of rape cases especially against Dalit community across the country, BJP led a protest march in West Bengal highlighting worsening law and order situation in Trinamool ruled state.

But clashes broke out between the BJP workers and the West Bengal Police on Thursday during the saffron party’s ‘Nabanna Chalo’ protest march.

The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)’s 2019 figures also show that UP tops in India in violence against women and girl children. The home ministry claimed that West Bengal did not share its latest data and its 2018 data has been used to arrive at national and city-wise figures.

On October 3, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a rally in Kolkata against the Hathras gangrape case and UP police not allowing opposition leaders to meet victim family.

Violence erupted near Howrah Bridge as the BJP activists led by BJP state president and Midnapore MP Dilip Ghosh tried to break the barricade near the bridge.

“The police are just the puppet of the chief minister. We have organised a democratic and peaceful rally. The TMC government, along with police, is purposely trying to disrupt the social fabric of the state by unnecessary violence,” said Ghosh.

Countering Ghosh, the mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Firhad Hakim alleged that BJP is not a political party but a group of lumpens.

“BJP had hit the streets purposely to unleash tension and terror. They are not a political party but a group of lumpens trying to break the democracy of the state,” claimed Hakim.

The police resorted to water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge on the BJP cadres leaving more than 1,000 workers severely injured.

The youth wing of state BJP had taken out a protest march to the state secretariat Nabanna. The protest march started from four different points state BJP`s headquarters on Central Avenue, Hastings, Howrah Maidan and Santragachi.

The BJP worker arrived from the districts for the mega rally. BJP central leader and Bengal observer Arvind Menon had to be hospitalized after being injured in a lathi-charge near Hastings More.

State vice-president Raju Banerjee, who led the rally from Satragachi along with party’s general secretary Sayantan Basu, was rushed to Apollo Hospitals for treatment as he was gasping for breath after being hit by a chemical-laced water cannon at Satragachi bus stand.

The state government used heavy police force to stop the march and disperse the party workers. The arterial Howrah Bridge, connecting the city to Howrah town and the station, was turned into a fortress by the heavy deployment of cops. RAF, city and state police and Robocop personnel were also seen guarding the streets in large numbers. The BJP leaders alleged that the administration had stopped plying buses, ferry services and other modes of transport, since Wednesday evening to prevent the workers reach the city.

Union minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo was stopped at Kona Expressway and was denied permission to enter Kolkata.

“I was supposed to join the rally from Satragachi but police is denying permission to even go to Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee vacated the state secretariat fearing of BJP wrath. We exactly want this to happen and want to uproot her and her tyrant party from Bengal,” claimed Supriyo.

Earlier in the day, around noon, when the BJP workers were still converging at the various venues, the cops used lathi-charge at Kona Expressway around Satragachi. At Dhulagarh too, the marching rallists were stopped. At Satragachi More, a large number of bike-borne workers joined the rally. The crowd later broke open the bamboo barricades put up by the cops.

At Howrah Maidan too barricades were upturned by the marching workers.

Later, at a press meet BJYM all-India president and MP, Tejasvi Surya said that the state has the most corrupt government in India and that 120 party workers were killed in the state in the last 2 years. He said he will ask the centre for gross violation of human rights by the use of chemical-laced water jets, which is the first of its kind in the world. He quoted former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he said, “Andhera chatega, suraj niklega aur kamal khilega (state will see the lotus blooming after the darkness is removed and the sun shines)”.

The state BJP youth wing activists staged a protest programme near Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee`s residence at Kalighat earlier in the day chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans.

Significantly, in an anti-NRC rally in December last year, CM Mamata had said that BJP didn’t allow the delegates we sent to enter UP but their leaders come and do rallies in Bengal. Last week, when TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien gone to Hathras to meet Manisha’s family, who has been gangraped, did not let meet the family and police stopped him by pushing him to ground.

बिहार: एक पैराग्राफ की कहानी का राज्य

ScribeShah
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बिहार: एक पैराग्राफ की कहानी का राज्य
साधारण कथाओं का यह असाधारण दौर है। बिहार उन्हीं साधारण कथाओं के फ्रेम में फंसा एक जहाज़ है। बिहार की राजनीति में जाति के कई टापू हैं। बिहार की राजनीति में गठबंधनों के सात महासागर हैं। कभी जहाज़ टापू पर होता है। कभी जहाज़ महासागर में तैर रहा होता है। चुनाव दर चुनाव बिहार उन्हीं धारणाओं की दीवारों पर सीलन की तरह नज़र आता है जो दिखता तो है मगर जाता नहीं है। सीलन की परतें उतरती हैं तो नईं परतें आ जाती हैं। बिहार को पुरानी धारणाओं से निकालने के लिए एक महीना कम समय है। सर्वे और समीकरण के नाम पर न्यूज़ चैनलों से बाकी देश ग़ायब हो जाएगा। पर्दे पर दिखेगा बिहार मगर बिहार भी ग़ायब रहेगा। बिहार में कुछ लोग अनैतिकता खोज रहे हैं और कुछ लोग नैतिकता। बिहार में जहां नैतिकता मिलती है वहीं अनैतिकता भी पाई जाती है। जहां अनैतिकता नहीं पाई जाती है वहां नैतिकता नहीं होती है। बिहार में दोनों को अकेले चलने में डर लगता है इसलिए आपस में गठबंधन कर लेती हैं। अनैतिक होना अनिवार्य है। अनैतिकता ही अमृत है। नैतिकता चरणामृत है। पी लेने के बाद सर में पोंछ लेने के लिए होती है। नेता और विश्लेषक पहले चुनाव में जाति खोजते थे। जाति से बोर हो गए तो जाति का समीकरण बनाने लगे। समीकरण से बोर हो गए तो गठबंधन बनाने लगे। गठबंधन से बोर हो गए तो महागठबंधन बनाने लगे। नेता जानता है इसके अलावा हर जात के ठेकेदार को पैसे देने पड़ते हैं। दरवाज़े पर बैठे लोग पैसे मांगते हैं। चीज़ सामान मांगते हैं। यह स्वीकार्य अनैतिकता है। पहले जनता नहीं बताती थी कि किसने दिया है। अब राजनीतिक दल नहीं बताते हैं कि करोड़ों का फंड किसने दिया है। इल्केटोरल फंड पर कई महीनों से सुप्रीम कोर्ट में सुनवाई नहीं हुई है। बहरहाल, जाति, समीकरण, गठबंधन और महागठबंधन के बाद फैक्टर का चलन आया है। किसमें ज़ेड फैक्टर है और किसमें एक्स फैक्टर है। स्विंग का भी फैक्टर है। सब कुछ खोजेंगे ताकि जीतने वाले की भविष्यवाणी कर सकें। कोशिश होगी कि जल्दी से महीना गुज़र जाए। वास्तविक अनैतिक शक्तियों तक न पहुंचा जाए वर्ना विज्ञापन बंद हो जाएगा और जोखिम बढ़ जाएगा। आम जनता जिसने पांच साल में घटिया अख़बारों और चैनलों के अलावा न कुछ देखा और पढ़ा है उस पर दबाव होगा कि उसके बनाए ढांचे से निकल कर ज़मीनी अनुभव को सुना दे। अब तो वह जनता भी उसी फ्रेम में कैद है। वह ज़मीनी अनुभवों में तड़प रही है मगर आसमानी अनुभवों में ख़ुश है। सूचनाएं जब गईं नहीं तो जनता के मुखमंडल से लौट कर कैसे आएंगी। जनता समझदार है। यह बात जनता के लिए नहीं कही जाती बल्कि राजनीतिक दलों की अनैतिकताओं को सही ठहराने के लिए कही जाती है। जनता की मांग खारिज होगी। नेता जो मांग देंगे वही जनता को अपनी मांग बनानी होगी। नेता जनता को खोजते हैं और जनता नेता को खोजते हैं। चैनल वाले दोनों को मिला देंगे। ज़्यादा मिलन न हो जाए उससे पहले महासंग्राम जैसे कार्यक्रम में खेला-भंडोल हो जाएगा। खोजा-खोजी बिहार के चुनाव का अभिन्न अंग है। आँखों के सामने रखी हुई चीज़ भी खोजी जाती है। कोई नेता गठबंधन के पीछे लुकाया होगा तो कोई नेता उचित गठबंधन पाकर दहाड़ने लगा होगा। बिहार 15 साल आगे जाता है या फिर 15 साल पीछे जाता है। अभी 15 साल पीछे है मगर खुश है कि उसके 15 साल में जितना पीछे था उससे आगे है। उसके बगल से दौड़ कर कितने धावक निकल गए उसकी परवाह नहीं। इसकी होड़ है कि जिससे वह आगे निकला था उसी को देखते हुए बाकियों से पीछे रहे। बिहार की राजधानी पटना भारत का सबसे गंदा शहर है। जिस राज्य की राजधानी भारत का सबसे गंदा शहर हो वह राज्य 15 साल आगे गया है या 15 साल पीछे गया है, बहस का भी विषय नहीं है। सबको पता है किसे कहां वोट देना है। जब पता ही है तो पता क्या करना कि कहां वोट पड़ेगा। नीतीश कहते हैं वो सबके हैं। चिराग़ कहते हैं कि मेरे नहीं हैं। चिराग कहते हैं कि मेरे तो मोदी हैं, दूजा न कोए। मोदी की बीजेपी कहती है मेरे तो नीतीश हैं,दूजा न कोए। गठबंधन से एक बंधन खोल कर विरोधी तैयार किया जाता है ताकि मैच का मैदान कहीं और शिफ्ट हो जाए। मुकाबला महागठबंधन बनाम राजग का न ले। चिराग और नीतीश का लगे। चिराग कहते हैं नीतीश भ्रष्ट हैं। बीजेपी कहती है नीतीश ही विकल्प हैं। नीतीश से नाराज़ मतदाता नोटा में न जाएँ, महागठबंधन में न जाए इसलिए चिराग़ को नोटा बैंक बना कर उतारा गया है। चिराग का काम है महागठबंधन की तरफ आती गेंद को दौड़कर लोक लेना है। राजग को आउट होने से बचाना है। बाद में तीनों कहेंगे कि हम तीनों में एक कॉमन हैं। भले नीतीश मेरे नहीं हैं मगर मोदी तो सबके हैं। मोदी नाम केवलम। हम उनकी खातिर नीतीश को समर्थन देंगे। ज़रूरत नहीं पड़ी तो मस्त रहेंगे। दिल्ली में मंत्री बन जाएंगे। ज़रूरत पड़ गई तो हरियाणा की तरह दुष्यंत चौटाला बन जाएंगे। बस इतनी सी बात है। एक पैराग्राफ की बात है। बिहार की कहानी दूसरे पैराग्राफ तक पहुंच ही नहीं पाती है।

CM Yogi should resign: Md Salim

ScribeShah
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CM Yogi should resign: Md Salim

Kolkata: The Left and the Congress jointly organised a mega rally in Kolkata on Tuesday against the gang rape of a dalit woman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, by upper-caste men.

Both have also held state-wide protests in other districts as well on the day.

A 19-year-old dalit girl was allegedly raped at a village in Hathras by four men on September 14. After her condition deteriorated, she was referred to the Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital where she breathed her last, exactly a week back.

In Kolkata, the rally started at Esplanade and commenced at Lady Brabourne College.
Thousands of Left and Congress activists protested against the alleged gang rape at Hathras in Kolkata on Saturday too, sparking nationwide outrage.

Demanding immediate resignation of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Left Front and Congress held their protest rally.

Senior CPI(M) leader and politburo member Md. Salim said that the torture meted out to the victim is horrific and he shudders to even think of it. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh should immediately resign.

“BJP claims that they are a democratic party and also that they are holding onto the sovereignty of the country. Hathras incident is an example, how much heavy price we have to pay in the name of sovereignty. The entire country should now understand what BJP actually stands for. Yogi Adityanath should immediately resign. How can someone cremate the body without the permission of the family members?” questioned Salim.

Left Front chairman and senior politburo member Biman Bose said that families of rape victims in Bengal too have been denied justice and not just Yogi Adityanath but also Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee should also open up on why she is hiding the names of the culprits in the state.

“From Kamduni to Kakdweep, several minor girls have been raped and killed in Bengal. Their families are still awaiting justice. Mamata Banerjee should also answer why there has been no justice in these cases. Despite being a woman, she supports the rapists,” argued Bose.

The senior politburo member also alleged that no matter how much the TMC leader shouts against the BJP-led central government, there is a pact between the two parties.

An effigy of Yogi Adityanath was burnt in front of Lady Brabourne College where several partymen of both the Left and the Congress chanted slogans against BJP and the ruling Trinamool.

Since October 1, several protests against the Hathras gangrape incident are taking place at Kolkata and other parts of state by civil societies as well as political parties. Bengal CM, who was also attacked by leaders in the Left and Congress’ joint rally had also held a rally against the horrific gangrape incident in UP.

Conversions and Anti Christian Violence in India

ScribeShah
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Conversions and Anti Christian Violence in India

Mr. Satyapal Singh, the BJP MP, while speaking in Lok Sabha on amendments to FCRA went on to support the forthcoming restrictions to the foreign contributions. While making his arguments, to buttress his point, he put forward the case of Pastor Graham Stewart Stains. In the process he poured venom on the late Pastor by saying that the Pastor had raped 30 Tribal women and was involved in the work of conversion to Christianity with the help of funds from abroad!

This blatant lie should have been countered in the Parliament. The brutal murder of Pastor Graham Stains was described by the then President of India, Dr. K.R. Narayanan by saying “it belonged to the world’s inventory of black deeds”. The pastor, who came from Australia to work among the Leprosy patients in Orissa, was sleeping in an open jeep in the village on the night of 22-23 January 1999. He was working in Keonjhar, Manoharpur, in Orissa. On that fateful night he was burnt alive with his two minor sons, Timothy and Philip. The Whole Country was aghast with the brutal nature of the crime. The brutality was committed by Rajendra Singh Pal aka Dara Singh, a worker of Bajrang Dal.

Mr. Advani was the home minister that time. He stated that Bajrang Dal has nothing to do with this act; he knows this organization too well. As the immediate measure he sent three member ministerial team, Murli Manohar Joshi, Navin Patnayak and George Fernandez to Orissa. In a single day the team concluded that this grave crime is an international conspiracy to destabilize the ruling NDA government. Then Wadhava Commission was appointed. The commission concluded that Dara Singh, who was working with Bajrang Dal with the help of organizations like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, VHP etc. propagated that Pastor is doing the work of conversion and is a threat to Hinduism. He did mobilize people, poured Kerosene on the vehicle and put fire.

The Commission in its report further stated that Pastor had not been doing the work of conversion; he was involved in serving the leprosy patients. Dara Singh was awarded death penalty by Courts, which was later reduced to life imprisonment; currently he is undergoing the jail sentence. What is remarkable is that as per the report there was no substantial increase in the percentage of Christians in the area. The report states, “Keonjar district had a total population of 15.30 lakh. Out of them, 14.93 lakh were Hindus. Christians, mostly tribal’s, were 4,707. According to the 1991 census, there were already 4,112 Christians in the district. Thus, there was an increase of only 595 in the Christian population.” One can say that this is not due to conversion but is due to the natural biological process. Propaganda of Dara Singh and the organizations was purely guided by their political agenda.

The propaganda that Christian missionaries have been converting is the dominant social perception all around, and it is the ground for ‘Hatred against the Christians’, who have been facing the violence from last over two decades. We witnessed violence against Christians, mainly in Adivasi areas, Dangs, Jhabua, and large parts of Orissa. After this gruesome murder, there was regular violence against Christian community, the peak of which was seen in the Kandhamal violence (August 2008) in which nearly hundred Christians were killed, close to four hundred women raped and many Churches attacked and destroyed.

That has not been the end. The violence against this community is going on in a regular manner. It is mostly in remote areas, in a scattered manner and many a times below radar. The prayer meetings are attacked and missionaries distributing religious literature are apprehended. The organization ‘Persecution Relief’, in its recent report points out, “Hate crimes against Christians in India have risen by an alarming 40.87 percent…,That increase came despite a complete nationwide lockdown that lasted three months to stem the spread of Covid-19 infections.”

While the attacks on Muslim minority has been glaring, those against Christians though are scattered and low intensity, the murder of Pastor Stains and Kandhamal violence stand out. The core ideology behind this violence which has been spread is that Islam and Christianity are ‘foreign religions’ and are a threat to Hinduism. This is so much in contrast to what Indian Nationalists like Gandhi and Nehru who regarded that religion is no basis of Nationality; Christianity is as much a religion of this land as any other.

As a matter of fact as per one version Christianity entered this land in AD 52, With St Thomas setting up Church in Malabar area. Since close to last over 19 Centuries many missionereris have been coming and working in the remote areas, setting up health and education facilities in particular. They have also set up the schools and colleges, and hospitals in urban areas, which are known for their good standards, and people in these areas do vie to avail of these facilities with gay abandon.

Today the percentage of Christians, as per census figures is 2.30 (2011 census), this is again a climb down from 1971 when it was 2.60 %. Last six decades it has shown a constant decline, 2.60 (1971), 2.44 (1981) 2.34 (1991), 2.30 (2001) and 2.30 again in 2011. The organizations like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, VHP and Bajrang dal are active more in remote places to spread the misconception of the conversion. This is an assault on ‘Freedom of Religion’ and the repressive laws against freedom of religion have been coming up in state after state. While Indian Constitution stands for individual’s right to practice and preach one’s religion, the anti Christian violence on the pretext of religion is becoming endemic as sectarianism is growing in a frightening manner.

Recently 25th August, it was 12 years since kandhamal Violence had shaken the country. The need is to restore peace, amity and harmony. By speaking unsubstantiated charges Mr. Satyapal Singh has just gone on to add to the anti Christian propaganda, which dents our values of Fraternity.

Why the tribals of Rajasthan are angry

Urvashi Rawal
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Why the tribals of Rajasthan are angry

Jaipur: For four days towards the end of September, Dungarpur in south Rajasthan saw a violent stir with thousands of tribal youth blocking the Delhi-Mumbai highway and indulging in vandalism and arson.

The youth were demanding filling up of 1167 vacant posts of teachers under general quota from the ST quota.

The agitation was on for 18 days but the government did not pay heed and it ultimately resulted in a violent clash with the police forces on September 24, leaving two people dead and 45 police personnel injured.

Ashok Gehlot’s government under fire with opposition parties reprimanding the administration and intelligence to control the situation.

While peace has returned to the area, the role of the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and people from Jharkhand has come under the scanner. Dungarpur collector Kana Ram said that the violence was fanned by people from the neighbouring states who were influenced by a particular ideology.

A report by the intelligence department also pointed out attempts to radicalise tribal youth. Officials say some naxal leaders from Jharkhand are active in the tribal belt and locals have attended chintan shivirs organised by naxals from Jharkhand.

According to a senior police official who did not want to be named, people from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh as well as leaders of the BTP had a role in inciting the violence.

BTP’s growing influence

The BTP took shape in Rajasthan ahead of the 2018 assembly elections. The party won on two of 200 assembly seats. However, its political influence in the regions has been growing, especially among youth.

The BTP found support for its political agenda which includes creation of a separate Bhil Pradesh in the tribal dominated contiguous region in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, a separate family code and reservation for tribals locally.

It has also been opposing attempts being made by the BJP and RSS to bring tribals under the Hindu-fold as well as conversion activities by Christian missionaries. The BTP wants to revive tribal culture and icons and its leaders have asked people to shun Hindu prayers and cultural practices.

BJP leader and former state home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said there is an attempt by BTP in league with naxals from Jharkhand to radicalise the peace loving tribal population of Rajasthan.

Development lag in tribal areas

Political analyst Narayan Bareth maintained that such developments are indicated that the peaceful region could soon be converted into a fertile ground that could facilitate the growth of extremism.

He said that decades of neglect by successive governments and the rise of the Bharatiya Tribal Party had created a sentiment of alienation among the tribals.

“Rajasthan society is different from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. People here shun extremes and have faith in institutions so violent ideology has not taken root here. But if the government does not implement constitutional provisions for the Scheduled Areas and strengthen institutions, it will be a problem,” Bareth pointed out.

Eight districts of Rajasthan – Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Sirohi and Pali fall under the Scheduled Areas where the tribal population is over 50 percent.

“The allocation of funds to the tribal sub-plan is generally below the prescribed norms and there is no proper monitoring of funds which often lapse,” said Velaram Ghoghra, state president of the BTP.

The concept of TSP was to channelize funds and make special plans for the tribal areas so they could have access to health, education, income generation and employment.

Ghoghra said, “Successive governments have failed to bring basic amenities such as sadak, bijli, pani to these areas. Health and education infrastructure is poor and there is hardly any industry or employment opportunity.

According to the Budget Analysis and Research Centre Trust, the allocation to the tribal sub-plan (TSP) for the period between 2013-14 and 2016-17 ranged between 7 and 10 per cent of the total budget in Rajasthan, much below 13.5% prescribed under the government guidelines,

Nesar Ahmad, founder director at BARC, said, “The budget spent on tribal areas in the state should be around 13.5 per cent, which has been decided on the basis of tribal people and total population ratio in the Census 2011.”

“However, the allocation has remained well below the figure of 13.5 percent. This means each year the tribal areas are being denied crores of rupees meant for their development,” he mentioned.

Ghoghra stressed upon the fact that tribals are slowly becoming aware how they have been exploited and are raising their voice and demanding their rights. He said, “The constitution provides for autonomy of tribal areas to prevent our culture from outside invasion.”

BTP MLA Rajkumar Roat accused the Congress and BJP of a witch-hunt. “The BJP and Congress are terming us as naxals to suppress us because they are fearful of our influence,” Roat reasoned.

Bareth summed up that while there seemed to be no imminent threat of naxalism spreading its root in the tribal belt but the government needed to be alert and proactive.

In 2019, tribals residing in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh too had protested against their respective government for the lack of work in their areas, but they had chosen to do Pathalgadi (erecting walls in the entrance of village and not allowing any official without permission or in other words, making their sovereign territory). They had demanded proper implementation of PESA Act in the tribal areas.

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