Day long Convention in Lucknow on the Ayodhya verdict (29 November 2010)

UDAAS MAUSAM KE KHILAF

CONVENTION IN LUCKNOW

The Ayodhya verdict of September 30 constitutes a dangerous precedent, which can be used against any vulnerable group in future, like any minority, Dalits, Tribals and women. For almost 500 years, Muslims had worshipped routinely in the Babri Mosque, while Hindus worshipped at the Ram Chabutra in the open area adjacent to the mosque, in a spirit of mutual goodwill. With this judgment, the movement which challenged India’s secular Constitution and took hundreds of lives, and fostered fear and hate has triumphed.

This movement demanding that a grand Ram Temple should be built on the site in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid stood is often understood to be a clash between Hindus and Muslims. There is indeed no such clash, and there never has been. It has always been a dispute between two alternate visions of India; between Hindutva and secularism; between a minority of persons unreconciled to the secular democratic idea of India, and the majority of Indians of every faith who believe in and live this idea.

The judgement reopens again the question about the terms on which people of minority faiths would have to relate to cultural domination of the religious majority. In effect, it interrogates the guarantees of the Indian Constitution, which pledged equal rights and equal protection of all persons, regardless of their religious persuasion. There is a need both in courts of law, but more importantly in the arenas of society and the polity, to battle for the restoration of the values of the freedom struggle, and the Constitution which the people of India gave themselves.

ANHAD and INSAF are calling for a Convention on November 29, 2010 in Lucknow.

We invite you to the convention.

November 29, 2010

Time: 10am-5pm

Venue: Ravindralaya, Opp Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow

SPEAKERS:

ANIL CHAUDHURY, ANUPAM GUPTA, PROF. APOORVANAND, FARAH NAQVI, JOHN DAYAL, MUDRARAKSHAS, PROF KM SHRIMALI, PROF KN PANIKKAR, PROF RAM PUNIYANI, PROF ROOPREKHA VERMA, PROF ZOYA HASAN, PROF. RAMESH DIXIT, SHEETLA SINGH, SIDDHARTH VARDARAJAN, VINEET TIWARI



SHABNAM HASHMI/ ANIL CHOUDHURY

ANHAD/ INSAF

23, CANNING LANE, NEW DELHI-110001

TEL: 9415470610/ 9818809018