New Delhi: Hundreds of activists belonging to various civil groups staged a dharna against the Haryana’s BJP government at the Haryana Bhavan here on Wednesday to protest the gruesome killing of two kids by caste Hindus in Faridabad village which is just 30 K.M. away from the National Capital.
They alleged that the Haryana government failed in checking communal and casteist forces and demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and security to weaker sections of the society.
Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS-BJP groups for worsening human rights situation in the country, activists demanded exemplary action to the culprit of this dastardly act and police personnel.
It may be supreme irony, on a day when the BJP led Haryana Government put up advertisement in the newspapers today that ‘Zulm Raha Na Bhrashtachaar- Ek Varsh-Sarvatr Harsh’, a Dalit family was burnt alive at 02:00 AM on 21st October in Sun Perh village in Ballabgarh, Faridabad district in the state. This happened on a night where seven police personnel were deployed for their security. Two years old Vaibhav and nine months old Divya succumbed to death after the incident while the mother is struggling for her life with 70% burn.
This is yet another incident against minorities after the Dadri lynching and Dankaur tragedies. Jitendra, father of the two children who died in Faridabad told the police that the attackers belong to a Rajput family and they were living in constant fear for a long time. Even police protection could not save his family.
In typical tokenism, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who recently created storm by saying Muslims give up beef eating, suspended a few police personnel and announced Rs. 10 lakhs as relief. Khattar, who earlier announced that he would pay a visit to the victims’ place, has cancelled his visit.
Activists said the Khattar Government has failed in stopping this type of incident and at the same time has caused an exponential increase of the further oppression and blatant attempt to deprive minorities from even the right to life. The polarization in the country is happening rapidly and thus creating unrest and insecurity among a large population of this country, where it is the primary duty of the government to provide a sense of security among minorities, marginalized sections and deprived communities.
Addressing the demo, activists said came together against the Faridabad incident and also in solidarity with the Dadri and Dankaur tragedies and also to save the hard-earned constitutional values based on humanity.
A handing a memorandum to the Haryana governor through the resident commissioner at Haryana Bhavan, representatives of the organizations demanded a high level committee investigation, full security to the deprived, marginalized communities and targeted minorities immediately. There should be an immediate arrest of attackers and quick action against irresponsible police personnel in this case.
More than two dozen organizations including AIDMAM, AIDWA, Akhil Bhartiya Balmiki Sangh, All India Catholic Union, All India Christian Association, ANHAD, Bhumi Adhikar Andolan, Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch, Delhi Solidarity Group, Federation of the Catholic Associations of the Archdiocese of Delhi, HRDA, Khudai Khidmatgar, MOEMIN, National Alliance of People’s Movements, National Domestic Workers Union, NCDHR, NCPR, NFIW, People’s Watch, Samarpan, United Christian Forum, and Vidyajyoti took part in the dharna.
Meanwhile opposition political parties also condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms and described BJP ministers and leaders statement as lame-excuses which reflect their moral bankruptcy. They said the country is been witnessing a conceited yet concerted effort at fanning inter community and inter caste tensions for political benefits. Fault lines that had withered are being deliberately activated by the BJP and its sister organisations in the Sangh Parivar.
Peeved by BJP’s jibe on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visit’s to the victim family as Photo-Ops’, party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said when the party made efforts to expose such nefarious designs and hold the perpetrators accountable, the BJP perpetuates a hollow defence of ‘Photo-Ops’ and the Government- right from the Prime Minister to the Finance Minister comes up with lame statements that border on justifying the perpetrators by blaming everyone else under the sun.
He reminded to the BJP that neither the Congress President nor the VP has hesitated in going to be at Mirchpur, be it the drought areas of Karnataka, be it standing by the side of victims of violence across the length and breadth of this country.
He said it is they who have used this ‘photo opportunity’ phrase. “Congress Vice President trying to extend at least a healing touch infants burnt alive, described as ‘photo opportunity’ Vs the ‘Mananiya Pradhan Mantri’ using high sounding but hollow acronyms ‘Yoga Day’, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. Are these not ‘photo opportunities’? Singhvi asked.