1. The Constitution of Pakistan forbids its citizens from taking part in the religious occasions of others.

2.19 per cent of children, mainly girls, remain out of schools.

3. Single National Curriculum promotes intolerance and religious extremism.

4. Clerics are authorised to censor educational content.

5. Recitation of the Quran was mandated during school assembly.

Dr. Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), a non-governmental organisation in special status with ECOSOC, criticised the national education policy of Pakistan and pointed out its flaws, which resulted in intolerance, religious extremism and creating an atmosphere of hatred against other religions.

In a written statement submitted to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, and read out at a side event, the organisation also pointed out the provisions of the Pakistan’s Constitution and its much-disputed Single National Curriculum launched in 2021 responsible for religious intolerance and religious extremism as government schools are not secular and inclusive. The side event was held on 26 March, room 25 Palaise the Nations. Titled Human Rights in Pakistan:  Education under siege, ideology, intolerance, and the erosion of Human Rights in Pakistan, its organisers were major NGOs like CAP and HRWF.

The statement by The Coordination des Association et des Particuliers pour la Liberte de Conscience, says:

“Constitution of Pakistan states in Article 22 that ‘No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony, or worship relates to a religion other than its own.’

Therefore, Article 22 of the Constitution of Pakistan promotes non-respect of religions among the students. Human rights organisations have criticised this policy.

Citing the statistics of the Pakistan Institution of Education, the organisation said that 73 per cent of educational institutions in Pakistan are government schools, while 14 per cent are religious schools or madrasas. Such a large number of madrasas presenting an exclusivist interpretation of Islam and non-respect for other religions have contributed to an atmosphere of religious extremism and intolerance in the country.

The organisation also points out the flaws in the SNC launched by the Pakistan government. It says:

“In August 2021, the Pakistan government launched the much-disputed Single National Curriculum (SNC) for government schools, claiming that this initiative would reduce educational disparities. However, the human rights defenders criticised the SNC for its lack of inclusivity and its over-emphasis on Islamic religious content at the expense of religious minorities. In fact, school curricula and textbooks promote intolerance towards minorities and depict women in a way that is non-inclusive and is not compatible with international human rights standards.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed deep concerns about the government perpetuating a singular view of religion in educational institutions through SN, depriving young students of the right to a secular education.”

The Coordination des Association et des Particuliers pour la Liberte se Conscience feels that the SNC is an attempt to Islamise the entire Pakistani society, putting the religious minorities in jeopardy. It says:

“The SNC has also been criticised as an Islamisation program under which all facets of Pakistan’s core educational curriculum were infused with religious content, aligning with the ideological bent of the existing Sunni Muslim orthodoxy. (Source: Wasim Hameed, “Minorities in Single National Curriculum”. 4, The Nation, 9 July 2021.)

According to a 73-page Report of the Salluv ECPM Foundation 5, “Pakistan, Education System, Curriculum and EU Funding” financed by the European Parliament and published in 2024, “a study by The Current revealed that Muslim religious ideas or texts were present in 7.7 per cent of the SNC’s mathematics, social studies, science, general knowledge, English, and Urdu books. Additionally, 7.47 per cent of books have references to Islam, while 0.27 per cent mention other religions in all non-religious books.”

The organisation also pointed out an act of the Punjab Assembly passed in 2022, which authorised the clerics to censor educational content and its resolution mandating the recitation of the Quran during the school assembly. Such acts and resolutions were not compatible with international human rights standards.

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution VS Creationism

One major drawback of Pakistan’s education system is that it is influenced by conservative clerics who lack a scientific spirit and therefore oppose scientific theories and ideas. For example, clerics have opposed the teaching of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in Pakistan because they think that the theory is against Islamic law. In October 2023, clerics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forced a college professor named Sher Ali to publicly renounce teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

Earlier in May 2022, his car was attacked with a magnetic bomb, leaving him in his wheelchair for months. The professor was also made to make the statement that “According to Shariah, the woman’s intelligence is inferior to that of a man. I consider this the final word on this issue and believe that women should be covered from head to toe while venturing out. Women can only go out if it is needed or necessary”.

The organisation, therefore, feels that the education system of Pakistan not only promotes hatred against minorities but also is a hindrance in the development of scientific temperament among the students.

Controversial and Inequitable Image and Girls in the Curriculum of Public Schools

The organisation also found that the SNC textbooks are full of content that presents women as inferior to men as approximately 60 per cent of SNC books included images of males, whereas females accounted for only 39 per cent.

Moreover, portrayal of female characters is one-dimensional in terms of their appearances, character traits and hobbies. They are mostly portrayed as wearing hijab or headscarf, while most men are depicted wearing western attire, with only 20 percent wearing traditional Islamic clothing. With regard to occupations, male textbook characters are often portrayed as doctors, lawyers and soldiers, while female textbook characters are mostly portrayed as domestic help, housewives or caregivers.

The European Union Funding in the Dock: Misuse of Taxpayers ‘ money of the 27 EU member states

The NGO further says that the EU funds for Pakistan’s education projects have been misused. According to the 2024 Report of Sallux/ ECPM “Pakistan, Education System, Curriculum and EU Funding”, the EU directly invested 94 million euros in education projects in Pakistan between 2016-2024.

The report contains over 40 pages of excerpts and pictures from textbooks showing that the views expressed in the official curriculum in Pakistan are not compatible with EU values as expressed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Such an amount of concrete evidence cannot be ignored.

The NGO, therefore, draws the conclusion that beyond the incompatibility of the SNC and the UN standards, the pressure of many extremist clerics and fanaticized crowds can easily kill any reform attempt as long as perpetrators of intellectual terrorism, violence and hate crimes remain unpunished and can continue terrorising 2.1 million teachers in Pakistan.

In view of the present scenario of education and its consequent fallout on the human rights situation in the country, the Co-ordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour le Liberte de Conscience has made the following recommendations to the United Nations:

1. The United Nations should urge the authorities of Pakistan to make the SNC compatible with the UN international human rights standards.

2. The UN should effectively protect its 2.1 million teachers against threats and aggression perpetrated by Islamic extremists and prosecute the latter ones.

Article was first published on newageislam.com

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On June 6, 2024, when her home was demolished, Darshana’s employers had permitted her a couple of days off work to deal with the disruption her life had faced. However, three days later, she received a phone call from them, asking her to return to work. “Woh boli ‘agar tum nahi aayi, dusre bai ko lagaungi’ ”.  (She told me that if I don’t come back, they will keep some other bai, and I will be out of a job),  Darshana shared. “Unko adjust nahi ho raha tha. Woh boli dusre bai logg wapis aa gaye…Boli ‘bhaade mein room le lo aur aa jao kaam pe’. Aasan thodi hai! (She said she wasn’t able to adjust and that all the other bai logg had returned to work, so I must also. She just said, ‘Quickly rent a room or something somewhere, and come back,’ as if it is an easy thing to do.)

Despite this, Darshana maintains that her ‘madam’ is good and one of the nicer ones. When her neighbour, Jaya returned to work two days after the demolition, she was asked to leave as her employer had “kept” someone else. “Woh batayi, ‘ghar ka thikana nahi, kaam kaise karogi? Ghar dekh lo, phir kaam pe aana’. 2000 de ke nikaal diya.” (She told me, ‘You have no home, how will you work? First figure your home situation out, and then go back to work’, and saying this, she paid me Rs. 2000 and removed me from work.) Two weeks later, Jaya felt lucky to find another job at a different building, which paid half of her previous job. Many, many other women in the basti have faced similar job loss, after already facing the destruction of their homes. Many of them have not been able to procure another job yet. They yearn for the meagre 2000-4000 per month, as it would have been better than the debilitating lack of income they face now.

In this moment of pronounced systemic injustice, the regular and everyday uncertainty of the nature of their livelihoods as domestic workers—which offers none of the rights justly exercised by their white-collar employers or those in the organised sector—is made clearer. Domestic work is not part of the statutory employment list, leaving them outside the ambit of basic worker protections such as minimum wages, paid leaves, collective bargaining, workplace safety, ESI/Provident Fund, annual bonus, and so on.

The imagined separation of the home as the woman’s abode of unpaid labour and the world outside as that of the productive male bread-earner is a patriarchal myth used by the capitalist mode of production. Recognising the home as a place of work is a struggle against the public – private gendered division of work. Most women domestic workers do not have any written contract specifying the exact services being bought, with many unpaid tasks being extracted. They can be terminated without serving any notice period. Even when the Maharashtra government recently set up the Gharelu Kamgar Kalyan Mandal, a welfare board envisioned by a 2008 state law, it clearly avoided recognising domestic work as ‘work’. Roughly ten thousand of the fifteen lakh domestic workers estimated to be working in Maharashtra’s major cities are covered by this welfare measure to provide one-time cash transfers for maternity and old age. As a result, workers are either left to the employer or State’s dole or benevolence, as worthy recipients of charity, or criminalised as “suspicious elements” in the city. It is not uncommon to find false cases of theft being lodged when workers demand basic rights, even facing violence and sexual abuse at the hands of the employers.

The women of Jai Bhim Nagar, who work in similar gated colonies, face distinct shades of this continued violence. They recount their experiences of being thoroughly screened at the gates of the buildings upon their entry and departure. “Guard purse mein haath dal kar check karte, dekhte hai kitna paisa hai, kya kya hai. Aur exit ke time, wapis check karte. Jab paghar milta hai, madam ko gate paas likhna padta hai.”(The guards put their hands inside our purses when we go in, and make a list of all of the items and money in it. When we return, they check again, to make sure that it is the same. When we get paid, our madams have to write us a gate-pass to allow us to take our salary home) shares Sarita, who recognises the implicit discrimination inherent in these routine practices. Jaya shares a similar anecdote, following up with the request to not have her real name mentioned, “Madam-sir dekh liye toh, unke groups mein daal denge ki hum kaise hai, aur phir koi nahi rakhega,” (If my sir and madam find out I am saying this, they will remove me and tell all the other houses not to keep me). She laments that this network of domestic work employers are brutal and their actions, ironic: while the women entering to work in their buildings are given no basic respect, they are expected to maintain the same for their employers. Upon not adhering, they will be replaced.

Since the demolition, Jai Bhim Nagar’s women’s lives, which have always carried the double burden of domestic labour, have become even harsher. The drudgery of their work at home was multiplied by the absence of electricity, water, and household assets they had spent years accumulating. This has meant that they spend longer hours working—the lives of most women at Jai Bhim Nagar and across the slums of Mumbai, has always been mired by the multiple types of labour that every waking hour is spent completing. For instance, irregular water supply and unsanitary toilets, giving rise to diseases, affect them more as taking care of the children and the aged is considered the woman’s responsibility. This is also reflected in how women are at the forefront of the struggle for rehabilitation, leading many delegations and protests demanding regular and clean water supply, sanitary living conditions and fumigation of mosquitoes from the municipality.

The demolition in Jai Bhim Nagar was on the basis of a complaint to the state Human Rights Commission that ‘unauthorised construction’ (referring to Jai Bhim Nagar) violates the human rights of the public at large staying in the said locality. Ironically, for most women living in Jai Bhim Nagar who are domestic workers in its high-rises, their very settlement was premised on improving the quality of life in the area. They were housed there, allowed to live, on the condition that they would not withhold their labour for domestic work, casual construction, electrical and other mechanical jobs, and so on. This is a paradox of neoliberal urbanisation. Cities are de-industrialised, throwing toiling people to the margins of the metropolis, and in their place emerge globally-networked centres of finance and services. The dreams of the land sharks, town planners, and those who come to inhabit these oases of opulence, is to create a ‘world class’ city to function as nodes of circulation of global finance and hi-tech activities of diverse nature, sanitised of all toiling humanity. This has only one roadblock: Essential labour such as domestic work, sanitation, construction, and various types of services requires that working people live near enough to their city without disturbing its lifeless beauty.

The need to exploit people’s capacity to work cannot be eliminated as long as profit remains the motor force of society. The basti, the barrio, the favela, the ghetto, the shanty town – the clinking wine glasses in infinity pools on top of the highest sky-rise face their horrific presence in the skyline. With a grin they seem to declare: Hamin ast -o- hamin ast -o- hamin ast!

This routinely takes on stark appearances when there is a minimum of resistance, such as in 2017 when a Bengali migrant domestic worker, Zohra, in Noida’s posh Mahagun Moderne gated community went to demand her wage dues and was forcefully withheld[1]. As the Uttar Pradesh police hesitated to file a complaint against the powerful employers, the Sethis, agitated residents from Zohra’s slum gathered outside the building complex for her release. This escalated to the private security firing on the crowd and the basti-dwellers being framed for ‘rioting’, theft and other criminal charges. The American estate-management company running the high-rises identified and blacklisted 80+ women domestic workers, a malicious media campaign painted the Bengali-speaking Muslims as ‘illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators’, and Zohra’s entire basti of 60 homes was promptly demolished by the police. Then BJP MP Mahesh Sharma assured the residents that 13 arrested slum-dwellers would not receive bail for years. The usefulness of insecure housing as a disciplining strategy for the urban precarity cannot be emphasised enough.

The precarity of “unauthorized living” unfolding through the demolition of Jai Bhim Nagar has only made visible the violence woven into the lives they live. As many of them have articulated, “Woh humme naukar samjhte hai, insaan nahi.” (We are primarily seen as servants, not as people). In singular systemic moments of crisis or collapse, such as slum demolitions, the reality of “unauthorised living” worsens an existing reality, whether that is of adult women facing precarity in their livelihoods as domestic workers, or young girls beginning to work as domestic workers, losing their right to education.

Capital thrives on cheap labour and segmentation. The working class, after being denied any claims to urban citizenry, ask whose city it is, whose space it is, and militantly asserts its inalienable right to dignity of labour, and all the resources that keep this labour thriving. The working class people of Jai Bhim Nagar are fighting for housing, health, education, and civic amenities such as water and electricity—the cost of their ‘social reproduction’. The movement is now proceeding with the demand for proper rehabilitation which is a political demand for a dignified and free life. Linked to this, is the possibility of taking this struggle against exploitation to the site of production, to the connected workplaces—asking for higher wages and better working conditions.

[1] See our earlier fact-finding report. COLLECTIVE. (2017). FF report on the incident in Noida on 11-12 July 2017. Published on 14 July 2017. Accessed on https://collective-india.com/fact-finding-noida-domestic-worker-case/.

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Details of the promises made in the MVA manifesto are discussed below:

Financial independence and support for women

To promote financial independence, the MVA has promised to introduce the Mahalaxmi Scheme, offering a monthly allowance of Rs. 3,000 to women. This scheme is designed to provide consistent financial support to women, particularly those from economically disadvantaged sections of society. The allowance will help women manage household expenses, contribute to family income, and enhance their personal financial security. This is especially beneficial for women in rural and semi-urban areas, where access to employment opportunities and financial resources may be limited. Additionally, women will be eligible for six cooking gas cylinders annually at a subsidised rate of Rs. 500 each, significantly reducing the burden of fuel costs—a significant expense for many families. This initiative ensures that women can allocate their finances toward other essential needs, ultimately empowering them to have greater control over household economics.

In addition to this, the MVA promises free bus travel for women, which is a crucial step towards ensuring the mobility and freedom of women in Maharashtra. Public transportation is often a barrier to women’s participation in work and educational opportunities, particularly in rural areas. By removing this financial barrier, the MVA is making it easier for women to access markets, workplaces, schools, and healthcare facilities. Furthermore, the promise of one-time financial support of Rs. 1,00,000 for girls at the age of 18 is a vital initiative aimed at helping young women make their transition to adulthood with financial support. This one-time benefit will support young women in pursuing higher education, skill development, or other opportunities that can lead to economic independence.

Promoting women’s health and safety

The MVA’s manifesto places a strong emphasis on the health and safety of women and girls across Maharashtra. The introduction of the ‘Nirbhay Maharashtra’ policy and the ‘Shakti’ law demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting women and children from violence and ensuring their safety. The Nirbhay Maharashtra Policy aims to create a robust, multi-tiered system for preventing and responding to gender-based violence, with a focus on rural areas and quick response units for immediate action. The Shakti Law, on the other hand, strengthens legal frameworks to provide faster trials, harsher penalties for crimes against women and children, and dedicated victim support cells. Together, these initiatives promise a comprehensive approach to women’s safety, combining prevention, swift legal action, and social support, creating a state where women can live free from fear and violence. These policies aim to create a comprehensive legal framework that not only deters gender-based violence but also offers immediate support and protection to victims. The enforcement of the Shakti law will help strengthen the legal system to deal with crimes against women and children more swiftly and effectively. These initiatives are essential in making women feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and public spaces.

In addition to this, the promise of provided free cervical cancer vaccines for girls aged 9 to 16 is a landmark health initiative that targets one of the leading causes of cancer among women in India. This preventive measure will help reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Maharashtra by providing free access to the HPV vaccine, particularly benefiting girls from underprivileged backgrounds who may otherwise not have access to this vaccine. Additionally, the MVA government promises two optional leave days for female employees during menstruation. This progressive policy acknowledges the health challenges that menstruation can cause, providing women with the time and space to rest without the worry of losing income or job security. It sets a precedent for gender-sensitive workplace policies that prioritise the well-being of women employees.

Further, the plan to establish safe, clean, and accessible public restrooms for women addresses a long-standing issue, particularly in urban areas. Safe and hygienic public toilets are essential for women’s dignity and health, especially when they are out in public spaces. This initiative will improve access to sanitation and ensure that women feel more comfortable and secure in public spaces.

Empowerment through education, employment, and skill development

The MVA’s initiatives also focus on empowering women through education, skill development, and employment opportunities. A key proposal is the introduction of self-defence lessons, which will be provided to young girls as part of the school curriculum. These lessons will equip girls with the physical and mental tools they need to protect themselves in situations of danger, contributing to greater self-confidence and security. Additionally, the establishment of a separate department for the empowerment of self-help groups (SHGs) is a significant step toward fostering leadership skills and economic independence for rural women. SHGs have been effective in empowering women by enabling them to pool resources, share knowledge, and engage in income-generating activities. The department will help expand the reach of these groups, provide them with market access for their products, and create opportunities for women to take on leadership roles in their communities.

The MVA’s commitment to building hostels for girls in each taluka is another important step toward ensuring that girls from rural and underserved areas can pursue education without worrying about accommodation. For many rural families, sending girls to distant schools or colleges is a challenge due to the lack of safe and affordable lodging options. By building hostels in each taluka, the MVA will provide a safe, convenient, and cost-effective solution, ensuring that young women have equal access to education, regardless of their geographical location.

Additionally, the MVA promises the formation of a dedicated Ministry for Child Welfare, which will focus on the holistic development and protection of children, particularly girls. This ministry will prioritise issues like access to quality education, health services, and protection from abuse, while also addressing the needs of children in vulnerable situations.

Equal pay and respect for women’s rights

The MVA government has committed to addressing economic disparities by pushing for equal pay for men and women in the unorganised rural sector. Women in this sector, particularly in agriculture and small-scale industries, are often paid significantly less than their male counterparts for the same work. By enforcing equal pay laws, the MVA aims to ensure that women are compensated fairly for their contributions, which will help reduce the gender wage gap in rural areas and foster greater economic equity.

The manifesto also includes measures to ensure that widows are treated with dignity and respect. Laws will be enacted to prevent forced adherence to harmful practices imposed on widows, such as social ostracism or forced isolation. These laws will protect widows’ rights and ensure that they are treated with respect and provided opportunities for economic empowerment. Additionally, the MVA aims to prioritise employment for widows and single women, creating targeted schemes to help them gain financial independence and reintegrate into the workforce.

To support women who have left the workforce due to family or personal reasons, the MVA promises to create special schemes to help them re-enter the workforce. These schemes will provide women with the necessary training, resources, and job placement opportunities to restart their careers and contribute to national progress.

Establishing safe and inclusive communities for all

The MVA government’s vision also includes the development of safe cities for vulnerable populations, including women, children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. This initiative will focus on improving urban planning, infrastructure, and law enforcement to create safer public spaces, enhance accessibility, and provide protection to marginalised groups. This initiative reflects the MVA’s broader goal of fostering inclusive communities where everyone, regardless of gender, age, or ability, can live with dignity and safety.

The government also plans to regularly update the women’s policy every three years, ensuring that it remains responsive to the evolving needs of women in Maharashtra. This adaptability is crucial in ensuring that the policy stays relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that women face, particularly in rapidly changing social and economic landscapes.

MVA’s aim to build a Maharashtra where women thrive

The MVA’s manifesto for women reflects a comprehensive, forward-looking vision that places women’s health, safety, financial independence, and empowerment at the center of Maharashtra’s development. These initiatives aim to build a Maharashtra where women can move freely, access equal opportunities, and lead empowered lives. By addressing the multifaceted needs of women, this manifesto demonstrates a commitment to gender equality and the belief that women’s empowerment is essential for Maharashtra’s progress as a whole. With these reforms, Maharashtra has the potential to become a leader in gender equality, setting an example for other states in creating a just and inclusive society.

Related:

The MVA promise to uphold right to healthcare in Maharashtra: A visionary approach to equitable and comprehensive health access

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Maharashtra: Free speech has remained on the line of fire of the current regime, democracy on trial as state goes for election

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The incident has sparked a nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests and disrupting hospital services across several Indian cities. An autopsy confirmed that the doctor was raped before being murdered. Thousands of doctors and citizens marched in Kolkata and other cities, demanding justice for the victim and improved security measures. As the country prepares to mark the 78th year of Independence, a massive protest is planned for the evening of August 14, with people of all genders, political leaders, and citizenry uniting to demand justice and safety for women in India.

Details on the Kolkata rape and murder case:

The family of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shared their harrowing experience in an interview with Lallantop, recounting the traumatic events following the tragedy on August 9. The family alleged that hospital authorities initially informed them that their daughter had died by suicide and made them wait outside for three hours before they were allowed them to see her body.

In the interview, the trainee doctor’s father also recalled receiving a call from the hospital, where they were told that their daughter had died by suicide and urged to come immediately. Despite their pleas to see her, they were forced to wait for hours. After the long wait of three hours outside the seminar hall, the father was finally permitted to view his daughter’s body and was allowed to take a photo. He shared that she was unclothed, with her legs positioned unnaturally apart, a condition that suggested severe trauma to the pelvic region, indicating she had been violently assaulted.

According to a report in India Today, the post-mortem report confirmed that the trainee doctor had been subjected to “genital torture.” The report further revealed that the accused, Sanjoy Roy, had struck her with such force that her glasses shattered, and the shards caused severe injuries to her eyes. She had bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, along with injuries to her face, abdomen, neck, left leg, right hand, and lips. After this brutal assault, the accused killed her by strangulation and smothering. Her death was estimated to have occurred between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on that Friday.

On August 14, the case took a another turn as Left-wing groups and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities of attempting to tamper with evidence. The CPI(M)-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) highlighted that renovation work had suspiciously begun near the seminar room where the doctor’s body was found just days earlier. Protestors gathered at the hospital’s Emergency building gate, accusing the authorities of trying to destroy evidence and protect those truly responsible.

Tempering of evidence started in the name of renovation in the chest department at nearly 20m from crime scene.please help #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/o45EM6Agyu

— Dr levocetrizine (@ManiBhu12096219) August 13, 2024

Additionally, the Hindustan Times reported that a doctor from the Left-affiliated Joint Forum of Doctors claimed the post-mortem report suggested the possibility that the victim had been raped by multiple individuals.

Investigation into the RG Kar Medical College and the scams running under its principal:

It is essential to note that on the same day of the incident, Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, had resigned from his position. In his resignation, Ghosh stated, “I am being defamed on social media. False accusations are being spread against me, and students are being provoked to demand my removal. The deceased doctor was like my child, and I want justice for her. As a parent, I am stepping down.” However, following his resignation, he was reassigned as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) within a few hours.

On the other hand, more shocking news came as an independent investigation conducted by the Times of India uncovered numerous issues within RG Kar Medical College and Hospital under Sandip Ghosh’s leadership. One such issue was the “regular practice” of facilitating beds at the hospital for financially struggling patients from nearby nursing homes, but only in exchange for a fee.

As per the investigation, ex-principal Ghosh was well-connected with the local police station, maintaining close relationships with both junior and senior officers stationed at the hospital’s police outpost. According to a source at the hospital, he frequently collaborated with a particular junior officer to run this operation, ensuring that the money collected from desperate patients was distributed through an organized network. The TOI report stated that although Ghosh was technically part of the police welfare cell and his role at RG Kar involved assisting those admitted to the hospital, he had no official responsibilities at the police outpost. Nonetheless, he visited the outpost regularly and was heavily involved in various dubious activities. He was reportedly “at the centre of a racket involving touts who charged patients for various unethical services, such as securing multiple visiting cards, hospital beds, and priority in medical tests”.

The TOI report further provided that a source at the hospital revealed that Ghosh would target well-off patient relatives at RG Kar Hospital, luring them to nearby nursing homes by promising better treatment, often claiming that the same hospital doctors would treat them there. Additionally, he frequently boasted about his connections with senior Kolkata Police officers, even going so far as to pressure a district reserve officer to secure him a spot in the fourth battalion barracks at Bidhannagar.

Additionally, the report stated that Ghosh was known for name-dropping influential police officers to get what he wanted. He was also accused of riding a motorcycle with “KP” (Kolkata Police) written on the visor and duping young job seekers by promising them jobs in the police force in exchange for a fee. Reportedly, one source alleged that he took over Rs 2 lakh from a hawker, promising him a position as a civic volunteer.

Other than this, since the news of the incident at RG Kar Hospital broke out, which reportedly serves over 3,500 patients daily, the overworked trainee doctors gave their narration of how some of the doctors are required to work up to 36 hours straight at a hospital that lacked designated restrooms. As a result, they were forced to rest in a seminar room on the third floor.

 Calcutta High Court expresses concern while shifting probe to CBI:

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered that the criminal investigation into the incident be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), signalling the case’s importance at a national level. A division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya questioned the state government after it was revealed that the police had initially recorded the deceased’s death as a suicide, which was communicated to her parents, who were made to wait for hours before being allowed to see her body.

As per a report in the LiveLaw, during the proceedings, the bench had remarked “If it is a fact that somebody called the parent and told them that it was sickness and then suicide, there is a miss somewhere. If this is true that they were made to wait and mislead then the administration is loitering with them. You cannot treat the deceased like this. There should be more sensitivity. Suppose the doctors are made parties and they claim that the principal blamed the deceased and said she had psychosis, it is very serious. By now a statement should have been recorded from the principal.”

According to LiveLaw, the Court expressed concern over these events, particularly noting that if the principal resigned due to moral responsibility, it was troubling that he was reassigned to another position within 12 hours. The Court questioned, “No man is above law, how did he step down and then be rewarded with another responsibility? The principal is the guardian of all doctors working there, if he doesn’t show any empathy who will show? He should be at home not working anywhere. So powerful that a government counsel is representing him? The principal will not function. Let him go on long leave. Otherwise, we will pass an order.”

Later that day, the division bench issued an order expressing concern that the police had registered the case as an unnatural death. The Court criticized the principal and the college authorities for not taking any substantial steps to aid the investigation and ordered that the principal be placed on indefinite leave until further notice. Recognizing that under normal circumstances, a report from the state police would be sufficient, the Court acknowledged the unusual nature of the case and agreed with the victim’s parents that any further delay could result in the destruction of evidence.

In its order, the bench noted that “The parents of the victim have an apprehension that if the investigation is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. Therefore they pray for extraordinary relief. One more disturbing aspect is that a case of unnatural death was registered. It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. There has been no significant progress in the investigation. The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim’s parents that evidence would be destroyed. Therefore, we transfer the investigation to the CBI to do justice between parties and to inspire public confidence.” (Para 30)

Thus, the bench of the Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation to the CBI and listed the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

The complete order can be read here.

Notably, a special CBI team from Delhi had reached Kolkata on August 14 to investigate the rape-murder case.

कोलकाता के मेडिकल कॉलेज में दाखिल होती #CBI की टीम. लोगों ने लगाए “We want justice” के नारे.
#KolkataDctorDeath #BengalHorror
#JusticeForMoumita pic.twitter.com/lJwZTuqjeF

— Arvind Sharma (@sarviind) August 14, 2024

Protests by doctors:

In the city of Kolkata, following the news of the horrific crime, the medical community erupted in protests. On August 12, around 6 p.m., thousands of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and others gathered at RG Kar Medical College, holding placards demanding justice for the victim. The protesting doctors, who were calling for the resignation of the principal and other senior officials of the college, were further outraged by the decision to reassign Sandip Ghosh to another institution immediately after his resignation. They vowed not to allow Ghosh to assume his new role as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC). Later, doctors and students from CNMC organized a rally to RG Kar, demanding Ghosh’s removal from his new post.

ON DUTY RESIDENT DOCTOR WAS RAPED & MURDERED IN COLLEGE SEMINAR HALL IN RG KAR MEDICAL COLLEGE, #Kolkata

Justice for Victim #justice #JusticeForMoumita #KolkataDoctorDeat #Udaipur #Rajasthan #DoctorDeath #DoctorsProtest pic.twitter.com/lXhrGj0n2m

— Nursing Student (@StudentNursing7) August 13, 2024

On the streets for justice. #kolkatahorror #RGKarHospital pic.twitter.com/rXFuIpvvhj

— Doctor (@DipshikhaGhosh) August 14, 2024

On August 12, several government-run hospitals initiated an indefinite strike. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association also called for a nationwide suspension of elective services in hospitals starting Monday.

Protests spread across India on August 13, with over 8,000 government doctors in Maharashtra halting work in all hospital departments except for emergency services, as reported by local media. In Kolkata, emergency services were suspended on August 13 in almost all government-run medical college hospitals, according to state official NS Nigam, who told Reuters that the government was evaluating the impact on health services.

In New Delhi, junior doctors wearing white coats protested outside a major government hospital, holding posters that read, “Doctors are not punching bags.” Top hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital Dwarka, PGIMS, and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, continued their strike on August 14. The management of these hospitals announced they would maintain their strike, demanding legislation to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.

In light of horrific incident involving brutal murder & assault of our colleague in Kolkata, @AIIMSRDA have made difficult decision to suspend all elective services until justice is served
We urgently call for enhanced safety measures in workplace to protect us.#RGKarHospital pic.twitter.com/bxNkoGypO8

— Dr RishiRS (AIIMS ND) (@DrRishiRajSinh1) August 12, 2024

Similar protests affected hospital services in other cities, such as Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, and in Goa.

Yesterday Biggest Massive protest of AIIMS #RISHIKESH Doctors in support of #RGKAR medical college Victim ..

Demands – Quick strict actions on Culprits & Central protection act for avoid further such inhuman Crime .#KolkataDoctorDeath #kolkatahorror #Nirbhaya2 #medtwitter pic.twitter.com/XAlAoVg3ma

— Indian Doctor (@Indian__doctor) August 14, 2024

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest doctors’ organization, sent a letter to Health Minister JP Nadda on August 13, highlighting the “pedestrian working conditions, inhuman workloads, and workplace violence” that healthcare workers face. They met with him for talks later that day.

In response to the widespread unrest, India’s medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission, issued a notice to all medical institutions, calling for the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and the provision of adequate security staff. The notice, reported by newspapers on Tuesday, also recommended that all campus corridors be well-lit in the evening to ensure the safety of staff moving around the premises.

Protests by citizenry:

Women in Kolkata and across Bengal will take to the streets late night today in a massive show of defiance, marching against the violence that took one of their own. Women in thousands are preparing to take part in a powerful ‘Reclaim the Night’ march at midnight on August 14. This march, set to unfold just before India’s Independence Day on August 15, is a demand for the “independence to live in freedom and without fear”. The march will span at least 45 locations across Bengal, with the movement growing as more people from the suburbs join in, The Telegraph reported. Slogans like “Justice for RG Kar,” “The Night is Ours,” “Reclaim the Night,” and “Meyera Raat er Dhokhol Koro” (Women, seize the night) are being echoed across social media, and shared widely on WhatsApp, as a rallying cry for justice and change.

Posters detailing the protest locations are flooding social media, with new spots being added as more and more voices join the chorus. Men are also stepping up in large numbers, standing in solidarity with the women who are reclaiming their streets. Till now, there have been reports of several prominent figures, including actor Swastika Mukherjee, actor Churni Ganguly, and filmmaker Pratim D. Gupta, urging people to join the midnight gathering at whichever location is most accessible to them. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given the city police a deadline until Sunday to complete the investigation. She has assured the victim’s family that if they desire, the state government will recommend a CBI probe, affirming that the government has nothing to hide.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Progressive Doctors’ League (@pdl_india)

The call for justice is not confined to the state of West Bengal. As the messages about the march spread on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, political leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties have pledged their support to this unprecedented, and thus far apolitical, movement. Demonstrations are already taking place in Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Protesters stand united, holding placards that read, “Justice needs to be served,” “No duty without security,” and “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

This wave of protests, marked by both anguish and determination, is a cry from the heart of a society that refuses to be silenced. It is a demand for safety, respect, and the right to live without fear, resonating far beyond the West Bengal.

pic.twitter.com/zjTi3Yheag

— Subhashini Ali (@SubhashiniAli) August 14, 2024

Bangalore, show up pic.twitter.com/LcoAzkqTNy

— Disha Ravi 𓆉 (@disharavii) August 14, 2024

Related:

India Cries for Freedom!

India’s flawed rape laws: a betrayal of equality

Bilkis Bano Case: Supreme Court strikes down remission for gang rape and murder convicts, citing flagrant violation of rule of law

Horrifying instances of rape in MP and Mahrashtra, accused booked under POCSO

The post India’s cry for justice: The brutal Kolkata rape-murder of a young doctor has ignited nationwide protests on the eve of the 78th Independence’s Day appeared first on SabrangIndia.

How does this bode for the women of the country which have been under the rule of the BJP government for the past ten years? The BJP for one has not shied often from supporting men accused of rape and violence against women. 

While the BJP’s website repeatedly talks about Nari Shakti, and the need for removing discrimination and also to give the girl child ‘special emphasis’, BJP MPs and MLAs have often subjected their very own women colleagues to derogatory comments. 

BJP politicians have also not seemed to spare women in power that belong to the opposition. 

The PM Modi himself is not shy of having made comments many considered sexist. In 2018, he referred to Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi as ‘widow’ in a speech, “Ye Congress ki kaun si vidhwa thi jiske khate mein paisa jaata tha?” PM Modi did not even spare the families of politicians. When he was the chief minister of Gujarat he was reported once calling Trivandrum MP from Congress, Shashi Tharoor’s wife, Sunanda Pushkar, ‘a 50 crore girlfriend.’ 

The Congress leader is repeatedly hit with such comments. In 2019 Giriraj Singh once made a highly derogatory comment on her when it was in the news that actor Sapna Choudhury would join the Congress, “Rahul’s mother was also in the same profession in Italy and his father made her his own. He (Rahul Gandhi) should also take the family tradition forward and make Sapna his own.”

Crimes against women have been consistently rising in the country. In 2021, out of six million registered crimes, 428,278 cases were categorised as crimes against women. This marked a 26.35% increase over a span of six years since 2016 when 338,954 such cases were recorded. Similarly, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), reported cases of rapes against Dalit women witnessed a troubling 45 percent increase from 2015 to 2020. The data tells us that on an average of 10 incidents of rape against Dalit women and girls are reported daily across India.

What contribution have BJP and their allies’ leaders made to these statistics? In the very recent case of sitting MP from the RD(S), which is part of the NDA alliance, from Karnataka, Prajwal Revanna, who has been noted to have made almost 3000 videos of women being sexually exploited or assaulted, is now reportedly absconding from the country. Sabrang India further noted how several leaders of the BJP have been accused of crimes against women, including MP Brijbushan Sharan Singh, now-convicted Kuldeep Singh Sengar and Ramdular Gond etc. 

Similarly, the BJP’s response to crimes against women has been harrowing. The Hathras rape and murder case of a Dalit woman in UP reveals the harrowing way in which the party has seemingly revealed its position on women’s issues. A young Dalit girl was brutally raped and subjected to brutal and fatal violence by four upper caste Thakur attackers in September 2020. The family of the victim were subjected to threats and fear and intimidation after the incident as it gained limelight. Her family was also denied the right to bury her, as her body was reportedly forcibly cremated by the UP police one night. Similarly, witnesses were also harassed and intimidated during the trial, which resulted in the conviction of only one Sandeep Sisodia, and acquittal of the three others. This took place despite the victim giving a testimony against the four in front of a magistrate before her death. Three Muslims, which included two journalists and a taxi driver, who were visiting Hathras to cover the incident were instead arrested and imprisoned for over three years. Furthermore, a report by The Wire claimed that the UP government, under BJP’s Yogi Adityanath, had tried to use PR firms to push the narrative in foreign media that the victim was not raped. 

Similarly, if we move east to Gujarat, the Bilkis Bano case was a harrowing case from the 2002 Gujarat massacre. Recently, in January 2024 the Supreme Court squashed Gujarat’s BJP-led government that granted remission to her rapists. Before the order was squashed, the rapists were released from jail to be received by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad with garlands and sweets. The rapists were also incidentally seen sharing the stage with BJP MLA and MP in Gujarat in 2023. 

Bilkis Bano had been gangraped in Gujarat while being pregnant. Seven of her family members, including her 3-year-old daughter, were murdered in the horrifying carnage. 

The track record of BJP, its ally parties and organisations, seems to paint a harrowing picture of the BJP’s stance on women’s issues. 

Related

NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna accused of sexually exploiting and videotaping thousands of women

UP government fails to appeal against Hathras gang rape judgment acquitting 3 accused – are we surprised?

Bilkis Bano vindicated!

Justice once more for Bilkis Bano, but what now lies ahead?

The post Report card: BJP and crimes against women appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 The grandson of JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, reportedly left for Germany after voting took place in his constituency on April 26. His father HD Revanna, who is a MLA for the Holenarasipur constituency, has also been accused in the case of sexual harassment after a former house cook of their filed a complaint. 

Almost 30,000 explicit videos were allegedly made and shot by the MP which were also circulated widely in Revanna’s constituency Hassan in Karnataka.  Several of these videos, as per Hindustan Times, also recorded incidents of sexual assault. As India’s Lok Sabha elections continue, the incident has now received international media attention. Outrage has peaked on social media as this regime’s record of insensitivity on gender crimes reached a peak with this incident.

The news of the alleged crime has sent shockwaves across the nation. News reports have even reported that a 47 year old domestic worker employed by the family as a cook was sexually assaulted, and has written in her complaint at the Holenarasipur police station that the employees would always be scared of the father and son, “When I joined, six other maids would say they were scared of Prajwal. The male employees, too, would ask us to be wary of H D Revanna and his son Prajwal.” She has also claimed that her daughter too was assaulted. For reporting the assault, she has stated that her and her family’s life is under threat right now. 

Furthermore, what is shocking is that it is also reported that BJP Leader Amit Shah knew of these allegations because Karnataka BJP leader Devaraje Gowda has claimed that he wrote to the senior BJP leader that the party should not associate with the Revanna family in December 2023.   Police has thus far lodged a case against Revanna and his father on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. The Karnataka Women’s Commission has also taken note of the incident and the of commission, chief Nagalakshmi Chaudhary has written to the police chief to take action against the culprits. The commission also reportedly recommended the state government to take action after which the SIT (Special Investigation Team) has reportedly formed to investigate the case.  

The letter to Amit Shah being circulated on social media may be read here:

How did Prajwal Revanna escape to Germany?

Prajwal Revanna is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after last September when the Janata Dal (Secular) allied with the BJP. It was also reported by India Today that in June 2023, Revanna had sought a gag order against media houses to not publish sexually explicit videos of him. As of now, Revanna has reportedly left the country to Frankfurt, Germany immediately a day after voting took place in his constituency on April 27. This raises the question: how did Revanna manage to travel abroad, did he receive special assistance?

Meanwhile, in what seems to be a confirmation, Prajwal’s father H D Revanna has said that the videos are 4-5 years old, of which a ‘conspiracy’ is being made, “I know what kind of conspiracy is going on. I am not someone who’ll get scared and run away. They have released something that was 4-5 years old. Expelling him from the party is left to the party high command.” He also denied claims that Prajwal left the country due to the allegations, and said that he did not know of any FIR as he already had plans to go abroad.  

Revanna himself has so far denied allegations  and has filed a complaint claiming that the videos being circulated are doctored. But both BJP and JD(S) have distanced themselves from Revanna. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has stated that he would like to wait for all the facts to come out before taking a judgement on Prajwal, who is also his nephew. Kumaraswamy also claimed that he had nothing to do with his nephew’s swift departure from the country the minute the allegations went public. Interestingly, Kumaraswamy has also claimed that this is a “family issue”, “It’s an issue of the Revanna family, we have nothing to do with it, they are four living separately.”

He also stated, “It is not related to me. SIT probe has been ordered, officials have been put to work. If he has gone to a foreign country, getting him back is their responsibility. What should I say, if I’m asked. They (SIT) will get him, don’t worry.” 

Amit Shah, India’s union home minister has asked what the Congress was doing for many years when the incidents took place, “BJP’s stand is clear that we stand with the ‘Matr Shakti’ of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of the Congress Party. Why have they not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, the state government has to take action on it. We are in favour of the investigation and our partner JD(S) has also announced to take action against it. Today there is a meeting of their core committee and steps will be taken.”

#WATCH | On ‘obscene videos’ case involving JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Union HM Amit Shah says, “BJP’s stand is clear that we stand with the ‘Matr Shakti’ of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not… pic.twitter.com/bAZYw7i1oi

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2024

Meanwhile, the All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba has called on CM Siddaramaiah to write to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to call on Germany to extradite Prajwal, “We need to see if the MEA will act or keep quiet.” Lamba has also claimed that when Amit Shah recently visited Mysore in March or February, senior party leaders such BJP MLA Preetham Gowda, ex-MLA A T Ramaswamy and district leaders asked the party not to let Prajwal contest. However, the candidate at Hassan was once against Prajwal. 

According to India Today, the senior leader of the JD(S) H D Kumaraswamy also said that he was confident “their” candidate would win from Hassan, “ As far as the election is concerned, we have first-hand information that our candidate will win. Everybody is saying that.”

What does this mean for the hundreds of women who suffered the assaults? Will the JD(S) will actually take any action against Revanna and suspend the accused from the party and ensure that justice is meted out to the victims legally? Or will he also be forgotten, deliberately and become another Brij Bhushan?

This is not the first time a leader associated with the NDA or the BJP has been accused of heinous sexual assault related crimes. BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Singh is also somebody who has been accused of grave sexual crimes, including assaulting minors. Wrestlers protested for justice to be brought against him for almost a year however, their protests were to no avail and the courts are yet to frame charges against him either. Similarly, Kuldeep Singh Sengar who was finally convicted in 2019 for raping a 17 year old girl in 2018 was also from BJP. He is also suspected of killing her father and criminal intimidation. There was a huge public outcry against Sengar, who reportedly also tried to kill the victim and her family multiple times during the case. He was suspended by the party, who shared the news with the public in 2019 after there was mounting pressure on the party to share its stance. 

Similarly, recently The Wire reported that a BJP MLA was yet to be disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh assembly despite being served a sentence of 25 years for rape.  The MLA Ramdalur Gond was convicted in December 2023 for a case of raping of a minor that took place in 2014, yet was still continuing to serve his term as MLA.

Ankita Tiwari assaulted and murdered in Uttarakhand

The most recent and one of the most harrowing cases is from Uttarakhand, where the young and bright 19 year old Ankita Bhandari was murdered in 2022. The resort where she worked was reportedly owned by Pulkit Arya, the son of a senior RSS and former BJP leader Vinod Arya.

 The murder ignited widespread outrage, leading to protests across the state. The parents of the victim also led the protests for days, hoping to find justice for their daughter. However, what is worse is that the case saw great obstruction of justice, where Ankita’s parents were shuffled from one police station to another when they tried to file an FIR. Pulkit Arya had reportedly already informed the police about Ankita being missing earlier. What is even more alarming is that MLA of the area, Renu Bisht from the BJP bulldozed the resort after Ankita’s death.  A JCB driver told the courts that he was not just called once but twice to demolish the resort. The second time he reached, Bisht was present at the resort, giving instructions. Pulkit Arya and his two associates have reportedly confessed to the police during interrogation. 

The parents, as recently as April 2024, continue to ask for justice, including action against BJP MLA Renu Bisht for allegedly destroying evidence and also against SDM Pramod Kumar. The family has also demanded action against BJP Secretary  Ajay Kumar, who is said to be the VIP for whom Pulkit Arya reportedly tried to force Ankita to provide “special services” in exchange for money.  

Uttar Pradesh: Rapes and murders

Before that in Uttar Pradesh, first the Unnao gang rapes and killings of Dalit women and then Hathras are blots on BJP’s record. February 17, 2021 a horrific news of three Dalit girls tied up in a field and allegedly poisoned was reported from Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh. While two were found dead, one is battling for her life. The doctor has reportedly said that the girl’s survival rate is low because there seems to be considerable brain damage.

Unnao is also infamous for its 2017 gang rape of a 17-year-old minor which led to the conviction and life imprisonment of the former BJP member Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was also held responsible for the (judicial) custodial death of the survivor’s father. Her relatives met with similar fate and died in a mysterious car accident.

A 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras, (2020) named four upper caste ‘Thakur’ men in her dying declaration after she was raped and strangled to death. The barbarism continued when the Uttar Pradesh Police first, delayed immediate medical attention and eventually denied that she had been raped.

In August, 2020, Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh reported the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl who was strangled and left to perish in a sugarcane field. This was followed by a 17-year-old Dalit girl who was raped and killed while returning home after filling a scholarship form at a cyber cafe. Days later, in September, a three-year-old child was raped and murdered in the fields due to family enmity with another family in the same district, which acquired a lot of media attention.  

It seems Prajwal Revanna is another name in the list of harrowing incidents and crimes associated with the party. With this list of past examples, it is crucial to see what the NDA and the respective parties will do with Prajwal Revanna and his candidature. 

Related:

Bilkis Bano gang rape convict shares stage with BJP MP, MLA: Gujarat

IIT-BHU gangrape: 3 accused arrested, at least 2 associated with BJP IT cell of Varanasi

Outrageous! BJP Mahila Morcha leader says Hindu men should gangrape Muslim women to protect India

Ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, brother convicted in Unnao rape survivor’s father’s death

Is BJP-Ghaziabad police nexus trying to cover up minor’s rape incident?

The post NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna accused of sexually exploiting and videotaping thousands of women appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The DUJ had, in its statement, recalled with pride the huge contribution made by women journalists to the freedom of speech and expression. Many women have struggled to enter our challenging profession and make a space for themselves within it. They have made great strides in the news business, handling every beat, entering every field, ranging from politics to business to sports. They have fought social prejudice to work odd hours, do night shifts, travel to distant places, risk their own safety to chase a story. Television and social media have made women reporters very visible and they are no longer treated as exceptions.

“Most journalists tend to be opinionated, informed, independent thinkers — traits that go with the territory.  However both women and men in the profession are under increasing pressure to conform, to write and report according to the diktats of media oligarchs and managements. Media barons kowtow to governments as they depend on advertising largesse to run their empires. “

The DUJ has also expressed deep regrets that because of the skewed economics of the media industry and the larger business interests of ambitious media barons, journalists are forced to push a pro big business and pro government agenda. The space for free thought and expression has been shrinking and many bold, talented, creative journalists have been marginalised, even rendered unemployed.

Under these circumstances, a number of such journalists have started their own YouTube channels and many have large followings.  Women still have to catch up in this area. The majority of anchors and commentators on digital news platforms are overwhelmingly male and little effort is made to include women on ‘manels’.

The media, whether mainstream or digital, is dominated by upper caste males and excludes lower castes and religious and ethnic minorities. Women journalists are still a minority within the profession and sexual harassment by powerful bosses is not uncommon.

Hence, on IWD, the DUJ has called for a more inclusive media that includes the perspectives, voices and concerns of ordinary people. Also, the DUJ has urged greater focus on social issues, on people’s rights to food, health care, education and a healthier greener environment. We regret the growing media obsession with flashy weddings and glamourous events.

The DUJ has also condemned the growing communalization of the media and its role in polarizing Indian society. Several TV anchors, both women and men, display rancour and open hostility towards opposition politicians invited to their shows, but genuflect before those from the ruling party.

In this polarised environment independent journalists face threats from both state and non-state actors. Women journalists in a particular are targeted by trolls, with sexist abuse, rape and death threats on social media.

The DUJ, in the statement issued by Sujata Madhok President, SK Pande, Vice-President and AM Jigeesh, General Secretary has also demanded that both social media companies and the government take measures to stop such anonymous abuse and threats to journalists.

The DUJ has demanded law to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests, raids on their homes and vengeful defamation cases against those who investigate and report the truth in these perilous times.

Related:

Two journalists seriously injured amid Farmers’ Protests, DUJ condemns police action, ask for farmers demands to be settled

DUJ Protests freezing of media accounts

The post On Women’s Day DUJ Call for a Less Polarized, More Inclusive Media appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a detailed analysis issued the day after the Bill was tabled in the Uttarakhand State Assembly on February 6, women’s groups from the state have sharply condemned a Bill that criminalises constitutional behaviour, and introduces moral policing is unacceptable. Besides the analysis states that the the Bill which is predominantly a cut paste from the Hindu family laws, does not remove inequalities in family across the spectrum of religious and secular laws, but criminalises the Muslim minority and autonomous, consensual behaviour of adults.

Rejecting the form the Bill is in, in toto, the women’s groups have demanded that it is sent to the Standing Committee for further deliberations. The brief analysis has been signed by Uma Bhatt, Malika Virdi, Chandrakala, and Nirmala Bisht, Kamla Pant, Basanti Pathak from the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch.

“On a perusal of the draft Uniform Civil code (UCC) Bill presented at the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, it is apparent that the rhetoric that the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and his Government were mouthing has been actualized through the draft. Therefore, while seemingly being uniform across religions, the Bill is actually criminalising and regulating constitutionally acceptable behaviours, like adult consenting cohabitation, called “live in’, reducing autonomy and choice, which the women in this country have attained through concerted , inside the homes and on public platforms. Moral policing measures have been introduced in this regard.

“What is shocking is that this law is applicable even to those living outside Uttarakhand, apart from being applicable on all residents of the state including those who do not have a domicile. Interestingly there is a glaring silence about the rights of queer and transgender persons within a family and the rights of transgender and same sex persons to marry.

“Majorly it seeks to introduce changes in the provisions that are perceived as defective in the Muslim law, such as unequal inheritance, polygamy and the practice of halala ( by which a person can only remarry his divorced spouse after she has married someone else, consummated the marriage and thereafter obtained a divorce).  In one sense the Bill has terminated the application of Muslim family law and has further criminalised the Muslim man and woman.

“Ironically, the Bill has not incorporated positive and progressive aspects of Muslim law such as the compulsory payment of mehr by the husband to the wife which provides financial security of the wife,nikahnama (marriage contract) which allows for the spouses to add legally binding conditions that are mutually acceptable, and a  1/3 limit rule for willing away property.  Had the intention of the Bill genuinely been to bring about gender justice, such provisions could have been extended to women of all communities.

“The discrimination that Hindu women face in the family, and which stands unaddressed in the various family laws prevalent in the country, be they the religious personal laws or the Special Marriage Act have not been addressed at all.

“So also, there is a total silence on addressing the issues of discrimination against women within the Hindu Joint Family or rather the provisions are so drafted that they cannot be applied to the Hindu Joint Family and coparcenary property owned by it.

“The 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, provided daughters right to coparcenary property on par with sons, but excluded other female members of the HJF such as widows, wives and mothers. The Hindu Joint Family is premised, even after the 2005 amendment , on descendants (male and female) from a common male ancestor. These glaringly patriarchal and gender discriminatory provisions have been left untouched by the Bill.

“The Bill is completely silent on the application of Christian family law and Parsi family law as well as other religious communities, which, apart from being legally untenable, means that these personal laws also have been terminated in the state without any consultation with the said communities.

“The five Tribal communities of the state have been excluded, giving preference to customary law, however, other communities that work with customary law cannot seek intervention there as it has been set aside and termed illegal.

“The critical aspect of any law is that every stakeholder in the law should be able or should have the space to access the law. In the prevailing climate where minorities are being targeted, it will make it difficult for women from minority communities to access any uniform law, howsoever progressive it is made, (which is not the case in this retrograde law), when its basic objective is to show one upmanship over minorities, especially Muslims.

“To illustrate how the Code Bill follows the Hindu law template, it is important to note that the existing realities that make equal provisions of inheritance in the Hindu law unrealisable, have not been factored. For instance, the reality that property is by and large purchased in the name of the man, is not factored. This means that after the male expires, the property will be inherited by his parents (but not by his wife’s parents), along with his Class I heirs, in the same share. That, according to the Bill, her property will also be inherited by her husband along with her parents as Class I heirs, has no meaning in a society that by and large does not purchase property in the name of females.

“In other ways the structural discrimination against Hindu females has been kept intact. The concept of matrimonial property has not been introduced, despite the Law Commission of India’s recommendation in this regard. Similarly, the positive provisions from the Muslim law or the Goa law, such as the restrictions on making a will to render equal inheritance rights to naught, have not been considered in the framing of this law.

“The Bill has retained restitution of conjugal rights as a matrimonial remedy at a time when its constitutional validity has been challenged in the Supreme Court. This is a regressive provision with colonial origin, that legally compels unwilling spouses to live together in the name of consortium, companionship and conjugality.  In the case of a wife, she may be subjected to rape and forcible pregnancy by the husband.

“Criminalising the violation of compulsory registration of marriage without a provision in the law for creating awareness and facilitating documentation, in effect will mean that people will be rendered law violators for no fault of their own, and be subject to penalties. In a state with poor socio- educational status of women, the ramifications are bound to be more adverse for women.

“There is a function creep in this law, in that this Bill is intended to target political dissenters and those who are minoritised, which includes, the minoritised with the Hindu community as well. Therefore, in the guise of establishing non-registration of a live-in relationship, the State will have the power to enter the home and surveil. Criminalisation of adults in consensual live-in relationships, who may have deliberately decided to avoid marriage and its legal consequences, appears to be overshadowing other intentions.

“Fundamental rights are either denied or taken away by this law. Even the existing provision of the right of women to reside in their matrimonial homes, has been taken away. Thus rights to equality, right to live and livelihood and to live with dignity, right to freedom of speech and expression, freedom of conscience and right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion, have become casualties under this Bill.

“There is also total silence on areas pertaining to custody, guardianship and adoption of children, which are critical areas around which there has been much gender-based discrimination.

“No special provisions have been brought in to safeguard the rights of queer and transgender persons within a family and the rights of transgender persons to marry. Similarly, same sex marriages are not envisaged or recognised under the draft Code. The concerns addressed by persons with disability that required special provisions to safeguard the rights are also not addressed in the Bill.

“In this form, this Bill should be referred to a Standing or a Select Committee for wider deliberations, as the Bill, which has much import for the people of Uttarakhand and also for the rest of India as a precedent setter, needs to be discussed and people’s, including diverse women’s, queer and trans communities’ responses from Uttarakhand need to be taken into account.”

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The Broadcasting Bill blurs the distinction between journalism and content creation. The definition of news and current affairs has been deliberately left so broad that all sorts of online media can be controlled through it. It clubs together both broadcast and digital media, although broadcast media includes the big channels while digital news media channels are often small outfits run by one or two persons. Many clauses, particularly those relating to self-censorship, are completely impractical given the nature of small news media. Some dangerous clauses include the power to seize electronic devices including studio equipment. There are apprehensions that the Bill could muffle independent voices including those of YouTube journalists, news analysts and digital websites.

In the opinion of these journalist associations, such a bill could wait till the formation of a common body like a Media Commission of India comprising experts and stake holders who could look into all aspects of self-regulation rather than inviting government control. Today there exists a wide spectrum media, ranging from print, broadcast, digital to TV and other media and it is not possible to regulate it through such measures. Instead, it is necessary to organize extensive consultations with all stakeholders, look into the common grievances’ and seek common solutions. Decisions made without democratic consultations could smack of authoritarianism.

The statement states that the NAJ, the APWJF and NWMI also apprehend that the Broadcast Bill is being pushed in a hurry and could be yet another attempt to curb independent thinking, protest and dissent. Therefore the demand is that it should be immediately rolled back. The statement by Sujata Madhok, general secretary, DUJ, AM Jigneesh, DUJ, G Anjaneyulu, Predient, and APWJF and N.Kondaiah, Secretary General, NAL and SK Pande, Presdident, NAJ also notes that the Bill is ominously, inexplicably silent on concentration of media ownership in big corporate hands which is itself a big threat to freedom of expression and diversity of opinion.

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The post Gateway to Censorship: caution and concern over the proposed Broadcasting Bill, 2023 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In its order, the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate C V Rana, while acquitting Mohammad Akhtar Shaikh, observed that the complainant “failed to prove that the accused was a Muslim, who had posed as a Hindu bearing the name Mukesh Gupta, with a job in the Railways and had hidden the fact that he was married earlier”.

“The case is surrounded by a cloud of suspicion, and this court believes that the accused should get the benefit of doubt. Taking into account the evidence and statements of witnesses on the record, the complainant side had failed to prove the suspicion in court (about the accused being a Muslim pretending to be a Hindu) and the marriage that took place between them should not be considered as unlawful conversion,” the court also said.

Following the order, Shaikh was released from Surat Central Jail. The case concerns a complaint filed at Dindoli police station by 19-year old Pooja Sahu, a resident of Dindoli in Surat, against her husband Shaikh from Limbayat.

Pooja Sahu had alleged that Shaikh, who was from Samastipur in Bihar, had masqueraded as a Hindu man named Mukesh Gupta and married her “in a temple” at Kadodara village, on the outskirts of Surat, in 2019. The marriage was allegedly solemnised under the Hindu Marriage Act. The complaint also said that the couple had a son, who was given a Hindu name.

In August 2021, Sahu claimed that she stumbled upon the Aadhaar card of her husband and found that he was a Muslim. This was followed by frequent quarrels between the couple.

Sahu, in her criminal complaint, had further alleged that while Shaikh at first told her that he was a railway employee, she later found that he runs a paan shop near Udhna railway station in Surat. She claimed that Shaikh had taken cash worth Rs 13.7 lakh from three of her relatives on the pretext of getting them all jobs in the Railways. When he failed to get them jobs, he did not return the money, she also alleged.

Sahu further claimed that Shaikh tried to forcefully convert her to Islam and when she refused, he beat her up and “threatened to kill her”. However, when contacted, Shaikh’s lawyer V S Patil said, “The complainant works in a cell phone company. The two came in contact when Shaikh went to her store to get a connection in 2018… He also helped her get more customers to meet her target.”

“Their friendship turned into an affair and they used to visit the dargah together. She was aware that he was a Muslim. To get married, they mutually agreed to change Shaikh’s name to Mukesh Gupta, so that she could convince her family members for their wedding… They got married at a temple,” he added. “The court found that there was no evidence to show that the accused beat her up and even forced her to follow Muslim rituals,” Patil said. The assistant Public Prosecutor a M Miyatara reportedly said, “We will look into the details of the judgment and then move a higher court.”

Acting on Sahu’s complaint filed on August 11, 2021, the police booked Shaikh under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 494 (marrying again during life time of husband or wife ), 495 (same offence with concealment of former marriage from person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted), 498(a) (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Moreover, he was also booked under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2021.

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