The show of outrage, protest, an expression of personal grief and guilt at the lynchings of Muslims, all over India, began yesterday at the Jantar Mantar. Prem Singh, founding member of the Socialist Party of India and a professor of Hindi at the Delhi University issued an Appeal on June 23 and began on his fast on June 25. on the eve of Eid.
Prem Singh : " I am fast on the day of Eid. I know this is not the custom. But Junaid's murder was committed just two days before Eid by mob-lynching. But as a citizen there was no other way to express my feeling of grief and shame.
With the hope that families of Junaid, Zafar Hussain and Pahlu Khan will find a better social atmosphere to observe next Eid, I would like to wish Eid Mubarak to all."
Image Courtesy: Aijaz Ashraf, Scroll.in
Today he issued this statement:
A number of colleagues from across the country have sent messages of solidarity, they have observed the fast in support. Several friends will join the fast at Jantar Mantar today.
In yesterday's fast young people were present in strong numbers. Young leaders including Yogesh Paswan, Bandana Pandey, Sadat Anwar, Shweta Rashmi, Laraib Akram spoke their minds and participated in the discussion.
Senior activists like Ravikiran Jain of the PUCL, Vimal Bhai (NAPM), Thomas Mathew, AK Maji, comrade Baldev Singh Sihag, Comrade Narendra, Navaid Hamid, Satish Kumar, Dr. MA Johar, Dr. Sunilam, Darshan Pal, Avik Saha, Sadat, Anwar, Amar Singh Amar, Tehseen Ahmed, Prof. Gopeshwar Singh, Prof. Sudha Singh, Prof. Ratan Lal, Prof.
Vipin Tripathi, Atul Sood, Navsran, Seema Baite, Renu Gambhir, Baba Vijender, Prof. Vipin Tripathi, Ramesh Chand Sharma, Dr. Tariq Ashraf too came and expressed their anxiety about the prevailing situation.
Giving the example of Gandhi, Prof. Vipin Tripathi explained that the biggest evil can be changed by the power of truth. Akram said that in earlier times parents used to advise caution at the time of leaving home. Now the young themselves fear while going out. The first need is to change this feeling of insecurity among people before making a call for any other revolution. Prof. Vipin Tripathi and Akram voiced similar apprehensions and suggestions. The moral health of society depends upon its
own strength and truth should be the strength of the society.
Yesterday Justice Sachar quarreled with me on phone because I had did not informed him about the fast. He has threatened to reach Jantar-Mantar today with a glass of juice!