Jaipur: Ever since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was announced, protests have broken out across India. From textile traders to theatre owners, several groups have taken to the streets in cities like Surat, Jaipur, and Kolkata, while in states such as Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, entire industries have demanded a complete or partial rollback of the new tax regime. But in Jaipur, a rather unique protest has emerged — led by sculptors.
On July 5, hundreds of sculptors under the banner of Moortikala Sangharsh Samiti marched through the streets, protesting against idols made by them being brought under GST. Protesters dressed as gods, goddesses, and priests carried striking slogans such as “Kasam Ram Ki Khatey Hain, Milkar GST Hatayenge” (We swear in the name of Ram, together we will force GST to be rolled back). They argued that taxing idols of gods amounted to an attack on Hinduism.
Adding to their frustration was confusion over the tax slab. Initially, sculptors were told that their products would attract a 28% GST, but later this was revised to 12%. “Irrespective of the slab, we want a complete rollback,” said Satya Prakash Natha, spokesperson of the Samiti. The rally concluded at the Jaipur collectorate, where a memorandum demanding rollback of GST on idols was submitted.
This was the second such protest by sculptors in Jaipur, following a chetawani (warning) rally on July 3.
Sculptors dressed as gods and goddesses stage a protest march on the streets of Jaipur
Not only did they dress in an innovative way, but also demonstrated uniquely
When Gods say no to GST
With interesting slogans they came out in full force
The sculptors marching on to the Jaipur collectorate
Kolkata: An objectionable post on Facebook by a standard 11 student not only gave the mob a chance to go on rampage, in Bengal’s Baduria district, but has also led to a face-off between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor KN Tripathi.
Baduria, a small town in Bengal’s North 24 Pargana, is just 50 kilometers away from its state capital, Kolkata.
The accused, who posted an objectionable picture, got arrested on Sunday night itself, but the administration could not quell the anger of those offended by the post. The angry mob burnt down several shops, vehicles including police vans on Monday and Tuesday.
However, communal tension building up in Baduria, got more attention when the Didi called journalists, claiming that the governor of Bengal had called her. She claimed that he, during the telephonic conversation had threatened and insulted her. She even mentioned that BJP was instigating communal violence in Bengal.
“He telephoned and threatened me. The governor can not threaten me. I told him, ‘You cannot threaten me like this,’” an angry Mamata told the reporters present during the conference.
Hinting to the people of Bengal and specially Muslims, the chief minister added, “BJP may provoke you, but why are you getting trapped. The ones who destroyed government properties will have to pay. We will be taking action against them.”
She also warned leaders of both the communities, “I will not spare anyone who is fuelling communal violence.”
After few hours of Mamata’s statement, Governor Tripathi too issued a communiqué stating that he cannot remain mute spectator.
The communiqué mentioned that Honorable governor and chief minister talks were confidential in nature and none is expected to disclose it. However, there was nothing that he said, which could make the CM feel insulted, threatened and humiliated.
Meanwhile, local MLA Quazi Abdul Rahim blamed that the police did not inform the localites about the accused having been arrested.
Significantly, there has been a surge in the number of communal clashes in Bengal, during the second stint of Mamata Banerjee’s government. Since October, last year, at least 10 districts of Bengal have witnessed such communal clashes.
Kolkata Police, seeing the situation, in its Facebook page has requested people to report rumour mongers. And stressed that peace and communal harmony remains their first priority.
Ranchi/Kolkata: The ongoing protest against mob lynching, which has mostly remained apolitical, in nature, on July 3, witnessed a political party protesting against the most inhuman acts. The CPI-ML take on to the streets of various Indian cities, to condemn mob lynching in Jharkhand and other Indian states like Rajasthan and Haryana.
Several CPI-ML leaders and members were seen thronging the streets of various cities, while in Giridih, where the party has a strong presence called on for a bandh. In recent times, Giridih has witnessed a sudden rise in lynching cases. Recently, a dairy farmer Alimuddin Ansari, survived after being lynched by a mob and a tribal, Motilal Baske had been killed in an alleged fake encounter. The bandh called by CPI-ML was to condemn both cases. About eight rallies were led by former MLA Vinod Singh, Rajesh Yadav and Rajesh Sinha. CPI-ML had also organised protest marches in the state capital Ranchi and Garhwa district.
A similar protest march in Pratapgarh, CPI-ML backed the people’s protest, where one of its party members and social activist Zafar Khan, was allegedly lynched by Pratapgarh’s Municipal officials. The massive protest which had a large number of women demonstrated before Pratapgarh Municipal office also. Khan was killed when he had tried to stop municipal officials from clicking pictures to shame the women who were defecating in open.
While the citizen-driven protests condemning these hate crimes also continued in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Both the cities witnessed massive turnouts during the events.
CPI-ML protest march in Bagoder, led by former MLA Vinod Singh
Party also hold protest march in Garhwa district
CPI-ML’s protest march against the killing of Alimuddin Ansari in Ramgarh
CPI-ML backed people’s protest in demand of justice for Zafar Khan’s killing
In Mumbai, the call was for Nafrat Ke Khilaf, Insaniyat Ki Awaaz
Ranchi: The day Prime Minister Narendra Modi told that in Gandhi’s country, violence in the name of cow worshiping is not allowed, same time, Alimuddin Ansari was lynched in Ramgarh, Jharkhad.
Alimuddin’s killing has devastated his family. Her wife even rued that Hindutva mob can injured him and leave him, that much they can bear, but how they can kill him, so mercilessly.
Alimuddin’s lynching is the third major incident, after Latehar and Jamshedur lynching. In Latehar, two people including a 12-year-old minor was hanged to death. While in Jamshedpur, seven people in two different incidents were lynched in one night.
Watch eNewsroom’s video to listen what the kin are saying against the brutal murder.
Ramgarh: Jharkhand police, who, was being applauded for saving a dairy farmer from getting lynched in Giridih, is in the docks over the recent lynching of Alimuddin Ansari in Ramgarh.
Like in the Giridih incident, the Ramgarh police had reach the spot when mob was thrashing the 42-year-old Alimuddin. However, in this case, they did not try to save him. The family, alleged that not only police was present there when the mob was beating Alimuddin, but the mob had taken stick from police to beat Alimuddin leading to his death later.
“Police was involved in it. They (mob) took danda from prasasan (police) to kill Alimuddin Ansari,” said Shama Perween, daughter of Alimuddin to the media on Friday.
Wife of Alimuddin, Maryam Khatoon said that they do not want any compensation but justice.
“Today, they killed my father, tomorrow they will kill others,” reacted Shama.
The family mentioned one Chotu Verma, Deepak Mishra and Pappu Yadav as the main accused for the brutal murder.
While the local place role is in question, the senior ones have resorted to the character assassination of the victim.
Alimuddin, was beaten to death on Thursday morning over rumours of him carrying beef.
The same day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence over lynching and told in Gujarat that, “Killing in the name of cow worship is not acceptable.”
It was second, back to back case of mob lynching by cow vigilants in Jharkhand, within a time span of 48 hours. On Tuesday, Usman Ansari’s house had been set ablaze and he was beaten severely when his own cow’s dead body was found near his house. The carcass was mutilated, and there was no clue on how it happened.
Alimuddin, a resident of Nai Sarai, Ramgarh was travelling in his vehicle when he was chased on the basis of a rumor – that he was carrying beef. Soon, the vehicle was set ablaze and he was beaten badly. Police claimed that they reach on the spot and took Alimuddin to the hospital, from where he was referred to Ranchi. It was here that he succumbed to his injuries.
After the postmortem, family initially refused to accept the dead body from the police. A large number of women even gheroed the Ramgarh police station on Thursday night and were demanding the arrest of cow-terrorists.
Local police claimed, that when Alimuddin was rescued, he could walk. And that he had died due to shock, said SDPO Shashi Prakash, published in Hindustan Times.
The spokesperson of Jharkhand police RK Mallick, went ahead and even claimed that, Alimuddin’s murder was due to some professional rivalry, and that he had a criminal record.
However, all the reports after the incident claimed that those accused of lynching are history-sheeters.
“What is more alarming in this case is, that, it took place at market place, it did not happen in rural or in interiors. And the allegation of family on the role of police is a serious charge, it should be investigated,” CPI-ML leader Vinod Singh told eNewsroom.
Singh also added, “It has been a trend across India that whenever lynching takes place, a case first get lodged against victim itself. Such thing cannot happen without police’s complicity. And now Jharkhand police is informing the media officially that the victim has criminal records. But no charges against the victim can justify the killing.”
Only a week ago, in Chatra district, Jharkhand Police, killed a Muslim youth in cold blood. The police called the boy from his residence, took him to a secluded spot and pumped bullets into him.
And in another two major incidents near Jamshedpur, seven people had been lynched while police present on the spot did little to save the victims.
In Jharkhand, Giridih police remains to be the only exception, of the state executive, to have averted such a situation, twice.
Jaipur: The textile traders of Rajasthan have called for a 4-day long shut down over 5 per cent Goods and Service Tax (GST) on textile. The shops have brought down their shutter since June 27. On June 29, our photojournalist Chandra Mohan Aloria visited the most important textile business area of Jaipur, which is better known as Pink City, and saw that all the shops were closed. A day before the implementation of GST in India, on June 30, all kinds of business will be closed in Rajasthan as all traders have called for a shut down. See here the pictures of the Pink City to know the impact of the bandh.
Two children walk past the closed shops at Pink City over GST
A closed shop during the 4-day long bandh
Closed shops during the bandh
Shopkeepers having a meeting near their closed shops
Kolkata: The horrific incident of Junaid, a 15-year-old boy lynched inside a train coach, has moved people from different background across India and outside. Actor Renuka Sahane is one of them. She, has been a regularparticipant for most of the protestsIndia has seen in recent times. Renuka, claims that under present circumstances, “She fears for her elder son, who will turn 16 next year.”
The day, India chose to hold a protest—Not In My Name, to show its collective disgust for all the recent lynching cases, right from Usman to Junaid to Ayub to Zafar toNaim to Gautam, Ganesh, Pehlu andAkhlaque, Renuka posted a moving piece on her Facebook profile.
In the beginning of it, the actor clears that, she does not want to see the religion of victim and killers, but there was a mob, who killed a human while people watched them being lynched.
“Junaid was lynched by a mob of cruel human beings. I don’t care what religion those lynchers belonged to. Nor do I care what religion Junaid belonged to. I only care about one thing. A group of mean, cruel human beings killed a teenager and assaulted three other young men brutally!” she writes.
And then she shares her fear, some what similar to what Kiran Rao, wife of actor Aamir Khan had feared a year ago. Kiran had also added that she sometimes thinks to leave the country. Her comment had made campaign against him.
“Junaid was 16. My elder son will turn 16 next year. My heart breaks for Junaid’s mother.”
Renuka also wonders on the silence of the people when incident took place and also, what makes many justify it.“Not only did a group of cruel human beings kill Junaid, another group of cruel human beings egged them on. Junaid was also killed by those cruel people who witnessed the insanity & chose to remain silent,” her post reads.
“There are some cruel people who justify this lynching. Yes! Hate allows for all sorts of justification,” she rues.
The actor being a concerned citizen also raises question on what happened to perpetrators? “There has been a long list of these lynchings. It has become so common that no one talks about it. Nobody asks questions about what happened to the perpetrators. Whether they were caught & given the strictest punishment or whether they were released to unleash more violence!”
She continues, questioning such mentality which kills innocent, unarmed people and the justification, “I cannot fathom how anyone can kill unarmed, innocent human beings! I cannot fathom how people can justify this horrific violence! Instead of taking law into their own hands why are police complaints not made? Is it because the lynch mob knows that there is no reason behind what they have done? All they want to do is to kill in the name of hate.Whichever religion, ideology, language, ethnicity you belong to, lynching done in any name cannot be condoned!
Renuka mentions that because of hate, humanity has seen many riots, terror attacks. She writes, “We’ve suffered so many riots, terrorist attacks, pogroms, lynchings but we haven’t learnt anything. The bottom line is that innocent human beings become the target of that hate. They are usually poor. They are usually those who are incapable of fighting back. It is really too, too disheartening. Innocence dies when hate rules!”
Finally, the actor, who is also a mother declares, “I cannot be a part of those who encourage hate.”
“I was with the Ekta Manch marching from Parel to Azad Maidan singing ” Hum hongey kaamyaab….” to promote brotherhood between fellow citizens of all faiths in 1993 after the horrendous riots followed by the heinous bomb blasts in Mumbai. I marched to the Gateway of India to protest the utter failure & crass mishandling of 26/11 by the then Congress Govt in the State and the Centre in 2008. I supported the Anna Hazare anti corruption movement when he waged the civil battle against the UPA 2 Govt at the Centre. I was vocal about women’s safety after the horrendous rape & murder of Jyoti Singh as well as Pallavi Purkayastha as well as the sickening hacking of Swathi,” her post reads.
And she minced no words in telling that, the lynching incidents have political patronage, “Today I stand firmly against the lynch mentality that has an active political patronage in our country.”
Because the actor knows, she will be quickly questioned for her fear as mother, Renuka pointed out that she does not belong to any political party, but believe in Indian Constitution. She also shared her picture with the constitution. “I do not belong to any political party. I am a citizen of one of the finest democracies in the World. That is why it is so important for all of us to respect & protect the tenets of our Constitution. I, as a proud citizen of India, do not conform to the views of anyone who actively or passively supports this lynching. My allegiance lies with the Constitution of India. If the Govt or any other body does anything to undermine the basic tenets of democracy in our country, I will vocally oppose it,” she writes.
“I will not be a part of this hate!I do not want my children to inherit this hate.
I will not have the blood of innocents on my hands,” Renuka, the mother concludes.
The actor begins her post by saying NOT IN MY NAME, and ends with it too.
Kolkata: It took a 16-yr-old Junaid’s lynching, to wake the nation out of its slumber. Citizen across the country raised their concern over increasing mob violence and lynching culture.
Junaid, a minor with his friends was returning to his home after Eid shopping. But inside train, which was a first time, he was lynched and no one from the compartment, stopped the mob which ultimately took away another innocent life in lynching, in India.
Giridih: Jharkhand Mob lynching victim was attacked over a rumour of cow killing in Deori block of Giridih district. The victim is injured and undergoing treatment in Dhanbad. Usman, a dairy farmer, was not just lynched by a mob comprising 1000 people, but also set his house ablaze, leading to confusion whether Usman was dead or alive.
Giridih Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Variar confirmed to eNewsroom that Usman is alive. “He (Usman) is alive and recovering,” said the SP.
The timely intervention of Giridih police, saved Usman, and his family. Some family members and police also got injured in the incident. The police had to fire several rounds of bullets in the air to disperse the mob. Sources said, one attacker has also hit police bullet at his leg.
The mob lynching, now a norm in India, found another excuse on Tuesday, when the found carcass near Usman, a dairy farmer’s house. A resident of Beria haat area, in Deori. Sources reveal that one of Usman’s cow had died, which he dumped near his house on Monday. In the night, some stray animal mutilated the body of the body.
On Tuesday, when people gathered around his house and began inquiring about the dumped carcass? Usman accepted it was his animal and following which the mob announced to kill him and his family. They set ablaze his house and beaten him.
However, on receiving information, Giridih police reached on time Led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ravi Shankar Vidyarthi and other police officials. The crowd pelted stone and police had to open firing to disperse the mob.
There were total ten cows at the cowshed of Usman, and rest nine were taken away by the mob during the incident.
On Wednesday, Dhanwar MLA and CPI-ML leader, Rajkumar Yadav met Usman and other injured at Central Hospitals, Coal India, Dhanbad.
It is the second incident in Giridih, where police has averted a crisis created by Gau Rakshaks. Earlier, when cows were being transported on Bengabad road, gau rakshaks had attacked the vehicle, saying that there a dead calf in the truck and that the animals were being taken to slaughter house. In the incident, local BJP MLA Jai Prakash Verma had also sat on dharna. Later, police had to fire in the air to disperse the gathering, which were prepared to attack the driver.
However, in another part of the state, victims were not so lucky. In the presence of police, seven people including a 75-year-old woman had been lynched near Jamshedpur over child lifting allegation.
Outside Jharkhand too, others are not so lucky and within a week a 15-year-old Junaid, was beaten to death inside a train compartment at Ballabhgarh. And prior to him, Zafar Khan, a social activist was lynched, surprisingly, this time by government officials in Rajasthan.
The Giridih and Gandey unit of CPI-ML leaders led by Rajesh Sinha and Rajesh Yadav, hold protest marches today over Deori incident at Giridih headquarters.
While the former CPI-ML MLA Vinod Singh demanded compensation from government for Usman and his family. He also appealed to people not to become part of mob and restrain themselves in such situation.
Because of the rise of lynching incidents specially against minorities, on Eid, large number of Muslims across India, had sported black bands as a sign of protest.
Today, a campaign Not In My Name is being conducted in many cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Lukhnow against the ongoing lynching of Muslims and Dalits on mere suspicion of eating beef or involve in cattle trade.
