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Condemning the brute attack on Adivasis in Seoni district, the union representing both Adivasis and forest working peoples, the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) called attention to the repeated attacks on ordinary citizens under the garb of religion and cow vigilantism. In a recent press release, AIUFWP sharply criticises the spate of recent attacks on Adivasi, Dalits and minority community by Hindutva groups.
The specific context for the press statement was the recent horrific murder of two Adivasi men in Madhya Pradesh and the targeted violence against Muslim community in Khargone. On the night of May 2, 2022 around 20 so-called gau rakshaks (cow protectors) reportedly forced their way into the home of a tribal family accusing the men of ‘killing a cow’ and then brutally beat them up in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. As per reports, the two men were so gravely injured that they died even before they could reach the hospital.
According to the press release, on May 6, 2022, many Adivasi organisations from various districts of Madhya Pradesh called out the barbarous attack on Adivasis in Seoni district and demanded that prompt investigations be undertaken in the said case. Adivasi organisations from Badwani and other villages of Khargone district condemned the attacks on Adivasis, Dalits and Minorities and demanded that restrictions be imposed on the groups who carry out such unconstitutional activities.
Representing Adivasis, AIUFWP said, “They say we Adivasis treat our cattle as family members but we strongly condemn the manner in which humans are treated for the so-called protection of the cows. Those who have never raised a cow, those who do not even know how to look after a cow are now calling themselves ‘cow protectors’ and killing humans. Kids who are supposed to behold pens and pencils are being armed with weapons.”
In its statement, AIUFWP highlights the fact that this is not the first time when Adivasis have been attacked this way. They state that there have been many such instances of brutal attacks on Adivasis in Madhya Pradesh. In the past one year itself, in September 2021 during the police arrests in Bistaan (Khargone) and Omkareshwar (Khandwa), two Adivasis named Bisan Bheel and Kishan Nihal were killed. They inform that none of the police officers who were found to be responsible for their deaths pursuant to an investigation have been arrested so far. In May 2021, in Nemawar, Surendra Rajput who calls himself a leader of ‘Hindu Kesariya Sangathan’, killed one whole Korku Adivasi family. In August 2021 in Neemuch, a poor Adivasi labourer named Kanhaiya Bheel was dragged out on the roads and beaten to death in broad daylight.
The AIUFWP strongly condemns such gruesome incidents and holds the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responsible for the attacks on Adivasis in Madhya Pradesh. They claim that by carrying out such acts under the garb of Hindutva, they seem to be leaving no stone unturned to commit genocide of those who voted for them and played a crucial role in bringing the political party to power.
Regarding the targeted demolition of houses belonging to Muslim minority with the help of bulldozers during the pious occasion of Ramzaan in Khargone, AIUFWP pointed out how Muslims were selectively arrested, how one person was beaten to death, yet not a single FIR had been registered in that case. They brought to light how the police threatened the Muslim community and compelled them to take back the online FIRs filed by the them. AIUFWP also claims that the police stations were taken over by the BJP goons so that no one could dare to file a complaint against them. They stated, “Instead of ensuring that justice is served to the citizens of India, the political party in power is treating them worse than slaves. BJP and RSS-affiliated organisations such as Bajrang Dal have become unbridled and aggressive. The affected parties must come together to uphold the constitutional rights and oppose these anti-social elements” adding to this they further claim, “BJP is just furious because in the previous state assembly elections they lost to Congress by a huge margin. They could only manage to come to power by buying out the democratically elected Congress MLAs. Now by promoting the genocide of the minorities, they wish to win the next 2023 elections. We must unite against genocide and such Hindutva ideologies.”
The statement reveals how various organisations working for the Adivasis came together on April 6, 2022 at the district head office to voice their opinion against the said killings in Seoni. The Adivasis believe that such incidents have been repeating on a daily basis as no action has been taken to restrict such unconstitutional activities.
According to AIUFWP the Adivasis demand that the government strictly prohibit such hooliganism, restrict these unconstitutional groups, protect the constitutional rights of all citizens and assert their right to live with dignity. AIUFWP further states, “Adivasis along with men and women from all communities are struggling with inflating prices of essential commodities. Farmers are drowning in debts as they are unable to get the right prices for their agricultural produce. Farmers are turning into labourers and farmers from all over the country are getting stuck into bonded labour in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Education facilities are deteriorating and so are the medical facilities in Hospitals who are not able to treat patients properly. Instead of improving the education and health service, people are being attacked in their own homes.”
Some of the organisations that took part in the protests in various parts of Nimaad were Jaagrut Adivasi Dalit Group, Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (Jayas), Adivasi Student Group, SC-ST-OBC Ekta Manch, Adivasi Mukti Group and many others.
The press release may be read here:
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