Members of the United Against Hate campaign held a public meeting on Monday to voice their protest against communal fascism and mob lynching, following the recent killing of Mohammad Umar Khan and the attacks on Tahir and Jabba on November 10 in Rajasthan.
The organisers said they have come together against “the impunity enjoyed by cow terrorists” and “the need to rise against Hindutva terror”.
Organised response
Banu Joshna, a member of the group, said it was important to have organised and channelised responses to the killings, which are “organised as part of a larger propaganda”. The meeting was addressed by family members of Junaid, Umar and Tahir, victims of the recent mob attacks in Haryana and Rajasthan.
“Communal attacks did not begin in 2014, however, they are receiving State patronage since 2014. Words like “secular” and “socialist”, which are used in the Preamble of the Constitution have become a joke. India is on the path to becoming a fascist country,” said Urmilesh Singh, senior journalist.
“Muslims are being subjugated in this country, but the message is one of terror which is meant for everyone,” said Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor, Caravan magazine. He questioned the acquittal of Amit Shah from the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case. “The discharge itself came after one judge was transferred and one died. The family members have now sought an investigation into what was otherwise believed as natural death. This speaks for the kind of people we have in the government,” he added.
“The roots of fascism in India can be traced back to the year 1948 when Gandhiji was assassinated. The only change since 2014 is that these communal and hate forces which were earlier in power through the police and bureaucracy are now a part of the government,” said Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami. He further added that the issue at hand is not just to punish the accused “but to end the political impunity enjoyed by such terrorists.”
“The victims make no demands but plead to not be charged by the police. The criminals, on the other hand, are confident of their safety. They know they’d be pedastalised as the bhakts and rakshaks of the nation,” said Anil Damodia, member of the campaign.
“The whole politics of lynching is an art in Rajasthan. Even the Panchayat does not raise these issues because they’re all serving the purpose of the government,” said Kavita Srivastava, member People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). She further accused the Congress of not having played the part of an effective opposition.
The family members of the victims alleged that the police were one with the attackers.
“Dairy farming is our only source of income and now we are scared of continuing with this profession. The police are party to this crime and have still kept Tahir behind bars while the murderers are still free men,” said Abdul Wahid, brother of Tahir.
‘Junaid was just 16’
“Junaid was a 16-year-old boy. What crime could he possibly have done? He did not even know who the PM is but now every kid who is aware of the communal policies of this government knows who the PM of this country is,” said Qasim, brother of Junaid who was killed by a mob on a local train near Ballabgarh.
The families of the victims reiterated their demand for a compensation of ₹50 lakh for those killed in mob violence and ₹25 lakh for the injured.
