After math of deadly attacks in Sri Lanka at churches which took hundreds of innocent lives and created an environment of fear and grief, Muslims from all walks of life from Islamic Jamaats to IT professionals, Housewives to Social organisations & Educational institutions , children and the elderly gathered on 28th April morning, the time of prayer mass,  at various churches to share love, warmth and express solidarity, support and stand with our brethren during these tough times with a message that no force can break this brotherhood.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtesy: Two Circle

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“With elections just a few weeks away, we felt it was important for all citizens groups as well as environmentally conscious citizens to come together and ask our leaders to reflect on the impact of their developmental projects like the metro car shed in Aarey and the coastal road. We want them to think about the impact of development not just on the environment, but also on the traditional habitats and livelihoods of indigenous people,” says Amrita Bhattacharya, one of the organisers.

“The ministers all say, ‘Save the Environment, Plant more Trees’. But you can’t replace an entire forest with six inch saplings! We are blessed with green forest cover in Mumbai and Thane and we must strive to protect it,” explains Cassandra Nazareth who came to South Mumbai all the way for Borivali. “Don’t get me wrong, even I want development. The metro will make my life easy. But the environmental factor has to be taken into account so that development is sustainable,” she elaborates.

The citizens held hands and stood side-by-side in a human chain. Some were even holding colourful placards. They began gathering by 4:30 on Saturday evening, but shortly after 5 pm policemen from the Marine Drive police station arrived and demanded that the crowd disperse. PI Rajesh Shinde said, “These people had asked for permission, but it was denied. So now they should leave peacefully.” But Amrita Bhattacharya said that no permission was sought in the first place as this was not a protest or a demonstration, but just a gathering of like-minded individuals. “We don’t need permission to gather and discuss our views peacefully,” she insisted.
When asked the grounds for asking people to disperse, Subhash Khanvilkar, ACP Colaba said, “The election code of conduct is in place and we cannot permit a gathering of more than five people.” But the citizens stood their ground. “In a democracy, people have a voice and the right to dissent. We have the right to voice our concerns and we are doing so in a peaceful and civil manner,” said Vineeta, a writer who refused to leave when the police asked her to do so.

The citizens continued to stand peacefully holding hands till about 6:30 in the evening and then dispersed as quietly as they arrived, ensuring that they leave no litter behind.
 

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Karnataka for Harmony
“Karnataka for Harmony” was formed after several seminars, protests meetings and cultural jathas. Its founding convention was held at Bangalore which was inaugurated by CPI (M) General Sceretary Com. Sitaram Yechury. Com. Sudhakar Reddy from CPI apart from several other left parties and eminent personalities were present on September 5, 2017 for the occasion. Karnataka for Harmony gave a call for State-wide human chain on January 30.
 
Killing of Gauri Lankesh
Unfortunately, Gauri Lankesh was killed on the same day. This led to the eruption of people’s anger and galvanized the movement even further. Since then conventions, jathas, preparatory meetings, mass campaigns were held at all (more than 160) locations where Human Chain were held.  A vigorous campaign in the social media with many posters videos depicting – tradition of communal harmony in Karnataka, quotes depicting harmony from writers poets thousand years ago to present, quotes from prominent personalities supporting the Chain – were widely circulated. Many participants in the Human Chain also carried prints of these posters and banners.  
 
Why was the Campaign urgent?
What added an urgency to the campaign was the intense communal polarization and “Dead body politics” practiced by BJP-Sangh Parivar which has ensured the continued violence in the state. Hence the platform emerged as a united platform for all anti-communal and progressive forces.
 
The Human Chain
Many prominent personalities were seen supporting the cause of communal harmony and peace on this day. Some of them included writer Devanoor Mahadeva and renowned actor Prakash Rai at Mysore; Dinesh Aminmattu, media advisor to CM at Mangalore; veteran Gandhian H S Doreswamy at Tumkur; writer Prof Chandrashekar Patil, former Supreme Court Judge Gopal Gowda, Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi, President Dr. K Marulasiddappa, Sahitya Academy President Aravinda Malagatti, former High Court Judge Nagamohan Das, Writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa, Actor Chethan  at Bangalore; Prof. Rajendra Chenni at Shimoga; and Ramanath Rai, a Karnataka State Minister and Congress MLAs  Abhayachandra Jain & Vasantha Bangera  at Dakshina Kannada.  CPI(M) State Leaders participated in various human chains across the State – Com. G V Shriramareddy at Chikkaballapura; Com. VJK Nair, Com G N Nagaraj at Bangalore, Com K R Sriyan at Mangalore.  

 
The event of formation of the Human chains concluded with well attended meetings and cultural performances. Oaths were taken at all of these places administered by prominent personalities. Nidumamidi Swamiji led the oath at Bangalore. Participants vowed to defend centuries’ old tradition of communal harmony, pluralism in Karnataka from threats of communal and fascist forces. They also vowed to defend the Constitution representing people’s aspirations for Democracy, Secularism, Equality, and Social Justice.

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