Here is just one small example of the havoc wrought in just one small area of the konkan coast.

Our coasts rich in marine life, COCONUTS and all its by products, of paddy, and mangroves,

What kind of ignorant , venal, creatures have we put into power at every level …Where officials are dancing around politicians and politicians are busy pleasing their capitalist cronies and all busy making money at the cost of people, nature, and our vast resource base that they are systematically plundering and destroying.

We , you and I, are also accountability by our silence. We need to bear witness now, today, without delay. We need to call them out , and say Enough is Enough…

For a start we need to get to the bottom of what has killed these fish and caused so many sting Rays to come out so many miles to beach themselves. .

And last but not least, think about the impact on livelihoods of all our fishing communities ….Right around our amazing peninsula…..

The post Death by Bullets or Bullet Trains, Polluting Our Oceans With Chemicals appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Just confirming that Seema Mustafa – good friend, outstanding journalist and a fearless activist for the Idea of India as laid out in our Constitution has also been included in thelist of those targeted by the ABVP FIR against Amnesty International for their hearings on Kashmir.

Seema Mustafa

Seema has clearly been in their sights for a while and this provided a perfect excuse. Seema was among the better known faces invited to moderate one of the conversations with Kashmiris at the day long event held at the United Theological Institute at Bangalore on Aug 14 .

Martin Niemoller’s prophetic words constantly come to mind …

First they came for the Communists, I did not speak out- because i was not a communist
Then they came for the socialists, the trade unionists, the Jews –
I did not speak out
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak up for me …….

And let us no longer blame only the present regime –

Uday Kumar and thousands in Tamil Nadu were charged with sedition in the period of Congress and UPA I with ample and ready support from the T Nadu administration. Their only crime – the longest, non violent , peaceful, Gandhian protest against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power plant .

The tendency to clamp down on dissent – and all those who differ with the policies of the state began many decades back. Let us not forget that draconian legislation like AFSPA was brought in 58 years ago by the Congress regime.
It has just become more blatant , the impunity is up in your face,and also now is immeasurably strengthened by the overt participation of the private sector and powerful interests whocollaborate to stifle dissent from all those affected by extractive industrial activity across the lands and forests of indigenous peoples.

The IB report naming many well known public figures associated with anti nuclear, anti mining, anti AFSPA campaigns, groups and issues, was also leaked in the dying days of UPA II. None of that has been retracted.
It is a time for unity of action, for solidarity and strategic thoughtful response. But is no longer a time for silence, or for sitting on the fence. Action like the PIL filed in the Supreme Court against the anti deluvian law of sedition by Prashant Bhushan and Uday Kumar – is a fine example of legal action.

In solidarity with Seema Mustafa, with Aakar Patel and Amnesty, and those many many others – unnamed yet targeted unfairly for sedition – when they were protesting – a right conferred on them by the Constitution of India.

Lalita Ramdas is former Chair of Green Peace International & Nominee for the 1000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize

Courtesy: IndiaResists.com
 

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BY LALITA RAMDAS

On April 16 2003, Praveen Togadia was billed to be the star speaker at a ‘Viraat Dharma Sabha’ to be held on the premises of an English language school in Roha, the adjacent block to Alibag. Our little district town was full of saffron banners carrying the announcement. We thought we might drive down to listen and educate ourselves.

In the event, Togadia was arrested for making inflammatory speeches and distribution of trishuls in Rajasthan just a few days prior to his arrival in our district. However, inquiries revealed that the Roha ‘Dharma Sabha’ was to be held nonetheless, and would be addressed by Swami Dharmendra. So we decided that two colleagues would attend the event and bring us the feed–back. What follows below is based on an eye–witness account, together with the detailed report in a leading regional newspaper.

First, the setting. A huge stage set up in the grounds of the Raathee College in Roha. The backdrop was a huge picture of the projected Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in the centre. It was flanked by a larger–than–life size poster painting of the encounter between Shivaji and Afzal Khan in all its gory detail with steel claws, daggers and blood on one side and on the other, an equally large poster of Lord Ram.

Smaller colour posters of the Shivaji–Afzal encounter were distributed free to all those who attended. The message was clear and unambiguous, enough to send shivers down the spine and fill the minds of all right thinking Indians with understandable fear and foreboding at this blatant mockery of the Constitution of India.

Group singing and recordings of bhajans and slokas in Marathi and Hindi, covering a repertoire of the favourites of Shivaji, Satya Sai Baba, and others dedicated to a number of deities including Devi, Shankar, Ganpati and Ram Lalla, kept the audience entertained. From all accounts this was the only remotely ‘religious’ touch in the entire evening! The volume of the sound system was turned up to maximum and drowned out all else for about 45 minutes or so as the crowd filled up and waited for the guest of honour, Acharya Dharmendra, to arrive.

The audience comprised primarily young men (estimates vary from about 1,500 to 2,000), with a sprinkling of saffron sari-clad young women volunteers who were showing people to their seats, making announcements etc. According to our source, "they appeared to be jobless young males between the ages of 15–25 who were probably ‘trucked’ in from a number of outlying villages," Many were clearly from the cadres of the organisations of the sangh parivar – especially the VHP.

The arrival of every special invitee was heralded by the playing of the traditional dhol and setting off of fireworks, which were at their loudest at the arrival of Acharya Dharmendra who was substituting for Togadia. Most of the special guests on the dais were representatives of the regional VHP, RSS or Shiv Sena.

In the main, the Acharya and his colleagues made a series of virulent speeches where the primary message, in sum and substance, was that the holy duty of Hindu youth (in fact of Hindus as a whole) was to kill and finish off the Muslims, the "offspring of the traitor Afzal Khan" who were scattered across the Konkan region and elsewhere across the country. The audience was also told to work with one aim in mind, which "was also Shivaji’s main aim": to establish a Hindu Rashtra.

The speakers who preceded the Acharya set the scene as it were by repetitive reaffirmation of some basic trends. It was educative to be walked through the main arguments which were carefully worked out and intended to provoke and to provide grist to narrow chauvinist feelings. I am sharing these below in summary form:

•  Elaborate and eloquent arguments outlining why ‘our Hindu culture’, was superior, was under attack and needed to be defended.
•  How manavta (humanity) could be established worldwide only when a Hindu Rashtra was established in India.
•  Muslims who breed like rabbits have never accepted family planning. If this pattern continued, their population would soon overtake that of the Hindus — hence Hindus needed self–defence.
•  The government at the centre comprises a bunch of thieves and napunsaks (impotents); it shamelessly continues to appease Muslims.
•  Until now, we Hindus had been moderate in our demands, claiming only three sites for temple building — Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi — while the actual numbers destroyed by the Muslims is over 30,000! However, our patience is now exhausted and we will soon be making demands for all 30,000 masjids to be destroyed and temples restored or rebuilt.
•  All jehadis are Muslims and vice versa; so they must be destroyed just as Shivaji did with Afzal Khan (pointing to the backdrop of the stage).

Acharya Dharmendra basically focussed on the theme of Hindutva and its importance;

• If Muslims want to continue to live here, they can only do so provided they all become Hindus.
• However, we should actually finish them off — In this land of Shivaji, we should all follow Shivaji’s example and ‘finish off’ all the descendants of Afzal Khan just as Shivaji did. "Hamein Mussalmaanon ko khatam karna hain, hum maar daalenge."
• He openly and viciously ran down and condemned Gandhi, Nehru, Indira and Sonia Gandhi in foul language — claimed that it was Gandhi who was responsible for the break up of India and the partition and creation of Pakistan.
• Used foul and derogatory language while referring to Muslims – words like ‘jehadi kasai’ (terrorist butchers).
• Claimed that ever since Independence, too many Muslims had been given positions of importance in public life which had brought no benefits; only terrorist acts, Godhra, and other such actions around the country.
• Lambasted Gehlot for arresting Togadia in Rajasthan and accused him of wanting to please the ‘doll from across the seven seas’ (read Sonia Gandhi).
• Referring to the distribution of trishuls as a perfectly legitimate and harmless activity, he asked how the weapon of Lord Shiva could be compared to the AK 47s that are carried by all jehadis and terrorists.
• He said there was no other logic but that of India becoming a Hindu Rashtra, just as there was an ‘Arab Rashtra’, an ‘Afghan Rashtra’ etc.
• He claimed that our sarkar (government) had no manhood left, was unable to take any strong action against Pakistan or Muslims, whereas they should all have become like ‘Mahishasura’ and dealt with them accordingly. Several references were made to the Shahbano case, the actions of AR Antulay, former Maharashtra chief minister who allegedly encouraged the smuggling and landing of RDX on the Konkan coast.
• He also emphasised to the cheering audience that India’s poverty was due entirely to the fact that the government continued to spend the sum of Rs. 22,000 on every Haj pilgrim. If this was stopped our economic problems would improve!
• Most dangerous of all, he kept repeating that Gujarat would be repeated all over the country.

When our boys left the venue, at about 8.30 p.m., the Acharya who had apparently filled in quite competently for the absent star was still talking, and was frequently applauded by his youthful audience as he got more and more carried away! The local Raigad press reported all this prominently on the front page, ensuring that the meeting received wide publicity.

Some serious questions arise: Such sabhas cost money: where is the money coming from? Why is the government and district administration giving permission for such sabhas to be held in this state when they are clearly intended to inflame passions and ignite strong emotions against Muslims.

Given that two opposition ruled states have already set a precedent and taken firm steps against any attempts to hold either trishul dikshas or deliver inflammatory speeches, it is high time that Maharashtra did likewise.

Finally, shouldn’t the ministry of home at the centre be taking note and initiating suitable action against a movement which is against the very spirit and letter of the Constitution of India?

What actions should we citizens take to counter the slow but sure progress of fascism? Surely 1939 is still close enough in our collective memory? 

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Our recent experiences in our own little backwoods here around Alibag, interacting with village youth and young men in small towns, have thrown up several thought provoking incidents and reflections which must be very similar to those elsewhere in the country. It adds up to a frightening saga of how our education systems, the media — in a nexus with business and politicians — have so thoroughly brainwashed people that the only alternatives they can think of in terms of ‘desh seva’ and a meaningful occupation is to join the army to fight against terrorism "Yahaan marne se accha hai ki Hum vahaan, border mein, Kashmir mein, jaakar shahid ban jayen."

Ramu, I and a group of us local friends working in Pratham, Raigad, are seeking to engage these youth – telling them of other ways they can serve the country and the people – but it is tough, hard work. At the same time it has also demonstrated to us that this is actually what is needed desperately across this country, our region, to engage with these frightened, lost and frustrated young people — especially the young men and boys — talk to them, be with them, build their own self–image and confidence — and help create livelihoods and work. Can we ever hope to find a government that will have the guts and integrity to just concentrate on true human resource development for a decade — and abandon all the posturing and gung-ho rhetoric which feeds into the most negative of human emotions.

And you just have to scratch the surface and the anti–Muslim feelings emerge — frightening and raw. R– Bhai, a motor mechanic from UP, settled here for two generations, is one of our local life lines, a good friend and a decent, devout human being. Last week his daughter came home weeping from her school — a private, English medium institution. On investigating, she told them that a child had pulled away her close friend from the seat next to her saying, ‘Chhi, Chhi, Chhi — tum Mussalman ke saath kyon baith rahi ho?’ ("Goodness, why are you sitting next to a Muslim?’)

I remember many of us sitting together and exploring the formation of a political platform immediately after Oct 31, 1984. It seems to me that we have lost/wasted 16 years – and the country and people have paid a heavy price for it. Ultimately the decisions as to whether we will truly walk a path of peace and non–violence, truth and justice, will be a political one — and I am clearer by the day — that neither this present lot, nor, alas, the Congress, is in any position to project that alternative vision.

At the same time, I am convinced that this country has the leadership and potential. But they are scattered, immersed in a myriad issues and causes and struggles. It is these forces that need to be catalysed, persuaded to synergise their efforts and energies in the political forums.

And maybe that is the job for a group of us post–retirement wallas and wallis — just to help build those synergies. Turn into a kind of travelling task force — move around the country from one end to another for 3 to 6 months — seeking out the young leaders — bringing them together — and finding a way to challenge the present lot.

And the other thing that this rag tag, but still pretty large bunch of liberal, progressive, activists, intellectuals, academics, social workers, students need to do is to evolve constructive and practical strategies on how to work closely in programmes of creative intervention in the school system — at all levels — public/private/municipal and Zilla Parishad – in a broad programme of what some of us had termed ‘Development Education’ over two decades ago!!

Am I nuts? Maybe! But to me this seems to be the right moment to begin to think, talk, plan and work towards this. Sorry for this diatribe. But I have come to a point where I don’t want to see a newspaper or another email, a news broadcast or other information.

But yes, tell each one who marches to also come up with a plan for what they will personally commit themselves to doing for a new Azaadi Andolan — for the next two weeks, two months, two years, etc. Let that become the programme for the Coalition for Peace. Maybe this is also an appropriate time for mass action across the country, a huge padyatra of people from North, South, East and West who can also then counter the vicious messages of the renewed Rath Yatra type of movements which are going to be taking off all round in a spiralling crescendo leading to March 2002 and the Ayodhya construction. And yes, maybe we march with thousands to Wagah and beyond, to work in the refugee camps on the Afghanistan border? And one final thought — this time it must be women who must take the lead, women and children.

Archived from Communalism Combat, January-February 2002 Year 8  No. 75-76, Readers Forum
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