Stop using politics of hate to hide failure to protect women and their rights: Open Letter to Uttarakhand Govt

As many as 52 women’s and people’s organizations along with 100 lawyers, human rights activists and others from more than 17 states released an open letter calling on the Uttarakhand government and the ruling BJP to stop trying to hide atrocities on women through hate violence and propaganda. They have accused the government of trying to cover up one type of crime by promoting another.

In the last few weeks in Uttarakhand, several incidents of atrocities on women have taken place, including incidents in Rudrapur, Dehradun, Salt and Lalkuan. The most worrying thing is that leaders of the ruling BJP are accused of such atrocities in Salt and Lalkuan, but in these cases, at first the police did not even arrest the accused and then appear to be trying to minimise the crime by using weaker sections of the law.

However, in the same weeks, some organisations and individuals have attacked innocent people on the basis of religion in Kirtinagar, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Dehradun and other places on the pretext of women’s safety.  In Kirtinagar and Chamoli, Muslim families have even been driven from their homes. The signatories have, in their statement and letter, recalled that in 2023, a similar criminal campaign took place centred around Purola town of Uttarkashi, and later it was found that the alleged molestation incident was completely fake. Till date, no action has been taken against any of the people or organisations responsible for all these criminal incidents.

Overall, the signatories have stated that the Uttarakhand government has failed to provide security to women and the public, while it seems that criminals associated with the ruling party and their organisations are getting protection. The signatories have further demanded that the Governor direct the government to take strict action in any incident of crimes against women and hate crimes, irrespective of the religion, caste or political affiliation of the criminal.

The full text of the open letter may be read here:

To

His Excellency the Governor

Government of Uttarakhand

Your Excellency,

“We would like to express our grave concern about events in the state of Uttarakhand. The state has always been known for peace, harmony and popular movements, but now, hate-driven violence is being spread to divert attention from crimes against women and the alleged role of politicians in these crimes. At a time when lakhs of people across the country are fighting on the streets for the safety and rights of women, other types of crimes are being promoted in Uttarakhand to conceal these crimes.

“Your Excellency, in recent weeks, there have been many incidents of atrocities against women, including incidents in Rudrapur, Dehradun, Salt and Lalkuan. The most worrying thing is that both the alleged rapist of a minor girl in Salt and the alleged rapist of a mother and her minor daughter in Lalkuan are leaders in the ruling BJP. First, the police did not even arrest them; now, they are said to be applying more lenient sections of the law in order to shield them.

“Even as public outrage was rising on these issues, a few organisations and individuals have started hate violence and propaganda in the name of women’s safety.

“On August 31, shops of innocent shopkeepers were vandalised in Chamoli, and their money was looted. According to press reports, at least ten families had to flee from there. Similar incidents have taken place in Kirtinagar, and communal boards have been installed in Rudraprayag.  In Dehradun after some people were beaten up there have been continuous efforts to vitiate the atmosphere, and in the Press Club a speech was made openly inciting violence and hatred, calling for Hindus to carry weapons and for Uttarakhand to be “Muslim free”. More such incidents are happening on a near daily basis in the state. All these crimes are being committed under the pretext that a person from the minority community has been accused of molestation.

“We would also like to remind the government that in 2023, a month-long criminal campaign was launched in Purola town of Uttarkashi on similar allegations, due to which dozens of families had to flee. But as the district court revealed in May, that entire supposed molestation incident was a hoax. The people responsible for those hate crimes, some of whom are engaged in such activities at present, have never faced any consequences.  Indeed, the opposite is happening – the Sunday Post newspaper has revealed that some police officials themselves were spreading hate propaganda on their WhatsApp groups.

“Overall, the Uttarakhand government has failed to protect women and the public, while criminals associated with the ruling party and their organisations seem to be getting protectiom. Instead of conducting a fair investigation, the Chief Minister is trying to blame “outsiders” and minorities for crimes against women. This is against our Constitution and a betrayal of the women of Uttarakhand and the country.

“We therefore request you to immediately direct the government to establish rule of law, and take strict action against perpetrators of crimes against women and hate crimes, irrespective of the religion, caste or political affiliation of the culprit.”

Signatories:

Organisations:

1. All India Feminist Alliance
2. Meera Sanghamitra, NAPM
3. National Council of Women Leaders
4. Afqaar India Foundation
5. Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA)
6. Feminists in Resistance
7. Bebak Collective
8. Swavalamban Samaj Vikas Sanstha
9. Sambhaavnaa Institute
10. Vann Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan
11. Indian Community Activists Network (ICAN)
12. Janashakthi
13. Ram Kumar, Dynamic Action Group
14. Forum Against Oppression of Women
15. Van panchayat Sangarsh Morcha
16. Chandan Saroj, AISF
17. Rajesh Kanoje, Adivasi Mukti Sangathan
18. MNREGA Mazdoor Union
19. Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh
20. Ambika Yadav, Jharkhand Kisan Parishad
21. Vertika Mani, Secretary PUCL
22. People’s Campaign for Sociology-Economic Equity
23. Swaraj India
24. LaMakaan
25. Chetna Andolan
26. Paigam Network
27. ALIFA, Aurangabad
28. Ramjeewan, SYM
29. ALIFA Aurangabad
30. Kailash Ram, Khet Majdur Kisan Sangram Samiti
31. People’s Alliance
32. Nanga Baiga Jan Shakti Sangathan
33. Jai Adivasi Yuva Sangathan (JAYS)
34. Utkal Sarvodaya Mandal
35. Shramik Mukti Dal
36. Pratinidhi Sanstha
37. Samita Snehi, Loktantrik Rastriya
38. Sanjha Sanskritik Manch
39. Mahendra, Mirzapur Forum
40. Kosar Jahan, Sagathin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Sitapur

41.Bhundhelkhand Dalit Adhikar Manch

42. Awadh Youth Collective
43. UP Land Forum
44. Delhi Forum, New Delhi
45. Uttarakhand Mahila manch
46. Himal Prakriti
47. Samadrusti MEDIA
48. All India Yuva Bharat
49. Bihar Ambedkar Vidyarthi Manch (BASF)
50. National Youth Equity Forum (NYEF)
51. Vijay Kumar, Loktantrik Manch (MP)
52. Himdhara Collective

Individuals:

1. Advocate Taniya Laskar, Assam
2. Rupa Mehta, Gujarat
3. Maimoona AM, New Delhi
4. Paromita Dutta, West Bengal
5. Shahista Khan, Rajasthan
6. Elina Horo, Jharkhand
7. Ranjana Padhi, Orissa
8. Amrita Howlader, West Bengal
9. Nazma Iqbal, Uttrakhand
10. Arvind Murti, UP
11. Shadab, UP
12. Shabana Diler, Maharashtra
13. Poushali Basak, West Bengal
14. Nisha Biswas, West Bengal
15. Hameedullah Shaik, Andhra Pradesh
16. Kausar Ansari, Maharashtra
17. Saddik Hussain Barlaskar, Assam
18. Hasina, Maharashtra
19. Maivish, Maharashtra
20. Shaista, Maharashtra
21. Gulshad, Maharashtra
22. Biraj, Maharashtra
23. Pooja, Maharashtra
24. Heman, Gujarat
25. Maanasee Hatkar, Haryana
26. Shivam Kumar, UP
27. Atul, Uttrakhand
28. Arshad Ali, UP
29. Sitara, Rajasthan
30. Rajesh Ramakrishnan, Tamil Nadu
31. Arundhati Dhuru, UP
32. Neetisha Xalxo, Jharkhand
33. Mohit Chatterjee, West Bengal
34. Prakash Louis, Bihar
35. Rupali Jadhav, Maharashtra
36. Roop Rekha Verma, UP
37. Hamza, Maharashtra
38. Sujatha Guthoskar, Maharashtra
39. Anand Mazgaonkar, Gujarat
40. Susan John, Kerala
41. Ranjana Kanhere, Maharashtra
42. Retd. Professor, JNU
43. Father Tony, Jharkhand
44. Malti Deshmukh, Maharashtra
45. Lokesh Malti Prakash, Madhya Pradesh
46. Ashish Ranjan, Bihar
47. Qamar, New Delhi
48. Shanda, Uttrakhand
49. Vinay, Uttrakhand
50. Mahender Mishra, UP
51. Satyalaxmi Rao, Bengaluru
52. Navsharan Singh, New Delhi
53. Tajammul, UP
54. Richa Singh, UP
55. Vidyun S, New Delhi
56. Kanupriya, Chandigarh
57. Kamaxi Bhate, Maharashtra
58. Prerna, Maharashtra
59. Shweta, New Delhi
60. Lal Prakash Raahi, UP
61. Dashrath Jadhav, Maharashtra
62. Abu Taher Sheikh, Assam
63. Sarfaraz, Bihar
64. Individual, New Delhi
65. Sujit Ghosh, New Delhi
66. Archana Lakra, Jharkhand
67. Sarojini Devi, Punjab
68. DK Bodake, Maharashtra
69. Abhishek Anand, Bihar
70. Dr. Qudsia Anjum, UP
71. Lukman Ali, UP
72. Lal Singh Gamit, Gujarat
73. Sunita, Rajasthan
74. Prithvi R Sharma
75. Individual, Rajasthan
76. Dr. Lata Pujari, Maharashtra
77. Upendra Shankar, Rajasthan
78. Ashutosh, Himachal Pradesh
79. Chanda Nimbkar, Maharashtra
80. Dattatray D Kenjale, Maharashtra
81. Individual, Maharashtra
82. Pramod Majumdar, Maharashtra
83. Rajan Kumbhar Artist, Maharashtra
84. Vandana Palsane, Maharashtra
85. Salokha, Maharashtra
86. Individual, MP
87. Tarique Shafique, UP
88. Anwesh Bhattacharya, West Bengal
89. Gurmeet, UP
90. Gufran, UP
91. Sister Maya, Rajasthan
92. Maruti Bansode, Maharashtra
93. Tanu Rastogi, Uttarakhand
94. Samiksha Ratnapal Lote, Maharashtra
95. Individual, West Bengal
96. Sudarshana Chakraborty, West Bengal
97. JK, Maharashtra
98. Raja bhaiya, UP
99. Harsh bhakuni, Uttrakhand
100. Sho/Sohini, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan