Talking to reporters at Sahayadri guest house in Mumbai, the minister said, “Instances of innocent girls being lured into inter-religious marriages and (subsequent) exploitation are coming to light. We are concerned and will crack the whip.”

Fadnavis, who is also the State Home Minister, noted that in the state the detection rate for missing person allegations varied from 90% to 95%, the reason for which he has is making the allegation of “Love-Jihad”. Emphasising that such missing cases are taken very seriously, Fadnavis said, “The detection rate is up to 90 to 95 per cent. Yet, I agree more efforts will have to be put to stop such exploitation of innocent girls.”

“There are instances where we found that false promises were made or false identity was used, with even married persons trying to mislead women.  Cases of ‘love jihad’ have come forward in large numbers,” he said, as has been reported by the Indian Express. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) senior leader said that the State government is exploring an option to enact a law against ‘love jihad’

Underlining the state government’s commitment to bring in legislation to tackle growing instances of atrocities on women through “love jihad”, Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra is among the few states which have been able to identify cases of missing girls,” as reported by the Hindu. Speaking further on legislation against “love jihad”, Fadnavis added, “Several states are working on it. We will study all aspects and how other states are doing it.”

Rally by BJP MLA against Love-Jihad in Pune

A day after Fadnavis said that cases of ‘love jihad’ are rising in the state, citing investigations into complaints of missing girls, on June 4, BJP leader and MLA Nitesh Rane led a rally in Pune against the so-called alleged incidents of “love jihad”. Several other right-winged activists also took part in the said march.

Notably, a 16-year-old girl, who had recently lodged a complaint of molestation, stalking, and sexual harassment against a 21-year-old man from a different religious community than her, also accompanied Rane during the above-mentioned rally from Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Chowk to Jay Hind Chowk in Ghorpadi Gaon of Pune, states the report in the Indian Express. It is crucial to note that based on the complaint of the minor girl, the accused was arrested and booked by the Pune city police under sections 354 (assaults or uses criminal force on any woman with the intention to outrage her modesty), 354D (stalking), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 11 (sexual harassment of child) and 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

When contacted, police officers declined to comment on the case citing the involvement of a minor and charges under the Act. Speaking to reporters, Rane accused leaders from opposition parties of denying, what he said, were cases of “love jihad”. “We have a government in the state that believes in the Hindutva ideology and will ensure that injustice is not done,” he said.

Background

The Eknath Shinde-Fadnavis government had issues a controversial government resolution on December 15, constituting a committee to monitor inter-religious marriages. The GR was previously challenged by Samajwadi party, MLA in a write petition in the Bombay High Court which is pending. This GR has been challenged by four rights groups including Citizens for Justice and Peace. The matter comes up on June 12. The December 15 GR has been challenged on the ground that it is based on false assumptions of the real cause of intimate partner violence and argues that the right to privacy, the danger of state surveillance and executive overreach demand that this GR be first stayed, then quashed. Before this, the state government GR dated December 13, 2022 had also included the monitoring of inter-caste marriages but after a social and political uproar was amended. A Samajwadi Party MLA had also challenged the said GR.

Three months after the December 15 GR, in March 2023, according to an RTI response received by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh from the government ministry, even after months have passed since the setting up of the 12 member Inter-faith Marriage-Family Coordination Committee, there are currently zero cases before the panel. On February 16, the Samajwadi Party MLA had written to the Maharashtra Women and Development Ministry, inquiring about the number of cases before the committee till date, and their details. On Monday, March 20, Rais Shaikh received a response stating that there was currently no case before the committee, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Incidentally, this comes just days after Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister and BJP leader, had announced that the state of Maharashtra had over one lakh ‘love jihad’ cases. The BJP leader made the remark during the Maharashtra Assembly Budget Session. Lodha had stated that “Maharashtra had more than one lakh cases of love jihad, which upset society.” he had then said that “the state government’s interfaith marriage committee has no say in anyone’s personal life or religion. But we want to avoid another Shraddha Walkar case. This is the government’s responsibility.”

Pursuant to the reply obtained by his MLA from the government the SP state president and MLA, Abu Asim Azmi, announced that he has filed a privilege motion against the minister for making false claims in the state assembly. “However, no response has yet been received from the legislature administration.” Azmi had further stated that if the privilege motion against Lodha is not approved by the Assembly, he will take the minister to court. “A group of people is attempting to polarise Maharashtra by making bogus claims of ‘love jihad,’ which are far from the reality on the ground,” he said, as was reported by the Hindustan Times.

Mangal Prabhat Lodha had also claimed last month that the 12-member committee had already received 152 complaints, which was obviously misleading information as it has now been revealed that the committee has not received a single complaint. R. Vimla, commissioner, women and child development, confirmed that the committee has not received a single complaint. She also serves on the interfaith committee, which is led by Lodha.

Related:

M’tra d’ty CM Devendra Fadnavis defends rallies against ‘love jihad’, promises law against mixed marriages

What is the real intent of the extremists launching this aggressive “love jihad” campaign

Heated exchanges over minister’s ‘1 lakh love jihad cases’ remark

Hatebuster: Is it Love Jihad or just love?

Maharashtra Govt GR on inter-religious marriages based on prejudicial assumptions, target women & vulnerable groups: Rights groups

Even after 3 months, zero cases filed before the Maha Inter-faith Marriage-Family Coordination Committee: Maharashtra Women and Development Ministry

The post Maharashtra: D’ty CM Devendra Fadnavis alleges ‘Love jihad’ to be cause of rising numbers of missing girls appeared first on SabrangIndia.

MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday stated that the sentiment of so many people attending ‘love jihad’ morchas must be respected and therefore the Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena SS)- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government may bring in a law against such marriages soon. He was speaking in the state legislative council.

Phadnavis controversially added that prima facie it seems there is a design behind love jihad-type incidents taking place in the state! He also said that “the state government has taken cognisance of the 50 Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha rallies across the state demanding a law against love jihad, and will soon take an appropriate decision on bringing a law against ‘love jihad’ after studying similar laws brought in by other states. All the approximately 25 such rallies have generated huge concern among citizens for the accelerated use of hate and targeted speech against minorities at them.

Ironically just three days ago, the Maharashtra minister for women’s development, Mangal Prabhat Lodha faces a privilege motion for making a false statement before the state assembly on the subject. Speaking during the budget session, Lodha had brazenly stated that that the state of Maharashtra had over one lakh ‘love jihad’ cases. The BJP leader made the remark during the Maharashtra Assembly Budget Session. Lodha had stated that “Maharashtra had more than one lakh cases of love jihad, which upset society.” he had then said that “the state government’s interfaith marriage committee has no say in anyone’s personal life or religion. But we want to avoid another Shraddha Walkar case. This is the government’s responsibility.” The Samajwadi Party president, Abu Hashim Azmi filed privilege motion against BJP leader Lodha for making false claims of having received 152 cases in the state assembly, even as the Bombay High Court allowed PIL by Rais Shaikh against the Maharashtra government’s resolution.

After the formation of the controversial 12-member committee (Inter-Faith Marriage Coordination Committee) on December 13, 2022, Samajwadi Party MLA, Rais Shaikh had – through a letter written on February 16, 2023, sought a response from the ministry on the number of cases of such marriages pending before it. Now, as per a response received by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh from the government ministry, even after months have passed since the setting up of the 12 member Inter-faith Marriage-Family Coordination Committee, there are currently zero cases before the panel. On Monday, March 20, Rais Shaikh received a response stating that there was currently no case before the committee, as reported by Hindustan Times. Yet Fadnavis persists with the unsubstantiated claims that such cases occur!

Read how CJP has been relentlessly tracking hate speeches and complaining too. CJP has also started an online campaign to the political leadership to adhere to constitutional values not divisive politics,

While the situation on the ground spirals towards polarisation, clearly the political leadership is in no mood to listen. In that context Fadnavis’ statement that the interfaith marriage-family coordination committee set up by the women and child welfare department doesn’t supersede any existing law and its scope is only limited to connecting families of girls such as Shraddha Walkar whose parents couldn’t contact her is questionable. In fact, the Maharashtra police has been turning a blind eye to over three dozen complaints filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace, Tushar Gandhi and even the recently formed Salokha Samiti, an umbrella organisation consisting of 45 organisations in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis was replying to a call to attention motion on increasing cases of alleged love jihad in the legislative council raised by MLC Gopichand Padalkar.

The deputy CM also said the new law against love jihad which was under active consideration will be within the constitutional framework. Fadnavis also announced that the director general of police will be told to sensitise the police and soon a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued for taking timely action in cases where parents complain their daughters have been cheated in alleged love jihad cases and cannot be contacted.

“It is a fact that between 30,000 and 50,000 people have taken part in these morchas in various districts. We don’t think that there should be no interfaith marriages. They can do it, but this must not be done with the intention to cheat. This is very serious. So we have taken cognisance of the sentiments of the people. We are studying love jihad-type laws that have been passed by other states and an appropriate decision on bringing such a law will be taken soon. This law will be within the constitutional framework,” Fadnavis said.

“The interfaith marriage-family coordination committee will not supersede any existing law. It is only to establish contact between parents of girls and the girl if she is not at her home like it happened in the Shraddha Walkar case. Had the police taken action in time and had the parents been able to reach her in time, she could have probably been saved. The parents were saying they only wanted to contact her one time and see if she was well or not. If the existing laws are not able to provide enough protection, then there is a need for a special law. The government is serious about this issue. If so many people are taking part in morchas, then there is a sentiment in the people and the government has taken note of it,” he said.

Just last week the Bombay High Court has converted a petition filed by SP MLA from Bhiwandi, Rais Shaikh into a PIL which will be heard soon. Citizens for Justice and Peace (Cjp.org.in) has challenged similar laws brought in by nine states and the matter is being currently heard in the Supreme Court. The last hearing was on March 17 and the matter is likely to come up after a month.

Related:

CJP intimates Maharashtra Police about HJS Gudi Padwa events

Wild Goose Chase: From filing preemptive complaints to following up with officers, a round-up of CJP’s efforts to curb hate speech

The post M’tra d’ty CM Devendra Fadnavis defends rallies against ‘love jihad’, promises law against mixed marriages appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Within two days of issuing a GR for forming a committee to get “detailed information about couples in interfaith and inter-caste marriages”, the Maharashtra government has conveniently removed inter-caste marriages from its scope, proving the critics right. What seemed to many as a harmless exercise to protect women and to reunite estranged women with their maternal families, is clearly a step towards monitoring inter-faith marriages in the State.

As rightly pointed out by women’s rights groups and parties in opposition, this move is nothing but a means to push the government’s sectarian agenda and an attempt to impinge upon people’s right to privacy.

As reported by Indian Express, the new GR stated that the panel had been renamed ‘Interfaith Marriage-Family Coordination Committee (state level)’ and “it was under the government’s consideration to amend the committee that was set up”.

“To stop fraud in the name of love jihad”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Tuesday’s GR of the WCD department has been amended. This committee is only for interfaith marriages, and not inter-caste marriages. The earlier GR was not the correct one.”

“The state government is encouraging inter-caste marriages and there is also a plan to give financial rewards to those who do it. But cheating in interfaith marriages has increased in the past few years and some aspects have come to light in the Shraddha Walkar murder case,” he added. He also said that , “It is alarming that there has been an increase in cases of cheating in interfaith marriages in some parts of the state. Therefore, fraud in the name of love jihad has to be stopped”.

Gujarat in late 90s

A similar move was seen in Gujarat in 1998-1990 when the state police dedicated certain cells to “investigate cases of inter-community and inter-caste marriages.” The Gujarat police set up the special cells to ‘investigate’ inter-community marriages and was an act of the state that is directly violative of the fundamental rights of equality before the law, Right to Life with Dignity and Right to Freedom of Faith. This was followed by massive resistance and disenchantment of people and a spate of writ petitions were even filed by couples who had voluntarily entered into marriage before the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court.

Ms Teesta Setalvad had conducted an interview then with Gujarat’s Director General of Police, C.P. Singh in Ahmedabad, telephonically from Mumbai on October 6, 1998, wherein he claimed that allegations of forced inter–religious marriages and conversions are entirely baseless in most cases. When he was asked about who was responsible for the disturbing spate of attacks on minorities — Christians and Muslims — in Gujarat since February, 1998 he said, “It is individuals not organisations that can be arrested and nailed. But one thing was clear in the pattern of incidents. It was reportedly the activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists who were taking law into their own hands which posed a serious danger to peace in Gujarat. Many of the attacks on the minorities were after these organisations had whipped up local passions on mere allegations of conversions (by Christian missionaries) and allegedly forced inter–religious marriages, where again conversion was supposed to be the alleged motive.”

Under the garb of giving counselling to women estranged from their families due to being a part of inter-faith marriages, the State is setting up a surveillance mechanism that has the potential to disturb the state’s communal harmony, which has more or less remained unperturbed since the horrific Bombay riots of 1992-93.

Criticism

Many social organizations in the state opposed this decision of the government calling it ‘moral policing’ and infringement of people’s right to privacy. They have raised concern that this data will be misused to monitor potential inter-caste (in response to earlier GR) and interfaith marriages and to discourage the same with the apprehension that such couples could be harassed. They also state that the government is ignoring real issues being faced by women in the state and should instead focus on effective implementation of laws against domestic violence and crimes against women.

Maharashtra Mahila Parishad has said that “By Collecting data, the government intends to target particular communities”

Stree Mukti Andolan Sampark Samiti said that raised concerns that this data that will be collected will be used to monitor women and to shut any attempts at inter caste and inter faith marriages to keep the so-called “purity” of their castes and religions intact. The Samiti has termed this exercise of the Maharashtra government as ‘moral policing’ and one that has no legal sanction and has called for the cancellation of this GR.

State incentives for inter-faith marriages:

Several states, including Maharashtra have been moving up the path of social reforms attempting to encourage the idea of a caste less society, one that Dr. Babasaheb Aambedkar envisaged to liberate men and women from the shackles of regressive notions and critical religious texts. The State of Maharashtra had planned to provide special concessions such as fee waiver to the children born out of inter caste and inter-religion marriages. In 2018, the Social Justice Minister of Maharashtra had said that the couples where spouses are from different religions or castes have to face various problems, including social boycott and the threat of honour killing and hence, besides other aspects, a law in place will focus on what kind of protection can be given to the couples who are facing such threat. Honour is in the attempt to achieve that glory by encouraging States to come up with incentives to encourage inter faith unions. The Act and the Ordinance aims to take ten steps backward against the spirit of national unity and fraternity.

The Right to Love campaign run by Sushant Asha and Abhijit K in Maharashtra, both journalists cum social activists, helps inter religious couples facing opposition to avail protection by police, legal help to get marriage registered, counselling to deal with the mental pressure and also in finding job opportunities. With such laws in place impinging on your free will and right to conscience, the significance of the work and efforts put in by such individuals becomes even more stark.

Related:

M’tra Govt’s move to set up “Commission” on inter-caste, interfaith marriages strongly opposed by women’s groups, Opposition
Three States have demanded caste census, says MHA
State has no business to know if a person has changed religion: Deepak Gupta former SC Judge
Uttarakhand further amends its ‘anti-conversion law, maximum sentence up to 10 years 

The post Only Inter-faith marriages under Maha govt scanner; earlier GR was incorrect says Fadnavis appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Temple-Mosque politics took an ugly turn this weekend with communally charged diatribe rising to the surface once again.

On Saturday, Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), while an Eid Milap programme in Ahmedabad said, “I want to tell you and the regime that, we have lost one Babri Masjid, we will not lose another mosque. You (regime) have used trickery and fraud to murder justice and steal one mosque from us. We will not let you snatch another mosque from us.”

On what is purportedly the other side of the political divide, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to foul language to counter the AIMIM, especially Asaduddin’s brother Akbaruddin Owaisi’s visit last Thursday to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb. NDTV quoted him as saying, “Asaduddin Owaisi goes and pays tribute to Aurangzeb on his grave and you keep seeing that, you should feel ashamed of it. Listen to me Owaisi, even a dog will not pee on the identity of Aurangzeb. Saffron will rule in Hindustan.”

Context of Asaduddin Owaisi’s speech

In his speech at the Eid Milap program in Ahmedabad, Asaduddin Owaisi referred to the Places of Worship Act, according to which the character of a place of worship cannot be changed from what it was on Independence Day.

Owaisi referred to the Babri mosque that was razed in 1992 and Gyanvapi mosque where a video survey is underway. After three domes where namaz is offered were surveyed last week, the video survey at the Gyanvapi mosque located in Varanasi will resume on Monday.

After the Supreme Court judgment in the Ayodhya dispute case, there has been a resurgence in the demand of mosque lands to be restored to temples that were allegedly razed to build said mosques. The Gyanvapi mosque that was allegedly built from the debris of the Kashi-Vishwanath temple that was razed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and the Shahi Idgah mosque that is allegedly built on top of the dungeon in which Hindu deity Krishna was born in Mathura, are two such high profile mosques.

Readers would recall that last week a Varanasi court had refused to replace Advocate Commissioner Ajai Kumar and ordered that the survey be completed and a report be filed by May 17. The court had, however, appointed two more commissioners. This is in connection with a petition filed in August 2021 by five women, one of whom has since withdrawn her name from the case. They had moved the Civil Court (Senior Division), demanding that the Maa Shringar Gauri Temple be reopened, and people be allowed to offer prayers before the idols that are still kept there. The petitioners cited the right to practice one’s faith and religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution. The court had ordered, “The survey will be conducted in Gyanvapi mosque and the entire barricaded area. Authorities will photograph and videograph the area. District authorities are ordered to open/break the lock of the basement and allow videography there as well.”

Meanwhile, after the appointment of Advocate Commissioners for the video survey at Gyanvapi mosque, two applications were moved before the court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Mathura to appoint an Advocate Commissioner to carry out a similar survey at the Shahi Idgah. The Times of India reported that the petitioner has demanded this survey to confirm the “existence of Hindu artifacts and religious inscriptions in the mosque premises.” This case pertains to the Krishna Janmabhoomi movement, which has also been gathering steam over the last two years. This case has been adjourned to July 1.

Akbaruddin Owaisi’s controversial visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb

The other Owaisi brother had visited the Mughal Emperor’s tomb before addressing a  rally in Aurangabad last Thursday.

It is noteworthy that Akbaruddin Owaisi had drawn flak from other parties as well with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar dismissing the visit as another attempt “to create new controversy” in a state that is “functioning peacefully”. The Indian Express quoted Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire as saying, “No one, neither a Hindu or a Muslim, visits the tomb as Aurangzeb was the cruelest Mughal emperor. But Owaisi and his party leaders are trying to create a controversy for political benefit.”

Vote-bank politics or B-team?

The visit though could also be viewed as a political stunt, with the two brothers playing good-cop-bad-cop to appeal to different people in their target vote bank – Akbaruddin catering to hardliners and Asaduddin appealing to the moderates.

However, it cannot be denied that the actions of a high-profile community leader have only served to alienate the minority community further in an already communally charged atmosphere.

Maharashtra may have dodged a bullet in the Hanuman Chalisa-Azaan controversy and may not have seen conflict during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, yet it remains a coveted state for the BJP that hopes to oust the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition and reclaim control of the state. So, one has to ask, who benefits most from Owaisi’s visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb?

Related:

Gyanvapi case: Two more advocate commissioners added to Shringar Gauri survey team

Gyanvapi case: Court to pronounce order in Shringar Gauri temple survey matter today

Gyanvapi case: One out of five withdrawing name from Maa Shringar Gauri temple petition?

Gyanvapi case: Videographic survey of Maa Shringar Gauri temple begins

Gyanvapi case: Allahabad HC stays ASI survey, proceedings before lower court

Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court to hear petition to hold prayers in Shringar Gauri temple

The post Devendra Fadnavis uses foul language as Akbaruddin Owaisi visits Aurangzeb’s tomb, Asaduddin invokes Babri appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was heckled and taunted on May 1, 2021 while visiting a hospital in Nashik district of Maharashtra. The angry remarks regarding social distancing and body shaming comments brought Fadnavis’s visit to an abrupt end.

Crowd boos BJP leader, Devendra Fadnavis as he enters a hospital in Nashik, asks him to follow social distancing, making him end his visit abruptly.

One can also hear the word Tarbooj, a name given to him by Raj Thackeray with the purpose of body shaming. pic.twitter.com/BLltHS01mo

— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) May 1, 2021

Earlier, at least 22 Covid patients died at municipal-corporation-run Zakir Husain Hospital after an oxygen tanker leaked causing shortage of supply. At the time, the BJP leader demanded a detailed inquiry and that other patients be helped and shifted if needed. However, the administration did not take any further action to look into the matter.

All victims were on ventilators and in need of constant oxygen supply. Around 150 patients were either oxygen-dependent or on ventilators and 31 patients were later shifted to other hospitals.

As of May 3, Nashik has 175 Covid hospitals with 2,711 available beds. In the last 24 hours, 2,179 new cases were recorded along with 8 Covid-19 deaths.

Related:

Oxygen tanker leak kills 22 patients in Nashik

BJP has no authority to hoard Remdesivir during shortage: AAP

Parambir Singh-Sachin Vaze controversy: Will Maha Vikas Aghadi survive?

The post Devendra Fadnavis cuts short hospital visit in face of heckling appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a major setback for Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, twenty days before the state goes to the polls, the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment on Tuesday October 1, paved the way for his prosecution.  His crime? Filing a false election affidavit in year 2014.

The bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose observed that prima facie under Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act, a case was made against Fadnavis and set aside the clean chit given to him by the Bombay High Court.

Lawyer Satish Ukey had petitioned for action against Devendra Fadnavis under the said Act, but his applications had been rejected by the lower court as well as the Bombay HC. The two cases of alleged cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998 but charges were not framed.

On July 23, the top court had reserved its verdict had said that the alleged ‘omission’ by Fadnavis of not disclosing information may be decided in the trial. It was concerned with a limited issue – whether prima facie Section 125 A of the RP Act was attracted or not.

The provision deals with the penalty for ‘filing false affidavit’ and says that the concealment or failure to furnish proper information in nomination papers by any candidate could attract six months jail term or fine or both.

Fadnavis, who is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra had contested the elections from Constituency-52, South-West, Nagpur, and the State of Maharashtra. He submitted his nomination paper along with the requisite documents and affidavit in prescribed form, Form No. 26 as prescribed under Rule 4A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.

It was Ukey’s case that the non-disclosure of the two pending criminal cases, were in violation of Section 125A of the Act of 1951 and constituted an offence envisaged by this provision of law. He had said that it was the candidate’s mandatory legal obligation to disclose the details of all the cases.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi who was appearing for the CM had said that Bombay HC had rightly rejected the plea.

The apex court had said that “the long and short of the matter is that you had to disclose the pending cases where charges have been framed. You did it. But you missed out in giving details of two cases (where court has taken cognizance).”

However, there seems to be no immediate problem for Fadnavis, as the top court’s verdict only revives the complaint against him which will be decided as per procedure. The verdict may not come up before the Assembly polls scheduled to be held on October 21.

The post Devendra Fadnavis to face trial in False Election Affidavit Case: SC’s Big Blow appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As the BJP tries to hold on to its 2014 electoral fortunes, it increasingly seems to be resorting to divisive and hateful language. But for a Chief Minister to compare the opposition to a terrorist organisation that is alleged to have been behind the worst terrorist attack in Kashmir is hitting a new low. But it is not surprising given that the Prime Minister himself has been pandering to majoritarianism in his election speeches. (Economic Times)

By exploiting a national tragedy and using divisive rhetoric for petty electoral gains, leaders like Devendra Fadnavis are threatening the very foundation of a democratic nation like India. Such comments only lower the prestige of a constitutional post like that of a Chief Minister and bring to question the ability of those who occupy it.
 
 

The post Outrageous: Maharashtra CM compares Congress Manifesto to that of Jaish-e-Mohammed appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
They reached Bhiwandi, Maharashtra today under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and will reach Mumbai on Sunday.
 
Enough is enough
 
Though Indian farmers have faced a series of crises including large number of pesticide deaths and suicides reported from regions like Vidarbha owing to serious debt crisis and competitive international markets, they have intensified their protests since last year. Policies like demonetization exposed the fissures in agriculture even further as the markets, produce and sales remained impacted for many months with no healing in sight.
 
“Enough is enough. Our patience has ended now. We have been seeking the same demands from last year. But the government is not interested in listening to us. We are not going to give up till the government listens to us. We are going to gherao the Assembly indefinitely” said Ashok Dhawle, leader of the Kisan Sabha.
 
Our rights are inter-twined
 
However, the farmers are not only demanding farmers’ rights. That apart they are also concerned about rights of Adivasis. A farmer participating in the rally said, “The Forest Act came into being in 2005. But Adivasis haven’t got land rights. Even today, lakhs of farmers till their traditional lands in the middle of forests. These are their ancestral lands. But they have still not got ownership rights. Why should they keep suffering despite a legislation to their rescue?”
 
This gives a holistic approach to the issues of farmers and Adivasis which are inherently linked to the questions of land ownership, issues of markets opening up to global competitors with least support from Indian government and a sustainable method of irrigation. Not only this, farmers also suffer when it comes to the Minimum Support Prices. For a long time now, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report without much intervention from the government.
 
Shankar Waghere, who belongs to the Koli Mahadev community, came from Nalegaon village in Dindori taluka of Nashik and joined the rally from there. He walked 28 kilometres by foot to join the rally. Waghere expresses, “The production cost for an acre is 12,000 rupees. If the rains are good, we get 15 quintals of rice [per acre],” he says. “The current [market] rate is 10 rupees a kilo [Rs. 1,000 per quintal]. How will we sustain? When I got to know of the march, I decided I will participate, come what may.” Waghere is talking about rice cultivation here.
 
 
Though the government announced a loan waiver last year following the unprecedented upsurge by farmers, it did not stick to its own words.
 
A Monday unlike any other
 
The long march, apart from farmers of Maharashtra namely Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh , consists of adivasis from many interior regions of the state. They reached Nashik on March 6 and have covered nearly 150 kilometres in five days.
 
They will enter Mumbai this Sunday through Mulund check Naka and take a halt at Ghatkopar. Monday morning will see them marching towards the State Assembly, which is currently in session. Thereafter they plan to ghearo the assembly.

After a long day of walking, some farmers sing and dance at night; others like Waghere are exhausted; soon, everyone rests for the night under the open sky. Credit: Shrirang Swarge/People’s Archive of Rural India
 

 After a long day of walking, some farmers sing and dance at night; others like Waghere are exhausted; soon, everyone rests for the night under the open sky. Credit: Shrirang Swarge/People’s Archive of Rural India

Thousands of farmers started the morcha from CBS Chowk in Nashik on March 6, to highlight their demands,
which the government has repeatedly ignored Source : Pari network

Photo credit: Alka Dhupkar Mumbai Mirror Facebook post

https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/rajasthan-kisan-struggle-intensifies-leaders-remain-arrested-demands-unfulfilled
https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/2018-union-budget-really-pro-farmer-budget
 

The post Every revolution needs a Long March: Farmers’ Rally enters Mumbai appeared first on SabrangIndia.

More than 25 thousand farmers began the ‘Long March’ from Nasik to Mumbai yesterday under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha.

This is a follow-up to protests and farmers’ agitations in the state of Maharashtra that started in 2016. Last year, after the massive Maharashtra bandh which went on for more than 11 days, the Fadnavis government had made certain commitments to the farmers which they have now turned their backs on.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

The post Farmers in Maharashtra All Set to Retaliate Against Fadnavis Government’s Betrayal appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Till date many of the Dalits, fearful of their lives, have not returned to their homes. No arrests have been made by the police, with the BJP-Shiv Sena government in power in the state presiding over the developments in silence. The Opposition parties — Congress and Nationalist Congress party in particular — have remained silent as well for fear of antagonising the powerful Maratha vote in the state, or conversely the Dalit voters. The result is a shadowy silence with the political leaders ignoring the violence that has continued non-stop. 

Large-scale violence of the Nashik kind also now got little space in what passes for the mainstream media that has remained stuck on war, Pakistan, China and issues that have little to do with the oppressed community on the ground. In fact the Maratha protests across Maharashtra and the subsequent anti-Dalit has found just the odd mention, with more reliance being placed on official versions than on the use of abundant resources to obtain on the spot reports from the ground.

Nashik in Maharashtra has been boiling for days, with aggressive Maratha rallies adding to the insecurity of the Dalit population. A second rumour that a Dalit youth had raped a Maratha minor—very much on the lines seen in parts of Uttar Pradesh where the Muslims youth are held responsible—swept through the area further fueling belligerent Maratha sentiment. This followed the gang rape of a Maratha minor by a Dalit youth in the first instance. 

In the absence of government and even an opposition, it has been left to civil society and Dalit organisations to collate the facts. According to several organisations that have now written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take action, the sequence of events in this second phase of violence is as follows: 

– On Saturday,October 8 2016, a rumour spread across social media that a 14-year-old Dalit boy had molested a minor girl in Talegaon (Nashik district, Maharashtra). 

– The guardian minister of Nashik, Girish Mahajan later stated that the medical authorities have reported that rape has not occurred, and the issue is under investigation.

– However, inflammatory messages regarding this incident had already spread. 

– Ambedkarite Buddhist Dalits were immediately targeted by mobs from the dominant Maratha caste. 

– In some parts of Igatpuri, the caste rioters burnt Dalit Buddhist residential houses and vehicles. They entered the houses of the Dalit Buddhist community in Igatpuri brandishing swords and knives and abused and beat them and ransacked their homes. A statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar was also desecrated.

– From late afternoon of October 9, the caste rioters blocked the Talegoan road. They targeted vehicles displaying Buddhist symbols like Ashok Chakra, pictures of Buddha, Ambedkar, Blue Flags, and Dhamma Flags, and attacked and burnt them. 

– Nearly 20 vehicles were burnt on the Nashik-Agra highway. The caste rioters burnt down nearly 20 homes of Dalit Buddhist families. 

– Most of the Dalit Buddhist families in Talegaon have been forced to leave their homes.

– The Maratha rioters also attacked Dalit Buddhist residents, Buddhist temples and statues of Buddha and Dr BR Ambedkar in Sevgedang, Nanded, Wadiwahne, Gonda, Goti, Ambegoda, Shivli, Khandale, and Gondegaon in Nashik District. 

– Police refused to register any FIRs nor did they arrest a single member of the violent Maratha gangs. The district administration failed in their legal duty to visit the affected areas within 24 hours.

– On Wednesday October 12, in the Nashik Road area, the local Police Department targeted the Dalit Buddhist residents in the name of combing operations. They forcibly entered their houses and beat men, women, and children, injuring many and arresting a number of innocent people. 

– On the same day, around 500 Police Personnel staged a flag march in the Nashik Road area. 

– The Police beat up Dalit Buddhist residents of Bhim Nagar, Kuber society, Nalanda Society, Adarsh Society and various wards. These attacks on the Dalit Buddhist community in Nashik by the police are continuing on a daily basis since then.

This agitation by the Marathas according to local politicians, is now being politically exploited. The fear and terror amongst the Dalit community is palpable but has not evoked a response from the main leaders. The agitation first started following the gang rape and murder of a Maratha girl by Dalits in Kopardi, with large processions being taken out demanding the scrapping of the SC/ST )Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Marathas also demanded reservation. As reported in The Citizen at the time, Dalits had also joined these protests to condemn the rape and murder, and express their solidarity. However, as the protests got more aggressive, the Dalits sensing danger started staying away. 

Within days the protests have taken a anti-Dalit turn, with the police also joining in to ransack houses, and strike terror. The combing operations were restricted to the Dalit community, with not a single attacker from the privileged caste group being arrested. This despite photographs of the vandalising mobs, some of which appear here.

The letter to Fadnavis points out that the “rallies are also extremely well planned and organized and resemble political rallies rather than an organic peoples’ movement.” 

The letter further states: “We are extremely concerned about the emerging reports from the ground of police collusion in atrocities against Dalits in Nashik by Maratha mobs, which have been taking place since 8th October. Not only has not a single arrest been made by the Maratha dominated Police force till date, but we have strong evidence that the Nashik Police is actively beating up Dalit families in their own homes instead of protecting them from the Maratha mob. The BJP-Shiv Sena Government of Maharashtra has been sitting on the fence and allowing this dangerous situation to escalate, while a number of other parties and politicians are covertly providing support to the Maratha agitation. More details of recent events are set out below.” 

And demands: 

– The BJP-Shiv Sena government of Maharashtra takes immediate action to ensure the safety of Dalit citizens 

– Police personnel responsible for Dalit atrocities must be arrested and charged 

– The Marathas involved in systematically instigating and executing violence against Dalits must be immediately arrested and brought to justice. 

– Politicians conspiring and instigating this targeted violence against Nashik’s Dalits must be brought to justice. 

(It is signed by Eugene Culas, Voice of Dalits International,Santosh Dass, Federation of Ambedarite and Buddhist Organisations UK, Ravi Kumar, Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance,Meena Varma, Dalit Solidarity Movement, Saunvedan Aparanti, South Asia Solidarity Group.)

The post Letter to the CM: Act to stop Attacks on Dalits in Nashik appeared first on SabrangIndia.