21st June, 2008: Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
The Group Fast against the Black Law (in Chhattisgarh) and for the release of Dr.Binayak Sen, Ajay T G and others entered its 6th day with 47 members of Ekta Parishad (Kanker) led by Mr. Ratneshwar Nath joining in the 24-hours dharna/chain fasting, 9 members of Baiga Mahapanchayat (Lormi) led by Ms. Rashmi Diwedi, while 9 members from Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (Jamul) led by Adv Sudha Bhardwaj completed their 24-hours fasting today. Others who joined in support and solidarity were Dr. Anurag Bhargava of Jan Swastha Abhiyaan (Ganiyari, Bilaspur), Dr. Ilina Sen, Ms. Chandrika and Ms. Nazma (Roopantar), Arundhati, Sirish Agraal, Jontahan, Anurag Tiwari (Asha Parivaar, Lucknow), besides regular volunteers from Chhattisgarh Bal Shramik Sangathan, Asha Parivaar & PUCL.
From Ekta Parishad, those who spoke at the occasion were Ratneshwar Nath, Shivrani ji, Dashrath Markaam, Aagantu Ram, Sunder Markam, Bishu Pardi. Others who spoke expressing solidarity with the cause were Dr. Anurag Bhargava of Jan Swastha Abhiyaan, Adv Gautam Bandopadhyay, Nadi Ghati Morcha. Mukti songs were sung by Chandrika of Roopantar, and Kumud Nandgave, Ramesh Dewangan of Chhattisgarh Bal Shramik Sangathan.
"State Government Demonstrates
TOTAL INDIFFERENCE & APATHY TOWARDS
DEMOCRATIC & PECEFUL PROTEST"
- Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Activist on Fast for 10 Days)
While the morale of those fasting for the past six days (Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Com Prem Narain Verma, Ram Prakash & Faizal Khan) was very high and hopeful, the BJP Government in the State demonstrated its total indifference and apathy towards democratic & peaceful method of protesting through Fasting. Expressing concern at the growing ruthless character of the State, Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Award Winner) said that the failure of the state to listen to the voices of peaceful protest and respond to the people's cries are the major reasons for resorting to extra-parliamentary means by the victims of injustice and violence.
Dr. Sandeep Pandey also referred to an article entitled "Gandhi! Tum Nikal Bhago Chadm Gandhivadiyon ke beech se" (Gandhi! You must escape from the midst of pseudo- Gandhians!) by Sri Vishwaranjan, Director General of Police of Chhattisgarh appearing inthe Hari Bhoomi daily published from Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. In this article, the DGP has poked fun at the Group Fasting and those participating in it.
He has also categorized Dr. Sandeep Pandey (a known Gandhian Social Worker given the prestigious Magsaysay Award who has led a very courageous people's struggle by peasants and women in Uttar Pradesh against Coca Cola, one of the Multinational Giants), Adv Kanak Tiwari (Senior Advocate, a Gandhian intellectual), and Himanshu (a Gandhian Social Worker of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram working among Tribals in Dantewara for the past three decades) as Pseudo-Gandhians. And, of course, he also drags into his "categorization as pseudo-Gandhians" all those who are opposed to "Salwa Judum" (a state sponsored militant movement arming citizens to combat naxalism), which is presently being investigated by the NHRC at the direction of the Supreme Court of India in a Writ Petition filed by Prof. Nandini Sunder & Others, who were part of Independent Citizens Initiative Team to study the uprooting and displacement of about 70,000 tribals from their land and villages due to Salwa Judum.
The timing of this article's publication authored by the DGP of the State itself reflects the BJP Government's attitude of targeting and branding all those voices of dissent that do no toe the official line, be they human rights defenders, progressive intellectuals, Gandhian workers, doctors, journalists, lawyers and social activists and organizations committed to preserving and promoting the fundamental rights of the citizens. According to the PUCL, while it should be left to all those targeted by the DGP to respond individually to the vilification campaign against them, it is not lost on all those who have been following the BJP Government's attempt at "targeting" and "branding" of the human rights defenders and rights-based organizations with an ulterior motive to silence their voices of dissent and democracy.
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION DUMPING GARBAGE NEAR THE VENUE OF GROUP FASTING
In a statement issued today, PUCL has also strongly condemned the District Administration's insensitivity in locating the fasting and protesting groups and individuals in Burha Talab at Raipur, which is also the dumping ground for garbage and dust collected from the capital city by contractors and civil administration. In spite of repeated requests, the Raipur Municipal Corporation has failed to clear the vicinity from such foul-smelling garbage that is the breeding ground for mosquitoes and more likely cause for epidemics like cholera and gastroenteritis. The PUCL and other participating organisations are deciding to make this an issue, and get the ground cleared for al times. According to the PUCL, the scant regard for the democratic and peaceful protest demonstrates BJP Government's authoritarian tendencies.
The PUCL has also expressed concern that the District Administration has not yet conducted any medical check-up on the fasting individuals. It has also not provided any protection to the protestors although written information has been provided to the District Administration about the Group Fasting.
Rajendra K Sail
President, PUCL (CG)
Mobile: 094242-01288
1 comment:
LIES DO NOT HELP ANYONE
Lies have been one of the strongest weapons in the arsenal of Maoists - only next to weapons and explosives. Weapons and explosives are used to terrorize those who oppose them. Lies are meant to partly confuse and to partly win over people to their sides.
When I decided to go to University of California, Berkeley to present my point of view a psy-war was unleashed in Berkeley through SMSs and cyber-space to oppose my visit. Most people invited in the conference, the Maoists and their supporters thought, would castigate the government of India and Chhattisgarh for violating human rights etc. They did not want the DGP of Chhattisgarh to introduce a discordant note. The Maoists and their supporters decided to use the case of Dr. Binayak Sen as a mask to cover their real intention.
They send "questions for the DGP" on web-sites asking some inane, puerile and obscured questions about the case of Dr. Binayak Sen and CSPSA. As the case against Dr. Binayak Sen is sub-judice I would not comment on it but there are constitutional and legal ways to fight any ACT or LAW and that is that if it is held ultra vires of the constitution it goes automatically. But Maoists and their supporters who have no faith in the Indian Democratic System or the judiciary in India believe in pressure tactics. Dr. Binayak Sen's case must be fought more on the streets through dharnas, demonstrations and only incidentally through the courts.
So the demonstration at Berkeley was not surprising to me. What must have surprised them was that I remained unruffled. What must have further surprised them that a many amongst the listeners started to protest against their unruly slogan shouting. What must have equally flustered them was the fact I was prepared to talk to them and answer questions after the seminar and question and answers session.
But the psy-war had to be launched. Lies had to be invented. Facts had to be misconstrued. So the post card on which I wrote that I am the wrong person and if they want they should send it directly to the government has been circulated through the cyber-space as my having signed a post card demanding release of Dr. Binayak Sen. My explanation that we preferred postponing charge-sheeting of Ajai TG because his wife gave certain information which we wanted to verify was twisted to mean that arrest of Ajai TG was "technical mistake". More lies would fill the cyber-space I know. But these don't ruffle me. Lies have never ruffled me. And I have the strength to accept the truth. At Berkeley there were many other who also know the truth of what I spoke.
But there is a catch. The muck the Maoist supporters throw into the cyber-space is read mostly by those who believe in their cause. Others who accidentally see their sites only feel bemused and silently chuckle at them.
- VISHWA RANJAN
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