Amid unlawful riots, vandalism and violence in Uttarakhand in the name of religious polarisation several leading intellectuals today came forward with a brave heart , guts and gumption to give a strong rebuff to divisive and reactionary forces in order to establish peace and tranquility in the land of Gods where day after day people are witnessing lawlessness with political colours of division creating an atmosphere of hatred, violence and terror. After the most obnoxious and shameful Ankita Bhandari case and several others including the recent sexual assault of a minor in Nainital including dead body of a fourteen year daughter found in a ditch at Thauldhar block of Tehri Garhwal who was missing for the last twelve days, the faith of the people in law enforcing agencies have been shaken to the hilt. The recent incidents of brazen lawlessness in Nainital with vandalism and violence witness in the open targetting a particular community connecting them with the culprit’s religion have distorted the social fabric of the region the adverse impact of which were witnessed in Dehradun. The police n paramilitary has to march in large numbers in Nainital, a best tourist hill station in the country and the globe to restore confidence among the tourists who thring here in large numbers during the peak summers as of now.
According to Trilochan Bhatt a senior journalist, amidst continuous efforts to spread hatred in Uttarakhand, various social and political organisation have resolved to make this state a laboratory of peace and bring back the old brotherhood.
Many programmes for the coming days were decided in the four-hour long marathon meeting held on Saturday of more than a dozen social organizations and various opposition parties including the Congress.
These include organizing Sadbhavna Rally, Shanti March, Jan Sampark and Bhajan cultural programs near the statues of great men. However, no information has been given as to when and in what form these programs will be held.
Giving information about the decisions taken in the meeting held at Shahri Smarak, Dr. Ravi Chopra , of Uttarakhand Insaaniyat Manch, also a renowned seismologist, said that there are a large number of people in Uttarakhand who want peace, but they are scared in the current environment. An attempt will be made to bring all such people on one platform.
A phased campaign will be launched against hatred. Kamala Pant of Uttarakhand Mahila Manch said that the person against whom a case was registered recently for spreading hatred and inciting violence by meeting the SSP is currently coming live on social media and threatening those who filed the case.
He said that this is possible only with the support of the government.
CPI ML State Secretary Indresh Maikhuri said that many programs have been decided for the coming days in the meeting.
He said that it was decided in the meeting to take all kinds of action against those who spread social animosity. This includes steps like filing cases in the police, filing petitions in the court and lodging complaints in various commissions.
CPI’s Samar Bhandari said that the number of people who spread hatred in the state can be counted on fingers. The list of these people and their hate-mongering activities will be compiled so that a strong petition can be filed in the court.
CPI M’s Surendra Singh Sajwan said that the hatred being spread in Uttarakhand is being instigated by the government. We will go among the people to deal with this.
Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni talked about calling an all-party meeting.
SS Chauhan of Masih Samaj said that people of Christian community are also being targeted. Even the way to the church in Chakrata has been closed. Dr. SN Sachan of SP and Harjinder Singh of Janata Dal S said that they will join the campaign against hatred with full force.
Anant Akash, Nandanand Pandey, Smriti Negi, Trilochan Bhatt, Vimala Kohli, Nirmala Bisht, Indrajit Kaur, Latafat Hussain, Himanshu Chauhan, Kavita Krishnapallavi, Arif Khan, Ashish Vishwakarma, Bhopal Singh, Raghavendra Singh, Almasuddin Siddiqui, Vijay Bhatt, Rizwan Ali, Yashveer Arya, Vijaypal Singh Rawat, Chandrakala, Razia Begum etc. gave suggestions regarding the campaign against hatred.
Expressing serious concern over the threats being given to Shaila Negi, who spoke about peace amidst hate violence in Nainital, a demand was made for immediate arrest of those giving the threats.
Anger was also expressed over Bhupesh Joshi not being arrested despite a case being filed against him for continuously posting hateful posts on social media.
Leave a Reply