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:
- All India Feminist Alliance
- Meera Sanghamitra, NAPM
- National Council of Women Leaders
- Afqaar India Foundation
- Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA)
- Feminists in Resistance
- Bebak Collective
- Swavalamban Samaj Vikas Sanstha
- Sambhaavnaa Institute
- Vann Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan
- Indian Community Activists Network (ICAN)
- Janashakthi
- Ram Kumar, Dynamic Action Group
- Forum Against Oppression of Women
- Van panchayat Sangarsh Morcha
- Chandan Saroj, AISF
- Rajesh Kanoje, Adivasi Mukti Sangathan
- MNREGA Mazdoor Union
- Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh
- Ambika Yadav, Jharkhand Kisan Parishad
- Vertika Mani, Secretary PUCL
- People’s Campaign for Sociology-Economic Equity
- Swaraj India
- LaMakaan
- Chetna Andolan
- Paigam Network
- ALIFA, Aurangabad
- Ramjeewan, SYM
- ALIFA Aurangabad
- Kailash Ram, Khet Majdur Kisan Sangram Samiti
- People’s Alliance
- Nanga Baiga Jan Shakti Sangathan
- Jai Adivasi Yuva Sangathan (JAYS)
- Utkal Sarvodaya Mandal
- Shramik Mukti Dal
- Pratinidhi Sanstha
- Samita Snehi, Loktantrik Rastriya
- Sanjha Sanskritik Manch
- Mahendra, Mirzapur Forum
- Kosar Jahan, Sagathin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Sitapur
41.Bhundhelkhand Dalit Adhikar Manch
- Awadh Youth Collective
- UP Land Forum
- Delhi Forum, New Delhi
- Uttarakhand Mahila manch
- Himal Prakriti
- Samadrusti MEDIA
- All India Yuva Bharat
- Bihar Ambedkar Vidyarthi Manch (BASF)
- National Youth Equity Forum (NYEF)
- Vijay Kumar, Loktantrik Manch (MP)
- Himdhara Collective
Individuals:
- Advocate Taniya Laskar, Assam
- Rupa Mehta, Gujarat
- Maimoona AM, New Delhi
- Paromita Dutta, West Bengal
- Shahista Khan, Rajasthan
- Elina Horo, Jharkhand
- Ranjana Padhi, Orissa
- Amrita Howlader, West Bengal
- Nazma Iqbal, Uttrakhand
- Arvind Murti, UP
- Shadab, UP
- Shabana Diler, Maharashtra
- Poushali Basak, West Bengal
- Nisha Biswas, West Bengal
- Hameedullah Shaik, Andhra Pradesh
- Kausar Ansari, Maharashtra
- Saddik Hussain Barlaskar, Assam
- Hasina, Maharashtra
- Maivish, Maharashtra
- Shaista, Maharashtra
- Gulshad, Maharashtra
- Biraj, Maharashtra
- Pooja, Maharashtra
- Heman, Gujarat
- Maanasee Hatkar, Haryana
- Shivam Kumar, UP
- Atul, Uttrakhand
- Arshad Ali, UP
- Sitara, Rajasthan
- Rajesh Ramakrishnan, Tamil Nadu
- Arundhati Dhuru, UP
- Neetisha Xalxo, Jharkhand
- Mohit Chatterjee, West Bengal
- Prakash Louis, Bihar
- Rupali Jadhav, Maharashtra
- Roop Rekha Verma, UP
- Hamza, Maharashtra
- Sujatha Guthoskar, Maharashtra
- Anand Mazgaonkar, Gujarat
- Susan John, Kerala
- Ranjana Kanhere, Maharashtra
- Retd. Professor, JNU
- Father Tony, Jharkhand
- Malti Deshmukh, Maharashtra
- Lokesh Malti Prakash, Madhya Pradesh
- Ashish Ranjan, Bihar
- Qamar, New Delhi
- Shanda, Uttrakhand
- Vinay, Uttrakhand
- Mahender Mishra, UP
- Satyalaxmi Rao, Bengaluru
- Navsharan Singh, New Delhi
- Tajammul, UP
- Richa Singh, UP
- Vidyun S, New Delhi
- Kanupriya, Chandigarh
- Kamaxi Bhate, Maharashtra
- Prerna, Maharashtra
- Shweta, New Delhi
- Lal Prakash Raahi, UP
- Dashrath Jadhav, Maharashtra
- Abu Taher Sheikh, Assam
- Sarfaraz, Bihar
- Individual, New Delhi
- Sujit Ghosh, New Delhi
- Archana Lakra, Jharkhand
- Sarojini Devi, Punjab
- DK Bodake, Maharashtra
- Abhishek Anand, Bihar
- Dr. Qudsia Anjum, UP
- Lukman Ali, UP
- Lal Singh Gamit, Gujarat
- Sunita, Rajasthan
- Prithvi R Sharma
- Individual, Rajasthan
- Dr. Lata Pujari, Maharashtra
- Upendra Shankar, Rajasthan
- Ashutosh, Himachal Pradesh
- Chanda Nimbkar, Maharashtra
- Dattatray D Kenjale, Maharashtra
- Individual, Maharashtra
- Pramod Majumdar, Maharashtra
- Rajan Kumbhar Artist, Maharashtra
- Vandana Palsane, Maharashtra
- Salokha, Maharashtra
- Individual, MP
- Tarique Shafique, UP
- Anwesh Bhattacharya, West Bengal
- Gurmeet, UP
- Gufran, UP
- Sister Maya, Rajasthan
- Maruti Bansode, Maharashtra
- Tanu Rastogi, Uttarakhand
- Samiksha Ratnapal Lote, Maharashtra
- Individual, West Bengal
- Sudarshana Chakraborty, West Bengal
- JK, Maharashtra
- Raja bhaiya, UP
- Harsh bhakuni, Uttrakhand
- Sho/Sohini, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan