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Protect India’s Secular Legacy

By Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan

08 October, 2015
Countercurrents.org

On 29th September, a rumour was spread on WhatsApp in Dadri area of Uttar Pradesh claiming the presence of cow meat in Mohd Akhlaq’s home. Following this, a loud speaker announcement from a temple in the village gathered and instigated a communal mob to attacked Akhlaq’s house, murdering the 50 year old and grievously injuring his 22 year old son who is currently struggling for his life in a hospital in Noida. Other members of the family were also hurt with sexual attacks on Akhlaq’s wife and daughter also being reported.

Bhumi Adhikar Andolan condemns this brutal and inhuman attack in the strongest possible terms and calls for the immediate arrest and stringent punishment of the perpetrators of such barbaric violence. We are deeply concerned with the rising majoritarian communalism in the country and feel that NDA coming to power under the leadership of Narendra Modi has greatly strengthened communal forces that have been consistently attacking secular forces and minorities.

The BJP and its affiliated organizations such as the RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP, Gau Raksha Committees, Hindu Jagruti Manch, Durga Vahini and various other religious organizations seem to be engaged in a systematic campaign to tear apart the secular social fabric of the country. There has been mention of Pratap Sena’s involvement in the communal violence of Bisada village. These forces have been reacting violently to anyone who disagrees with them on the basis of logical, scientific and progressive thought. These forces want to permanently silence any dissent through cold blooded murder. Attacks against Muslim and Christian communities have been rising rapidly over the past year and the death of three rationalist thinkers – Dr. Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Prof. Kalburgi - are evidence of a carefully orchestrated campaign of hate.

These forces have infiltrated society so deeply with their communal agenda that it is now possible to gather a mob through rumours and transform them into a vicious pack that devours lives of innocents like Akhlaq. The rise in incidents of communal violence conveys that either the government is hand in glove with these forces or sees no gain in stopping them.

It is also disturbing to note that discussions of the heinous incident have been largely restricted to whether it was beef or not. Would it be justified for them to murder even if it was? We would like to stress that the state cannot interfere or dictate people’s food habits.

The struggle for land rights cannot be divorced from secular values and this heinous attack can only be challenged by coming together to protect India’s secular legacy.

National Alliance for People’s Movements (NAPM), All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), All India Kisan Sabha (Ajay Bhawan), All India Kisan Sabha (Canning Lane), Akhil Bhartiya Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sangathan, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Jan Sangharsh Samanvaya Samiti, Chhatisgarh Bachao Andolan, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Sanyukt Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, INSAF, Delhi Solidarity Group, Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, VTMS, Matu Jansangathan, Kisan Manch, Bhartiya Kisan Union and others

 




 

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