The incident has sparked a nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests and disrupting hospital services across several Indian cities. An autopsy confirmed that the doctor was raped before being murdered. Thousands of doctors and citizens marched in Kolkata and other cities, demanding justice for the victim and improved security measures. As the country prepares to mark the 78th year of Independence, a massive protest is planned for the evening of August 14, with people of all genders, political leaders, and citizenry uniting to demand justice and safety for women in India.

Details on the Kolkata rape and murder case:

The family of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shared their harrowing experience in an interview with Lallantop, recounting the traumatic events following the tragedy on August 9. The family alleged that hospital authorities initially informed them that their daughter had died by suicide and made them wait outside for three hours before they were allowed them to see her body.

In the interview, the trainee doctor’s father also recalled receiving a call from the hospital, where they were told that their daughter had died by suicide and urged to come immediately. Despite their pleas to see her, they were forced to wait for hours. After the long wait of three hours outside the seminar hall, the father was finally permitted to view his daughter’s body and was allowed to take a photo. He shared that she was unclothed, with her legs positioned unnaturally apart, a condition that suggested severe trauma to the pelvic region, indicating she had been violently assaulted.

According to a report in India Today, the post-mortem report confirmed that the trainee doctor had been subjected to “genital torture.” The report further revealed that the accused, Sanjoy Roy, had struck her with such force that her glasses shattered, and the shards caused severe injuries to her eyes. She had bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, along with injuries to her face, abdomen, neck, left leg, right hand, and lips. After this brutal assault, the accused killed her by strangulation and smothering. Her death was estimated to have occurred between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on that Friday.

On August 14, the case took a another turn as Left-wing groups and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities of attempting to tamper with evidence. The CPI(M)-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) highlighted that renovation work had suspiciously begun near the seminar room where the doctor’s body was found just days earlier. Protestors gathered at the hospital’s Emergency building gate, accusing the authorities of trying to destroy evidence and protect those truly responsible.

Tempering of evidence started in the name of renovation in the chest department at nearly 20m from crime scene.please help #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/o45EM6Agyu

— Dr levocetrizine (@ManiBhu12096219) August 13, 2024

Additionally, the Hindustan Times reported that a doctor from the Left-affiliated Joint Forum of Doctors claimed the post-mortem report suggested the possibility that the victim had been raped by multiple individuals.

Investigation into the RG Kar Medical College and the scams running under its principal:

It is essential to note that on the same day of the incident, Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, had resigned from his position. In his resignation, Ghosh stated, “I am being defamed on social media. False accusations are being spread against me, and students are being provoked to demand my removal. The deceased doctor was like my child, and I want justice for her. As a parent, I am stepping down.” However, following his resignation, he was reassigned as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) within a few hours.

On the other hand, more shocking news came as an independent investigation conducted by the Times of India uncovered numerous issues within RG Kar Medical College and Hospital under Sandip Ghosh’s leadership. One such issue was the “regular practice” of facilitating beds at the hospital for financially struggling patients from nearby nursing homes, but only in exchange for a fee.

As per the investigation, ex-principal Ghosh was well-connected with the local police station, maintaining close relationships with both junior and senior officers stationed at the hospital’s police outpost. According to a source at the hospital, he frequently collaborated with a particular junior officer to run this operation, ensuring that the money collected from desperate patients was distributed through an organized network. The TOI report stated that although Ghosh was technically part of the police welfare cell and his role at RG Kar involved assisting those admitted to the hospital, he had no official responsibilities at the police outpost. Nonetheless, he visited the outpost regularly and was heavily involved in various dubious activities. He was reportedly “at the centre of a racket involving touts who charged patients for various unethical services, such as securing multiple visiting cards, hospital beds, and priority in medical tests”.

The TOI report further provided that a source at the hospital revealed that Ghosh would target well-off patient relatives at RG Kar Hospital, luring them to nearby nursing homes by promising better treatment, often claiming that the same hospital doctors would treat them there. Additionally, he frequently boasted about his connections with senior Kolkata Police officers, even going so far as to pressure a district reserve officer to secure him a spot in the fourth battalion barracks at Bidhannagar.

Additionally, the report stated that Ghosh was known for name-dropping influential police officers to get what he wanted. He was also accused of riding a motorcycle with “KP” (Kolkata Police) written on the visor and duping young job seekers by promising them jobs in the police force in exchange for a fee. Reportedly, one source alleged that he took over Rs 2 lakh from a hawker, promising him a position as a civic volunteer.

Other than this, since the news of the incident at RG Kar Hospital broke out, which reportedly serves over 3,500 patients daily, the overworked trainee doctors gave their narration of how some of the doctors are required to work up to 36 hours straight at a hospital that lacked designated restrooms. As a result, they were forced to rest in a seminar room on the third floor.

 Calcutta High Court expresses concern while shifting probe to CBI:

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered that the criminal investigation into the incident be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), signalling the case’s importance at a national level. A division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya questioned the state government after it was revealed that the police had initially recorded the deceased’s death as a suicide, which was communicated to her parents, who were made to wait for hours before being allowed to see her body.

As per a report in the LiveLaw, during the proceedings, the bench had remarked “If it is a fact that somebody called the parent and told them that it was sickness and then suicide, there is a miss somewhere. If this is true that they were made to wait and mislead then the administration is loitering with them. You cannot treat the deceased like this. There should be more sensitivity. Suppose the doctors are made parties and they claim that the principal blamed the deceased and said she had psychosis, it is very serious. By now a statement should have been recorded from the principal.”

According to LiveLaw, the Court expressed concern over these events, particularly noting that if the principal resigned due to moral responsibility, it was troubling that he was reassigned to another position within 12 hours. The Court questioned, “No man is above law, how did he step down and then be rewarded with another responsibility? The principal is the guardian of all doctors working there, if he doesn’t show any empathy who will show? He should be at home not working anywhere. So powerful that a government counsel is representing him? The principal will not function. Let him go on long leave. Otherwise, we will pass an order.”

Later that day, the division bench issued an order expressing concern that the police had registered the case as an unnatural death. The Court criticized the principal and the college authorities for not taking any substantial steps to aid the investigation and ordered that the principal be placed on indefinite leave until further notice. Recognizing that under normal circumstances, a report from the state police would be sufficient, the Court acknowledged the unusual nature of the case and agreed with the victim’s parents that any further delay could result in the destruction of evidence.

In its order, the bench noted that “The parents of the victim have an apprehension that if the investigation is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. Therefore they pray for extraordinary relief. One more disturbing aspect is that a case of unnatural death was registered. It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. There has been no significant progress in the investigation. The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim’s parents that evidence would be destroyed. Therefore, we transfer the investigation to the CBI to do justice between parties and to inspire public confidence.” (Para 30)

Thus, the bench of the Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation to the CBI and listed the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

The complete order can be read here.

Notably, a special CBI team from Delhi had reached Kolkata on August 14 to investigate the rape-murder case.

कोलकाता के मेडिकल कॉलेज में दाखिल होती #CBI की टीम. लोगों ने लगाए “We want justice” के नारे.
#KolkataDctorDeath #BengalHorror
#JusticeForMoumita pic.twitter.com/lJwZTuqjeF

— Arvind Sharma (@sarviind) August 14, 2024

Protests by doctors:

In the city of Kolkata, following the news of the horrific crime, the medical community erupted in protests. On August 12, around 6 p.m., thousands of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and others gathered at RG Kar Medical College, holding placards demanding justice for the victim. The protesting doctors, who were calling for the resignation of the principal and other senior officials of the college, were further outraged by the decision to reassign Sandip Ghosh to another institution immediately after his resignation. They vowed not to allow Ghosh to assume his new role as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC). Later, doctors and students from CNMC organized a rally to RG Kar, demanding Ghosh’s removal from his new post.

ON DUTY RESIDENT DOCTOR WAS RAPED & MURDERED IN COLLEGE SEMINAR HALL IN RG KAR MEDICAL COLLEGE, #Kolkata

Justice for Victim #justice #JusticeForMoumita #KolkataDoctorDeat #Udaipur #Rajasthan #DoctorDeath #DoctorsProtest pic.twitter.com/lXhrGj0n2m

— Nursing Student (@StudentNursing7) August 13, 2024

On the streets for justice. #kolkatahorror #RGKarHospital pic.twitter.com/rXFuIpvvhj

— Doctor (@DipshikhaGhosh) August 14, 2024

On August 12, several government-run hospitals initiated an indefinite strike. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association also called for a nationwide suspension of elective services in hospitals starting Monday.

Protests spread across India on August 13, with over 8,000 government doctors in Maharashtra halting work in all hospital departments except for emergency services, as reported by local media. In Kolkata, emergency services were suspended on August 13 in almost all government-run medical college hospitals, according to state official NS Nigam, who told Reuters that the government was evaluating the impact on health services.

In New Delhi, junior doctors wearing white coats protested outside a major government hospital, holding posters that read, “Doctors are not punching bags.” Top hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital Dwarka, PGIMS, and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, continued their strike on August 14. The management of these hospitals announced they would maintain their strike, demanding legislation to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.

In light of horrific incident involving brutal murder & assault of our colleague in Kolkata, @AIIMSRDA have made difficult decision to suspend all elective services until justice is served
We urgently call for enhanced safety measures in workplace to protect us.#RGKarHospital pic.twitter.com/bxNkoGypO8

— Dr RishiRS (AIIMS ND) (@DrRishiRajSinh1) August 12, 2024

Similar protests affected hospital services in other cities, such as Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, and in Goa.

Yesterday Biggest Massive protest of AIIMS #RISHIKESH Doctors in support of #RGKAR medical college Victim ..

Demands – Quick strict actions on Culprits & Central protection act for avoid further such inhuman Crime .#KolkataDoctorDeath #kolkatahorror #Nirbhaya2 #medtwitter pic.twitter.com/XAlAoVg3ma

— Indian Doctor (@Indian__doctor) August 14, 2024

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest doctors’ organization, sent a letter to Health Minister JP Nadda on August 13, highlighting the “pedestrian working conditions, inhuman workloads, and workplace violence” that healthcare workers face. They met with him for talks later that day.

In response to the widespread unrest, India’s medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission, issued a notice to all medical institutions, calling for the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and the provision of adequate security staff. The notice, reported by newspapers on Tuesday, also recommended that all campus corridors be well-lit in the evening to ensure the safety of staff moving around the premises.

Protests by citizenry:

Women in Kolkata and across Bengal will take to the streets late night today in a massive show of defiance, marching against the violence that took one of their own. Women in thousands are preparing to take part in a powerful ‘Reclaim the Night’ march at midnight on August 14. This march, set to unfold just before India’s Independence Day on August 15, is a demand for the “independence to live in freedom and without fear”. The march will span at least 45 locations across Bengal, with the movement growing as more people from the suburbs join in, The Telegraph reported. Slogans like “Justice for RG Kar,” “The Night is Ours,” “Reclaim the Night,” and “Meyera Raat er Dhokhol Koro” (Women, seize the night) are being echoed across social media, and shared widely on WhatsApp, as a rallying cry for justice and change.

Posters detailing the protest locations are flooding social media, with new spots being added as more and more voices join the chorus. Men are also stepping up in large numbers, standing in solidarity with the women who are reclaiming their streets. Till now, there have been reports of several prominent figures, including actor Swastika Mukherjee, actor Churni Ganguly, and filmmaker Pratim D. Gupta, urging people to join the midnight gathering at whichever location is most accessible to them. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given the city police a deadline until Sunday to complete the investigation. She has assured the victim’s family that if they desire, the state government will recommend a CBI probe, affirming that the government has nothing to hide.

 

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A post shared by Progressive Doctors’ League (@pdl_india)

The call for justice is not confined to the state of West Bengal. As the messages about the march spread on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, political leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties have pledged their support to this unprecedented, and thus far apolitical, movement. Demonstrations are already taking place in Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Protesters stand united, holding placards that read, “Justice needs to be served,” “No duty without security,” and “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

This wave of protests, marked by both anguish and determination, is a cry from the heart of a society that refuses to be silenced. It is a demand for safety, respect, and the right to live without fear, resonating far beyond the West Bengal.

pic.twitter.com/zjTi3Yheag

— Subhashini Ali (@SubhashiniAli) August 14, 2024

Bangalore, show up pic.twitter.com/LcoAzkqTNy

— Disha Ravi 𓆉 (@disharavii) August 14, 2024

Related:

India Cries for Freedom!

India’s flawed rape laws: a betrayal of equality

Bilkis Bano Case: Supreme Court strikes down remission for gang rape and murder convicts, citing flagrant violation of rule of law

Horrifying instances of rape in MP and Mahrashtra, accused booked under POCSO

The post India’s cry for justice: The brutal Kolkata rape-murder of a young doctor has ignited nationwide protests on the eve of the 78th Independence’s Day appeared first on SabrangIndia.

India cries for Freedom from the destruction of the country’s democratic ethos and framework! The V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg in its ‘Democracy Report 2024’ says that India is “among the ‘worst autocratisers’ in recent years. Adding that, “autocratisation process has been well documented, including gradual but substantial deterioration of freedom of expression, compromising independence of the media, crackdowns on social media, harassments of journalists critical of the government, as well as attacks on civil society; the “anti-pluralist” BJP government has used laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism to silence critics. The Modi-led government also continues to suppress the freedom of religion rights. Intimidation of political opponents and people protesting government policies, as well as silencing of dissent in academia are now prevalent” India has also been named in the top 10 autocratising countries in the last 10 years; it is placed 104 in the Liberal Democracy Index (LDI).

India cries for Freedom from want, poverty, hunger and deprivation: millions in our country, still live below the poverty line. The country still does not have any official relevant, reliable updated data with regard to poverty. There are at least five different estimates of the number of poor people in India, which put the number of poor in India between 35 million and 375 million; between 2.5% of the population to 29.5%, based on different estimates between 2014 and 2022. In the 2023.The Global Hunger Index, ranked India 111 out of 125 countries with a level of hunger that is serious.

India cries for Freedom from the throttling of the right of free speech and expression. Most print and electronic media are ‘godified’ (lapdog). India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index 2024, was 159 out of the 180 countries ranked. The ‘Reporters without Borders’ (RSF), ranks countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists. The report declares India as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media. The right to dissent is fundamental to a vibrant democracy. Media personnel who take a visible and vocal stand for truth and justice are harassed, incarcerated and even killed! What is happening in Parliament (both in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) is there for all to see. The Speakers of these Houses, make every effort to curb, to mute, and to stop members of the Opposition from voicing the legitimate cries of the people.

India cries for Freedom for Human rights defenders (HRDs), right to information seekers and others who take a stand for truth, justice and human rights. They are at the receiving end of a vicious and vindictive system. They are intimidated, incarcerated and even killed!  These include those in the Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case; Jesuit Father Stan Swamy is a case in point. He worked and lived for the legitimate rights of the tribal people. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 8 October 2020 and died on 5 July 2021 at the age of 84, whilst still incarcerated. His death is regarded as ‘institutional murder’. Highly committed activists like Teesta Setalvad, Arundhati Roy, Prof. G. N. Saibaba, Umar Khalid, Medha Patkar and others, have false cases foisted on them and are victims of vendetta. NGOs who work with the poor and powerless, are denied their FCRA licence.

India cries for Freedom from the demonization, discrimination and denigration of minorities. This is happening today with frightening regularity. Minorities (particularly Muslims Christians and Sikhs) continue to be attacked and are at the receiving end of a communally polarised society. On  26 June, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken  whilst releasing the Annual Report on international religious freedom  of the US Government, noted that a wide array of violence against religious minorities were taking place in India saying, “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities” The USCIRF’s 2024 Annual Report recommended that  India be designated as a  Country of Particular Concern (CPC), for “engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief”. 

India cries for Freedom from the pillaging of the environment. Fragile ecosystems are being destroyed. The landslides in Wayanad, the terrible flooding in Delhi and several other so-called ‘natural’ calamities all over the country, show how precious little has been done to address serious environmental concerns. Government projects favour their crony capitalist friends, providing them with a license to loot, plunder and rape the environment; the continued use of fossil fuels is a case in point. The Environment is in a shambles! In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, India was ranked 176 out of 180 countries! The destruction of precious forest lands and bio-diversity, to cater to so-called ‘development’ projects, contribute immensely to the climatic changes one experiences today. The 2023 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, provides that the de-reservation of reserved forests, use of forest land for non-forest purpose, assigning forest land by way of lease or otherwise to private entity, precious water bodies in the urban areas are land-filled, causing floods. Most major rivers in the country are polluted; there is over-dependence on fossil fuel. Even today, coal blocks are auctioned to crony capitalist friends of the Government. Sections of the corporate sector and particularly the mining mafia–have no qualms of conscience, in depleting precious natural resources, with the sole desire of profiteering.

India cries for Freedom from draconian laws and other anti-people legislation which have been promulgated without due deliberations and debate, with scant respect to the legitimate rights of the citizens. These include the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A regarding Jammu and Kashmir, , the anti-farmer laws ( currently on hold), the four (anti-worker) labour codes, the anti- conversion laws, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 , the Uniform Civil Code passed by the State of Uttarakhand, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ report; the three new criminal laws, the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ the ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,’ and the ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’  which have been made  effective from 1 July 2024.

India cries for Freedom for quality and relevant education. Many (particularly those from the poor and deprived sections of society) still do not have the possibilities to study and the opportunities for a meaningful career and a bright future. They are straddled with a National Education Policy that does not prepare them for life; they are subject to leakages in the NEET; hundreds of students and other youth, commit suicide because of the frustrations they are subject to.  The many millions of those who want to go to study abroad, is a case in point. Education in India, it is evident, does not sufficiently prepare ‘men and women for others.

India cries for Freedom from unemployment. The youth of the country continue to grapple with  unemployment , with nearly 83 percent of the jobless population belonging to this demographic, as per the India Employment Report 2024 jointly published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) The report (released on 27 March 2024)underscores a concerning trend where the proportion of educated young people, possessing at least secondary education, among the total unemployed youth has nearly doubled from 35.2 percent in 2000 to 65.7 percent in 2022.

India cries for Freedom from corruption. Corruption is today the new normal in India and is mainstreamed; practically nothing can be done, without greasing the palms of those at the control wheels. Politicians from the opposition parties are easily bought up. The ruling regime has made mindboggling amounts of money through demonetisation and the sale of electoral bonds (EB). The last General Elections were also about the manipulation of the EVMs and the fact that in about 70 Constituencies, the ruling regime won only because of their corrupt practices. The most recent Hindenburg Research revelations show that investments by the SEBI Chairperson have been used to amass large stakes in Adani Group companies in violation of SEBI regulations. Transparency International ranked India, 93 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024. The BJP regime under Modi must easily be the most corrupt, amongst the world democracies today.

India cries for Freedom for all Constitutional and independent authorities/bodies. These are patently meant to be non-partisan, objective, impartial, transparent and just! These include   the Election Commission (ECI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Income Tax Department, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the police and even sections of the judiciary. Most of those who belong to these bodies, today seem to have lost all qualms of conscience and are blatantly one-sided, corrupt, compromised, corrupted, spinelessly toeing the diktats of their political masters.

India cries for Freedom for Vinesh Phogat. This woman today epitomises the resilience, the courage and the strength of all women of India. Together with some of her co-wrestlers, she took on the all-powerful don of India’s wrestling federation for his alleged misdeeds. The BJP did absolutely nothing to take a stand on behalf of the victims; they clearly sided with the perpetrator. Vinesh was singled out; despite her prowess she was almost denied a chance to compete in the Olympics. She showed her mettle there – beating the world’s best. She was disqualified before the final round: many questions asked are still being asked. Today she is India’s national heroine; but she has had to pay a price!

India cries for Freedom for the tribals of Manipur! Since May 2023, the tribals there, particularly the Kuki-Zo people, are victims of an insensitive, divisive and ruthless regime – who have sided openly with the perpetrators of this current spate of violence. Hundreds of tribals have been killed, many more injured, and thousands have fled Manipur or live in refugee camps. Their homes and earthly possessions have been destroyed; their lands taken away from them; even their places of worship have been razed to the ground. There is no political will on the part of the State and Central Governments to ensure peace in Manipur.

India cries for Freedom for all to live in dignity and equity, in harmony and peace, in truth and in justice, in acceptance of the other and in the celebration of pluralism; the people yearn for freedom to enhance the democratic ethos, Constitutional values and the secular fabric of the nation. For Freedom from untruth, deceit, lies and ‘feku-isms’. For Freedom from manipulated, selective and biased history. For  Freedom from hate and violence, from rape and killing, from extortion and corruption, from uniformity and monoculturalism, from authoritarianism and subjugation  Freedom for all: the Adivasi’s , Dalits and OBCs, for the minorities and the marginalised, for women and the other Genders, for the small farmers and the indigenous coastal people , for the casual labourers and the migrant workers,  for the excluded and the exploited They all  demand the freedom to be fearless and transparent citizens of our beloved land! As India yearns for that total freedom, we pray in the words of Tagore, from his ‘Gitanjali’ “into that heaven of freedom my Father, let my country awake!”

India cries for Freedom from every from of fear and insecurity. Fear seems to have paralysed large sections of the country. It is certainly not easy to deal with a brutal, vicious and vengeful regime. Though written in the late 19^th century and in the context of British colonialism, Rabindranath Tagore’s hard-hitting poem on ‘Freedom’ is an uncomfortable commentary of the reality and fears which grips India today

“Freedom from fear is the freedom

I claim for you, my motherland!

Freedom from the burden of the ages,

bending your head, breaking your back, blinding your eyes

to the beckoning call of the future;

Freedom from the shackles of slumber

where with you fasten yourself in night’s stillness,

mistrusting the star that speaks of truth’s adventurous paths;

freedom from the anarchy of destiny

whole sails are weakly yielded to the blind uncertain winds,

and the helm to a hand ever rigid and cold as death.

Freedom from the insult of dwelling in a puppet’s world,

where movements are started through brainless wires,

repeated through mindless habits,

where figures wait with patience and obedience

for the master of show,

to be stirred into a mimicry of life.”

India cries for Freedom, TODAY!!!

(Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist / writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com )

The post India Cries for Freedom! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Jammu

In Jammu, the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s tiranga rally on 15th August 2023 saw violent slogans and anti-Muslim sentiments as participants chanted slogans laden with violence against Muslims. Amidst the tricolour backdrop, chants of “Jab mulle kate jayenge, Ram Ram chilayenge” (When Muslims would be chopped, they would cry Ram Ram) rang out.

Location: Jammu
Date: August 15, 2023

Slogans calling for violence against Muslims were raised at Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s Tiranga rally.

“Jab Mulle kate Jayenge, Ram Ram Chilayenge (When Muslims would be ch0pped, they would cry Ram Ram),” the crowd chanted. pic.twitter.com/pOYOtzVSBY

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 17, 2023

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Similar sentiments echoed in Jaipur, Rajasthan, during a rally. Demonstrators were caught on video chanting, “Hindustan mein rehna hoga, Jai Sri Ram kehna hoga” (To live in India, one must chant Jai Sri Ram). Disturbingly, these slogans were raised in the presence of law enforcement officers – the police, and thus prompt questions about the role of authorities in quelling hate speech. The video surfaced online on 16th August, 2023.

“Hindustan mein rehna hoga, Jai Sri Ram kehna hoga” these slogans were raised on #TirangaYatra in the presence of police.

This video said to be from #Rajasthan‘s #Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/72AF365wgQ

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) August 16, 2023

Noida, UP

In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, prominent figure Suresh Chavhanke delivered a divisive speech, targeting the Muslim community. Chavhanke questioned their voting rights, implying that Muslims are a suspicious group and cannot be trust as they lack patriotism. He further alleged that the judiciary’s interference was biased against Hindu personal law, while Muslim personal law remained untouched.

Chavhanke clearly stated how one cannot gauge out how patriotic or nationalist a person is at heart, seeming to talk about Muslims, and he went on to say that even the ‘traitor’ has one vote, and even those who want India to be broken into “tukde tukde” (pieces) have one vote.  He also attacked the judiciary and talked about how Muslim personal law has never faced interference, but Hindu personal law always been facing interference by ‘nyaya palika’ (judiciary).” The video surfaced on 17th August, 2023.

Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Date: August 15, 2023

Hate monger Suresh Chavhanke delivered hate speech against Muslims, questioning their voting right. He also attacked the judiciary. pic.twitter.com/4yC4sHnhJM

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 17, 2023

Sirsi, Karnataka

On August 14th, in Sirsi, Karnataka, Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV) leader Jagadish Karanth’s speech took a dark turn as he openly called for violence against Muslims. In his inflammatory address, suggesting that those demanding partition be dealt with through violent means, drawing widespread condemnation, he told the crowd “They (Muslims) are again demanding partition; these people should be shot or chopped .”

Location: Sirsi, Karnataka

Date: August 14, 2023

Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV) leader Jagadish Karanth delivered an extremely hateful speech against Muslims and gave an open call to violence.

“They [Muslims] are again demanding partition; these people should be shot or… pic.twitter.com/i8I9zmxWKu

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 17, 2023

Kaithal, Haryana

Meanwhile, at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event on Jind Road, Kaithal, Haryana, Sadhvi Sushri Amrita Didi stoked the flames of intolerance on 15th August, 2023. Calling for an economic boycott of Muslims, she urged attendees to exclusively avail services provided by Hindus, regardless of whether it may cost them more. She stated, “There is still time, wakeup! Even if it may cost you loss, still only pay for services from Hindus!”

“It is 2023! If any India’s daughter is put on the street and forcibly taken by some monster, Rakshasa, vidharmi, or rapist, then she is shot when she refuses him.”

Location: Jind Road, Kaithal, Haryana
Date: August 15, 2023

At the Vishwa Hindu Parishad event, Sadhvi Sushri Amrita Didi demonized Muslims and called for their economic boycott. pic.twitter.com/DNVYvyTmAh

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 17, 2023

A public hate tracking resource led by CJP revealed new insights earlier this year into Hindutva’s evolving patterns in India. While communal riots have decreased, the focus has shifted towards fostering communalism through hate speech, conferences, economic boycotts, and mob violence targeting Dalits and Muslims. Rajasthan had 44 incidents, mainly hate speech and communal intimidation, involving VHP and Bajrang Dal. In Karnataka, there were 31 incidents, including communal violence and election hate speech. Haryana witnessed 25 incidents, featuring cow vigilantism, communal violence, and hate speech. Gujarat saw 19 incidents, with prominent hate speeches. Delhi recorded 18 incidents, including hate speech and communal violence.

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Intervention by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) was successful as nineteen dalit panchayat presidents hoisted the national flag for the first time on August 15, the 76th Independence Day.

At the Senthangudi village in the Pudukkottai district, caste Hindus prevented the dalit Panchayat President from hoisting the national flag at the Keezhaiyur government school.

According to a TNUEF survey report released on August 11, in 20 village panchayats, dalit presidents were not allowed to hoist the national flag.

Following the report, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu wrote to all the district collectors in the state. He asked them to ensure that no elected leader of any local body is prevented from hoisting the national flag on Independence Day on the grounds of caste.

TNUEF’S ACTIVE INTERVENTION

After the report’s release, TNUEF followed up on the 20 village panchayats where the Scheduled Caste presidents were not allowed to hoist the flag.

Pudukkottai District Manjanviduthi Panchayat President Suresh Kannan hoisted the national flag for the first time with state protection.

“Even the superintendent of police (SP) was present at the venue to prevent untoward activities,” said Chellakannu, President of TNUEF.

In Vadakuchipalayam village, Vikravandi Block in Villupuram District, the gram sabha secretary, who belongs to an MBC community, tried to prevent Kaliyaperumal, Scheduled Caste panchayat president, from hoisting the flag.

“The gram sabha secretary said there was no flag pole in the village; thereby, he cannot hoist the flag. But, higher authorities intervened and ensured Independence Day was celebrated without any hassle,” said Sankaran, TNUEF leader in Villupuram.

He added, “the circular sent by TNUEF has been very fruitful. The government immediately acted on it”.

Speaking to NewsClick, Samuel Raaj, general secretary of the TNUEF, said, “upon the findings of the survey, we proactively intervened to prevent caste-based discrimination against the civic body presidents with hoisting the national flag.”

DALIT CHIEF ‘INSULTED’

In the Pudukkottai district, the Senthangudi village panchayat president Tamizharasan could not hoist the flag at the Keezhaiyur Government High School.

“Upon pressure from caste Hindus, the Headmaster (HM) of the school requested the panchayat President not to hoist the national flag in the government school,” said President of TNUEF Chellakannu to NewsClick.

He further said, “As soon as we got the information, we intervened; we met the Alangudi Tehsildar and urged him to ensure that the chief hoists the flag. But, he said, ‘there is no norm that the Panchayat chief has to hoist the national flag in the neighbourhood government school’.”

However, it has been the practice for the Panchayat President to hoist the national flag on Independence Day at the Keezhaiyur government school.

“We demanded the Tehsildar to give it to us in writing that there is no such norm, but he refused to do so,” said Chellakannu.

“The HM invited the Panchayat President to the school on Independence Day, but the HM himself hoisted the flag and insulted the President”, he added.

The TNUEF has urged action against the HM and the caste Hindus who were behind the discriminatory act.

TNUEF SURVEY

The TNUEF survey was carried out in 24 districts, covering 386 village panchayats. It was based on a questionnaire and was implemented by 400 trained volunteers.

According to the survey, in 22 village panchayats, dalit presidents were not allowed to sit on chairs, while in 42 panchayats, they were not allowed to have a name board. It also said that dalit presidents were not allowed to function independently.

The survey pointed out that in 17 panchayats, women dalit presidents were facing gender discrimination. Other issues highlighted include attacks/threats faced, disrespect, and bias shown by Union Councillors and government officials.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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 The official propaganda states that, “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of it’s people, culture and achievements. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on 12th March 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence and will end post a year on 15th August 2023” So as India completes a landmark seventy-five years of freedom – a platinum jubilee – the only question one needs to ask at this critical juncture of the country’s history is “whose freedom@75?”

Since March 2020, it has been a disastrous period for many: the pandemic COVID-19 played havoc with lives and livelihoods of millions. The victims, in good measure, were (and continue to be!) the poor and the downtrodden; the marginalised and the minorities; the excluded and the exploited; the Adivasis and the Dalits; women and children; the small farmers and the migrant workers; other sub-altern and vulnerable sections of society. The economy is in a shambles. Inflation is on an upward spiral; the cost of fuel and other essential commodities have reached an all -time high. It is a bad time for human rights in India: in a systematic but brutal manner, the legitimate rights of people are not only denied but are crushed. To add to it, human rights defenders, and others who take a visible and vocal stand against for justice, against a regime which is anti-people, anti- Democracy and anti-Constitutional, are at the receiving end of a system which reeks of vendetta. All ask, “whose freedom@75?”

In the recent past, there are plenty of signs that democracy is slowly but systematically being dismantled in the country! Democratic values are being eroded and democratic space is shrinking! The V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg recently published its ‘Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing Nature?’. India’s performance is dismal, with the report stating that, “an anti-plural political party driving a country’s autocratisation.” India was ranked 93^rd in the LDI figuring in the bottom 50% of countries. It has slipped further down in the Electoral Democracy Index, to 100; and even lower in the Deliberative Component Index, at 102.In South Asia, India is ranked below Sri Lanka (88), Nepal (71), and Bhutan (65) and above Pakistan (117). Delivering the inaugural speech recently at the Justice S.B. Sinha Memorial Lecture on ‘Life of a Judge’, Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana observed that in absence of judicial review, people’s faith in the Constitution of India would have diminished. He added, “after the end of the 2nd World War, it was clear for modern democracies, that law is not a mere one-way projection of authority. Renowned scholars have therefore argued that a law cannot really be classified as a ‘law’ unless it imbibes within itself the ideals of justice and equity. Any enactment devoid of the object of substantive fairness can never be justified on the grounds of meeting procedural fairness alone.” Those who cherish democracy ask, “whose freedom@75?”

Human rights defenders, dissenters and others who take a visible and vocal stand for truth and justice are at the receiving end of a fascist regime that brooks no dissent. A case in point is those arrested in the Bhima- Koregaon conspiracy case’ where thirteen are still languishing in prison (for more than three years now), under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). There are many others who are incarcerated for no reason and even denied bail including those who protested against the CAA. Eminent citizens like Teesta Setalvad, R.B. Sreekumar, Sanjiv Bhatt, Umar Khalid and others are imprisoned and denied bail just because they spoke out against the fascist regime! On 2 August, the Allahabad High Court rejected the bail plea of journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested in October 2021, booked under the UAPA, in connection with the Hathras rape case. Interestingly, on 30 June, the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana while delivering the17th Justice PD Desai Memorial Trust lecture, spoke at length about the importance of dissent and accountability in a democracy! Human rights defenders challenge “whose freedom@75?”

The rights of minorities are being crushed: it keeps happening at a frightening regularity. Muslims and Christians are at the receiving end of venomous hate speeches, constant denigration and even attacks. From the verdict on the Babri Masjid to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A regarding Kashmir, the communal divide has become wider. The ‘Love Jihad’ law of UP is clearly focussed on a Muslim boy marrying a Hindu girl. There has been a spate of unconstitutional anti-conversion laws in different States; clearly a bogey and which certainly violates the fundamental rights of a citizen. The Gujarat Government wants the Bhagwad Gita to be taught in schools and that all primary schools must do a ‘pujan’ to ‘Bharat Mata’ these days!  In Assam the latest is ‘flood jihad’ – when Muslims are held responsible (and even arrested) for the torrential rains and floods in the State. In Madhya Pradesh recently, in a mob lynching incident for alleged cattle smuggling, a Muslim was killed and two others seriously injured! According to a draft Constitution for a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ prepared by a group of Hindu seers and released on 12 August, the minorities (Muslims and Christians) will not be giving voting rights in the proposed ‘Hindu Rashtra’! So naturally the minorities demand “whose freedom@75?”

The environment is being destroyed and with that, the rights of all the citizens. The Environment Performance Index 2022, by the World Economic Forum, has ranked India last among 180 countries on the list. Sometime ago, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) gave a green signal to more than forty projects without the mandatory environmental clearances. Most of these projects favour their rich crony capitalist friends literally giving them a license to loot, plunder and rape the environment and much more! The felling of thousands of trees and the destruction of a natural sanctuary in Mollem, brought thousands of Goans out on the streets. The aim of the project was to build a double track railway line for the shipping of coal for the Corporation of one of the country’s henchmen.; the Western Ghats and the Aravalli Hills; the metro shed in the Aarey forest; the Bullet train project being re-started; the building of a dam in Dibang; the selling of coal mines to private companies; the NCR Draft Regional Plan 204, threatens the quality of millions of people living in the 25 districts of the 4 NCR States. The Government does not care and is on a downward spiral: destroying our precious environment and biodiversity! Environmentalists and other concerned citizens are aghast and say, “whose freedom@75?”

The ‘World Inequality Report 2022’ by the World Inequality Lab emphatically states that, India is now among the most unequal countries in the world. “The average national income of the Indian adult population is INR 204,200. While the bottom 50% earns INR 53,610, the top 10% earns more than 20 times more (INR 1,166,520). While the top 10% and top 1% hold respectively 57% and 22% of total national income, the bottom 50% share has gone down to 13%. India stands out as a poor and very unequal country, with an affluent elite.” The report also talks about stark gender inequality in India. As per the report, the share of female labour income is a meagre 18 per cent. This value is one of the lowest in the world. Disparities are growing in India at a rapid space: the poor are becoming poorer even as the few rich amass a scandalous amount of wealth. Those who are at the receiving end of a corrupt, unjust and unequal system categorically demand, “whose freedom@75?”

 The country needs to hand its head in shame where freedom of speech and expression are concerned. India’s rank in the ‘World Press Freedom Index 2022’ slid down to 150 out of the 180 countries that were ranked. The report, published by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF-Reporters Without Borders), ranks countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists. India’s fact file in the report declares India as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media. “With an average of three or four journalists killed in connection with their work every year, Journalists are exposed to all kinds of physical violence including police violence, ambushes by political activists, and deadly reprisals by criminal groups or corrupt local officials. Supporters of Hindutva, the ideology that spawned the Hindu far right, wage all-out online attacks on any views that conflict with their thinking. Terrifying coordinated campaigns of hatred and calls for murder are conducted on social media, campaigns that are often even more violent when they target women journalists, whose personal data may be posted online as an additional incitement to violence. The situation is also still very worrisome in Kashmir, where reporters are often harassed by police and paramilitaries, with some being subjected to so-called “provisional” detention for several years.”  Those who value free speech cry out “whose freedom@75?”

The rights of our Adivasis are systematically being eroded. The areas which they have inhabited for centuries are used for industrialisation and commercial purposes, mining is rampant for profiteering of the mafia, the so -called ‘development’ works and other mega-projects are geared to making the non-Adivasis richer! Their precious jal-jungle-jameen is being taken away from them. More than two million of Adivasis and other forest-dwellers still remain at risk of forced displaced and loss of livelihoods after their claims to stay on in their habitats under the Forest Rights Act have been rejected. Many Adivasis from the Kevadia area (which is around India’s latest white elephant – a gross statue in the name of Sardar Patel) were made to leave their homes overnight. The anti-Adivasi river-linking project in Gujarat has been temporarily stalled due to protests. Adivasis are being denied their legitimate rights under PESA (the Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996) -a law enacted by the Government of India for ensuring self-governance through traditional Gram Sabhas. Fr. Stan Swamy struggled for the identity dignity and the rights of the Adivasis and was ultimately the victim of an institutional murder. Adivasis are becoming more vocal when they say, “whose freedom@75?”

The casual labourers, migrant workers, small farmers, slum-dwellers and unemployed, comprise a large section of India’s population; most of them are poor. They have to eke out a living to survive! They live on the peripheries of society and lack basic amenities- like clean drinking water and sanitation. The anti-worker labour codes, the anti- farmer legislation (now kept in cold storage), the raw deal given to migrant workers are all symptomatic of a sick system which caters only to a particular segment of people! In the 2021 Global Hunger Index, India was ranked 101 out of the 116 countries. This is abominable! With a score of 27.5, India has a level of hunger that is serious. Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021(MPI) is in line with the global index released by the United Nations each year. According to the Global MPI 2021, India is ranked 66 out of 109 countries. The poor and the hungry, the excluded and the exploited ask “whose freedom@75?”

 It is not only the human rights defenders who are targeted – but anyone who opposes the Government in any way including the opposition leaders. So, the Government introduces and uses draconian legislation like the ‘Prevention of Money Laundering Act’. In an op-ed in the Indian Express (29 July 2022) well-known intellectual Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes, ‘By upholding PMLA, SC puts its stamp on Kafka’s law. The money laundering Act is opaque and draconian, gives state arbitrary powers over citizens. Now, it has the SC’s approval’. Mehta firmly states, “So imagine a law that is Kafkaesque in its opacity. An investigation commences against you. Some vague ground of it is shared with you, but you are completely in the dark about the Enforcement Case Report (the analogue of an FIR). Or, you are summoned and you do not even know if you are being summoned as a witness or as an accused. Nor are the full grounds of arrest shared with you. Now imagine further that you apply for bail. You are considered such a threat to the state that bail cannot be granted without hearing the prosecution and you are required to prove your innocence to get bail. Now further imagine that the definition of crime under this Act is almost infinitely elastic — what counts as money laundering crimes include everything in the kitchen sink. The sovereign has immense latitude to define what counts as the relevant crime. It can also in a classic instance of rule by law change the presumption of innocence”. The way citizens are being subject to this draconian law is there for all to see! So, “whose freedom@75?”

A few days ago, a well-known school in Vadodara had planned a field trip, for kindergarten children to a mosque in the city. All the parents (mainly Hindu) had given a written voluntary consent to this trip. However, the ‘Bajrang Dal’ vehemently protested against it forcing the principal to cancel the trip. One of the parents said, “My daughter was very excited for this trip and we were even telling her about a mosque as she has never been there before… It is only a field trip and as parents, we have chosen to support the school that is trying to teach children the values of harmony and unity. There was no pressure on parents to send children to any activity or field trip”.

That sums it all! Freedom is being throttled in India – at every possible level! Millions of Indians are still not free! That is the sad and painful reality. It was not without reason that Tagore wrote long years ago, “Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake!”  If we truly want to celebrate this land mark event, we all first need to ask “whose freedom@75?”  and start doing something substantial and meaningful to change this serious and pathetic reality immediately!

 (Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, justice, reconciliation and peace activist / writer. 

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Three people allegedly intimidated and physically assaulted a Muslim man who attempted to celebrate Independence Day in Bagpat’s Ranchad village, reported the Indian Express. The accused also tore apart the tricolour the man was trying to hoist during the incident.

The assailants issued death threats to the individual identified as Babu Khan, and were reportedly chanting “pro-Pakistan” slogans. According to local news, Khan approached the local police to lodge a complaint, but was turned away.

Bagpat Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Durgesh Mishra told SabrangIndia that an inquiry is being conducted into the incident. However, authorities failed to confirm whether an FIR has been filed regarding the incident yet. The concerned police official is yet to confirm the same.

On Monday, Khan had gone to the SDM’s office with a memorandum. He allegedly threatened to set himself on fire in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence in Lucknow, if “those responsible for the attack were not arrested soon.”

The hate-riddled month of August

Such attacks on Muslims are unfortunately not new in India, let alone Uttar Pradesh. Already within the last fortnight, several unsettling hate crimes have been reported in the country.

On August 12, three men were arrested in Kanpur for assaulting a 45-year-old Muslim man while chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. However, the police released the accused the very next day citing “court orders” to release those charged with bailable offences. This despite a video showing the young daughter of the victim clinging to her father during the incident while begging for his life, going viral on social media.

Days before this incident, multiple right-wing groups assembled in the very national capital of India to chant communal slogans against the Muslim community on August 8. This mob gathered near Jantar Mantar, a short distance away from the Delhi Police headquarters. Yet shockingly, the FIR charged in this case spoke of “unknown persons” in spite of widely circulated videos showing the faces of the people at the gathering.

Similarly, earlier this month the All Dwarka Residents Federation (ADRF) wrote to the Delhi Lt-Governor Anil Bajlal asking him to cancel the land allotment made for a Haj House in Sector 22. ADFR’s President Ajit Swami had at that time told SabrangIndia that such a building should be made using funds sourced from the Muslim community rather than the taxpayers’ money. Meanwhile the letter cited “law and order” concerns. When asked to elaborate, Swami had said that traffic and parking issues can lead to such violence.

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At an Independence day celebration at the Supreme Court on Sunday, August 15, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, said the Indian Parliament was seeing a “sorry state of affairs” adding that “there was no clarity of laws” being enacted. This, according to the CJI, was leading to “a lot of inconvenience”. 

According to news reports, Chief Justice Ramana who was speaking at a flag-hoisting ceremony, also said that once there used to be wise and constructive debates in Parliament but now there “was lack of quality in the discussions being held while enacting laws”. According to the CJI this kind of a situation arises when “when intellectuals and professionals like lawyers were not present in the House.”

“If we look at our freedom fighters, many of them were also in the legal fraternity. The first members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were filled with lawyers’ community,” Chief Justice Ramana said at an event to mark the Independence Day at the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Bar Association conducting an event to celebrate 75th Independence Day.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, SG Tushar Mehta, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh @vikassinghSrAdv attending the event.#IndependenceDayIndia2021 #IndependenceDay2021 pic.twitter.com/yfZJzefi3w

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 15, 2021

The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana hoisting the tricolour in the Supreme Court compound on the 75th Independence Day.#IndependenceDay2021 #IndependenceDayIndia #IndianFlag pic.twitter.com/YIaF0KNbxH

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 15, 2021

This is a strong message from the CJI, the second such message this month. Recently he had at an event organised by the National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) called out the threat to human rights and bodily integrity at police stations. He had said “custodial torture and other police atrocities are problems which still prevail in our society. Inspite of constitutional declarations and guarantees, lack of effective legal representation at the police stations is a huge detriment to the arrested and detained persons”. He had added that the dissemination of information about the constitutional right to legal aid is significant in keeping police excesses in check.

The CJI’s statement on August 15, came in the wake of the  abrupt end of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, two two days ahead of schedule, and the repeated disruptions in both the Houses. He was quoted in multiple news reports saying, “If you see debates which used to take place in Houses in those days, they used to be very wise, constructive… Now, (it is) a sorry state of affairs…There is no clarity in laws. It is creating a lot of litigation and loss to the government as well as inconvenience to the public.” 

The CJI added, there was “no clarity in laws. We don’t know for what purpose the laws are made. In the absence of quality debate, we are unable to fathom the intent and object behind the new law: This is what happens if intellectuals and professionals like lawyers are not there in the Houses.”

Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju reacted to the CJI’s speech and blamed the Opposition for the ruckus, and lack of debates in Parliament.

What’s more shocking is that there are chest-thumping by opposition MPs who openly boasted that they had blocked & stopped Parliament Session. They behaved very rudely, resorted to physical force and used unparliamentary language, degrading the status of ‘Temple of Democracy’. https://t.co/87Hk7D61l5

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 15, 2021

What’s more shocking is that there are chest-thumping by opposition MPs who openly boasted that they had blocked & stopped Parliament Session. They behaved very rudely, resorted to physical force and used unparliamentary language, degrading the status of ‘Temple of Democracy’. https://t.co/87Hk7D61l5

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 15, 2021

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For the first time ever on India’s Independence Day, the hashtag #ResignModi trended on Twitter on Sunday. This started soon after images of a massive ‘Resign Modi’ banner being unfurled from London’s iconic Westminster Bridge emerged on social media on August 15. The Westminster Bridge, like the Big Ben, is one of the most iconic landmarks of London and is recognised the world over. Images of the banner went viral as soon as they were posted on social media.

The unique public action was organised by “members of the diaspora and friends of India” who later released a media statement as well. According to the statement the  group also held a candlelight vigil outside the Indian High Commission to “remember all the victims of the Modi regime”.

Mukti Shah from South Asia Solidarity Group, who was one of the organisers, explained the reasons for the action saying, “As India’s 75th Independence Day dawns, the country’s secular Constitution lies in tatters. Communal and caste violence stalk the land. Thousands of political prisoners languish in  Covid-infected prisons, and hundreds of thousands of people are grieving the loss of their  loved ones as a result of the callous negligence and mismanagement of the Coronavirus  crisis. We, a group of diaspora members and friends standing in solidarity with the  people of India, are demanding the resignation of Narendra Modi, the chief architect of  this violence, injustice and criminal negligence”. 

Diaspora in London marked the dawning of India’s #IndependenceDay2021 with a huge #ResignModi banner dropped from Westminster Bridge – after their midnight vigil at the Indian High Commission. https://t.co/E1heUccp0Y

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) August 15, 2021

In May this year as well, #resignmodi was trending on social media for days, as citizens felt abandoned by the government when the Covid-19 crisis was at its worst. Soon enough that week over four lakh citizens signed a Change.org petition demanding that Prime Minister Modi must resign, taking responsibility for what many citizens, and the world media, are calling a gross mismanagement of the Covid-19 emergency. 

This year it was the international community of indian origin and others who have demanded the same citing various reasons inclusng the regimes silence over calls for “genocide of Muslims and normalization of mob lynching and pogroms”, agrigultual policies, Kashmir crisis and crimes against Dalit women and girls.

The August 15 statement issued by the diaspora in London also highlighted ten specific reasons why the groups had called for Prime Minister Modi’s resignation. The list they released may be read here:

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India is one of the first nations on the earth to practice Pluralism, i.e., respecting others’ otherness. While the Hindu ethos considers the world as one family, also known as Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, the Islamic, Christian, and other traditions also subscribe to the idea that we originated from a single couple. Together, these values ‘had’ contributed to India’s post-independence political stability. We have lost those values now.   

As a nation, we were bestowed with diversity; the characteristics of the entire world are contained in our country; India. Collectively we are Adivasis, Atheists, Bahais, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslims, Sikhs, Tribal, Zoroastrians, and every possible grouping. We are also Brown, Black, White, and Yellow. India ‘was’ indeed God’s own country until recently. 

India is also the first nation on earth where God has placed people of different faiths and races together as a model of co-existence. India has been a beacon of Pluralism, and now the divisiveness, discord, and distrust are causing social instability. 

How do we get out of this? 

On August 15, 2020, we will be celebrating the 74th Independence Day and we need to determine as a nation if we really love our motherland, or is it a political stunt? Our mother wants all of her children to get along with each other.   

Lord Krishna, blessings upon him, whose birth celebrations conclude this week, said, whenever adharma (chaos) takes over a people, I will emerge from among you to restore dharma (righteousness). We hope the time has come for that catalytic change.

We are not dictatorships or kingships, where an individual dictates how we behave and what we do. We are a democracy, and we decide how we want our nation to be.

The political leaders are good at coining new phrases without meaning a word of it. The slogan “Sab ka saath, sab ka Vikas aur sab ka Vishwas” is pragmatic and is the right attitude to bring prosperity to the nation. Thus far, it is nothing but a political slogan as the leadership has not brought the Indians together, nor has it earned their trust. 

The change begins with leadership.   

When an 8-year old child was raped, and her body was mutilated; when Tabrez Ansari was brutally murdered, and the video was circulated; and when Dalit girls were raped and hung on trees, Modi did not speak. When a church was vandalized, when attempts were made to evict Sikhs from their land as settlers, and about 120 such incidents, the man shamelessly remained silent. However, when he saw the national outrage, he paid lip service and spoke the words he did not mean.

If Modi were to speak after each incident, the chaos would subside, the lynching of fellow Indians will stop. All he has to say is I will not tolerate any Indian harassing a fellow Indian, and the violators will be punished severely, and follow through it. But will he?

The change also begins with our children.

As a parent, should you poison your children towards others? The answer should be no, but yet we do it. 

A doctor, a son of my friends’ friend, was a guest at my place for a few weeks while attending meetings related to his residency. At the end of his stay – he said, “I wish my parents had not poisoned me against Blacks, Muslims, Christians, and Jews; everything I have heard from them turned out to be false.” He continued, “I have lived in dorms with others, and now with you, they were plain wrong.”  

He agreed, when you are biased towards others, it affects your work performance. Your relationship with fellow workers will not be clean as you were poisoned against them. You keep a reserve with your fellow worker, and subconsciously, you don’t trust and share everything with them. That attitude reduces your contribution to your work, and you will not be able to serve your employer with full integrity. And when you go home, you are not giving 100 percent to your family either, and you are obsessed with your hatred towards the other. 

Would you hire someone like that to work for you? 

We have to reject the poison injected into us by our parents, teachers, and religious men. It takes away the joy of conflict-free living.  

Our attitudes need to re-align. 

As the cities become cosmopolitan, you will not find a place of work, worship, playground, school, restaurant, theater, and other areas of public gatherings where you will not see people of different faiths, and ethnicities are interacting, working, studying, intermingling, playing and even marrying each other.

These interactions are bound to create conflicts. We must prevent such disputes, so each Indian can live securely with his or her faith, culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. 

God created each one to be a unique being with our thumbprint, eye print, taste buds, religious buds, and DNA, and we have lost that ideal in the last few years. We cannot force others to do what we want without giving them the same right to tell us what they want us to be. 

A vast majority of us have heard ‘false’ things about others from our friends, news, social media, or our knowledge of others, and we instantly form opinions about others. As responsible individuals, we must strive to strip stereotyping and build pathways to ensure our society is functioning smoothly.

We need to reassure each other, loudly and clearly, that together as Indians, we must commit to safeguarding every Indian’s lifestyle, however different that maybe. Together as Indians, we must uphold, protect, defend, and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution, a guarantor of the way of life for each one of us.

Let me state this clearly, “My peace and tranquility hinges on the peace of people around me,” and “My safety is tied to the security of people around me.” It behooves me to build societies where all are secure; it guarantees my security and tension free life. 

As we learn to respect others’ otherness and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, conflicts fade, and solutions emerge. 

*Dr. Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, a news-maker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media, public, and policymakers. More at www.TheGhousediary.com 

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The post Shaping India’s future on her 74th Independence Day appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In India all those who dreamt of an independent India and survived to see it happen were jubilant and despite gloom due to communal violence celebrated this amazing day with great passion. However, there was one organization, RSS and its foot-soldiers who were not celebrating the birth of a democratic-secular India but mourning its birth.

DENIGRATION OF THE TRICOLOUR ON THE EVE OF INDEPENDENCE
RSS was ruthless in condemning the national Flag, the Tricolour which symbolized the united heroic freedom struggle for an inclusive India. On the eve of independence the RSS mouth-piece, Organizer, in its issue dated August 14, 1947, rejected this choice in the following harsh words:
“The people who have come to power by the kick of fate may give may give in our hands the tricolor but it will never be respected and owned by Hindus. The word three is in itself an evil, and a flag having three colours will certainly produce a very bad psychological effect and is injurious to a country.”­

RSS REJECTED DEMOCRATIC-SECULAR INDIA ON THE EVE OF INDEPENDENCE
The RSS organ Organizer in the same issue (14 August, 1947) rejected the whole concept of a composite nation in an editorial titled ‘Whither’:

“Let us no longer allow ourselves to be influenced by false notions of nationhood. Much of the mental confusion and the present and future troubles can be removed by the ready recognition of the simple fact that in Hindusthan only the Hindus form the nation and the national structure must be built on that safe and solid foundation, the nation itself must be built up of Hindus, on Hindu traditions, culture, ideas and aspirations…”

Thus Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Indians following other religions were ousted from the Indian nationhood.

RSS REJECTED DEMOCRATIC-SECULAR CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
The Constituent Assembly of India (CA) on November 26, 1949 adopted a model democratic-secular Constitution for India which was lauded nationally and internationally.

However, there was one significant exception. The Hindutva camp led by RSS which had consciously denigrated the anti-British freedom struggle mourned this historic achievement too. Three days after the CA passed Constitution the RSS’ English organ, Organizer on November 30, 1949, in an editorial, rejected it and demanded the archaic, anti-egalitarian’ Manusmriti, as the  constitution. It read:
“But in our Constitution, there is no mention of the unique constitutional development in ancient Bharat. Manu’s Laws were written long before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day, his laws as enunciated in the Manusmriti excite the admiration of the world and the world and elicit spontaneous obedience and conformity. But tour constitutional pundits that means nothing”.

It is to be noted that Manusmriti decrees a sub-human status to Sudras and women.

The tragedy of the present democratic-secular polity of India is that an organization which openly declared its hatred for the former is ruling India thus presenting the gravest threat to India from within.

Shamsul Islam is a retired Professor of University of Delhi.Email: notoinjustice@gmail.com
 

The post August 15, 1947- When Indians Were Celebrating Independence, RSS Was Mourning appeared first on SabrangIndia.