Report from Ahmedabad seminar 'The Fascist State: Setting the agenda to counter'

‘ THE FASCIST STATE : Setting the agenda to counter ’

A REPORT

More than two hundred intellectuals, academics, human rights and social activists representing all sections of society, gathered together on Sunday, 23rd November for a day-long Seminar entitled “The Fascist State: Setting the agenda to counter” .

The Seminar was unique on several counts, but primarily because it was a joint effort of almost thirty leading NGOs and civil society movements of the State.

Welcoming the gathering, Mr. Hiren Gandhi the Convener of the meeting, and a Member of ‘INSAF’, emphasized the importance of such a gathering if we are truly to counter the fascist forces who have systematically been destroying the secular fabric of our country.

In his keynote address, by the doyen of the Human Rights Movement of Gujarat and Senior Counsel of the Gujarat High Court, Mr. Girish Patel highlighted the genesis of what he termed “Majoritarian Communalism” which is not merely about religious fundamentalism but which is a political concept which is bent on exercising its authority over the minorities and in fact alienating them. Religion, he asserted, is used very effectively in their scheme of things. The crying need today is to build up a strong political movement to counter the growth of this “Majoritarian Communalism”.

Dr. Saroop Dhruv (eminent Gujarati Poet and Feminist), Mr. Dwarikanath Rath (Movement for Secular Democracy) and Mr. Chitranjan Singh (Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, U.P.), presented facts and realities from Orissa and how the Government of Orissa, the police and other officials connived with fascist groups like the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS, in systematically targeting and brutalizing the Christian of the State, very specially in Kandhamal.

Fr. Cedric Prakash presented the perspective from Karnataka and how the police beat up innocent Christians in Church premises and the blatant involvement of the Government with groups like the Bajrang Dal.

Short video presentations on the Orissa and Karnataka realities were also shown to the gathering.

The following session chaired by leading Social Scientist Dr. Ghyanshyam Shah, brought to fore some key questions posed by the Gujarat Genocide and realities of a democratic setup. Participating in this panel were: Mr. Prakash Shah, Convenor of the Movement for Secular Democracy, Mr. Gagan Sethi (Janvikas) and Dr. Mukul Singh (Jan Sangharsh Manch). Each of the Speakers traced the roots of the emergence of the fascist forces and showed how political parties / Governments across the spectrum are not serious to counter these forces. Inspite of the overpowering influence of the fascist forces we need to get our act together and build a resistance to counter them.

The Seminar ended with the participants unanimously passing a Resolution on the current situation in the country and the emergence of the fascist State. The concluding paragraphs of the Resolution states :

We express deep anguish at the increasing fascist mobilization in society, rising State terror and a circumvention of the rule of law by the law enforcing agencies, and the large scale violation of civil and political liberties.

We condemn these acts of repression in no uncertain terms. We call upon the Central and State Governments to act immediately : uphold and protect the sanctity of the Constitution, to guarantee the rights and freedom of all citizens and to contain the fascist forces which are inimical to the pluralism and diversity of the country.

We invite civil society and all citizens of India, to raise their voice against these fascist forces and make our country in the real sense of the word, one which is ‘by the people, for the people and of the people’.

Ahmedabad 24th November 2008

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PRASHANT - A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
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