: Social activist Teesta Setalvad has called for unity of people’s movements against fascist forces.
Addressing ‘Manushya Sangamam — People’s movement against Fascism’ in Thrissur on Saturday, she said the majority of the people who believed in democratic values should unite to isolate the minority fascist forces.
“Human rights activists in the country are facing harassment. Public resources have been turned to private capital. Those who raise their voice for minorities, women or workers are labelled anti-nationals. Corporate TV channels are deciding who is a patriot and who is traitor,” she said.
Our universities have turned into battlegrounds, Ms. Satelvad said. “A suspended Vice-Chancellor had returned to unleash a brutal attack on the students. It is clear that he would not have returned without the permission of the Ministry. Stipend of students has been cut. The government does not want anybody to speak. It doesn’t believe in freedom of speech,” she said.
Ms. Setalvad alleged that the RSS and the Hindu Maha Sabha were as responsible as Jinnah and the All-India Muslim League for the division of the country.
“She alleged that the government had been using everything to thwart constitutional values. “Ministers and MPs are relentlessly abusing the Constitution and democratic values.
“But the Prime Minister is keeping silent.”
The NDA government has diluted the Forest Rights Act, by which it has diluted the powers of the grama panchayats to act against mining mafias, she noted .
She called for a semi permanent set-up to fight against fascism as rights violations and oppressions had become a regular ordeal in the country.
A series of programmes, including seminars, discussions and cultural programmes, have been conducted as part of the Manushya Sangamam.
‘Walk to Freedom,’ a cultural procession was held in the city on Saturday. The Sangamam will conclude on Sunday.
