Justice For All (Campaign News - October 2013) [Postcards to PM for communal violence law]

(via Teesta setalvad)

Rahul Bose @RahulBose1 14h

We will send 5lakh postcards frm citizens to the PM to ask Prevention of Communal &Targeted Violence Bill #pctvbill be tabled in RajyaSabha.

Rahul Bose @RahulBose1 14h

w/teesta setalvad at a press con calling for tabling of the Prevention of Communal &Targeted Violence Bill. pic.twitter.com/VwodPLDuv5


http://www.rediff.com/news/report/activists-push-for-anti-communal-violence-legislation/20131028.htm

Rediff
Activists push for anti-communal violence legislation

October 28, 2013 18:18 IST

Actor and social activist Rahul Bose launched a campaign by writing a postcard to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to fulfill the nine-year old promise of tabling The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations Bill). Bose launched the send to PM postcard campaign as member of ‘Justice for All’ organisation. Speaking at the press conference at Press Club in Mumbai, Bose said, “I believe the government will protect me, even if it has failed to deliver on other fronts.”

Bose emphasised, nothing can ever compensate the complete loss of hope when the state authorities and police fail to protect vulnerable people in communal violence and then it is wrong to expect feeling of pride for the nation. “If you can’t give me protection, of what relevance is nation, country and nationalism. These all have no meaning when the state has failed to protect me. I have appealed to Dr Singh as part of our campaign, so that once this bill is tabled, no one in administration will have the audacity (majal) to turn away from protecting any minority being harmed.”

Justice for All, which has legal luminaries like advocate Yusuf Muchala, Justice P B Sawant, Teesta Setalvad, Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi, called upon the public to participate in ‘send a postcard to PM campaign.’ They want 10 lakh people to write to Dr Singh to get the government to table the bill in Rajya Sabha.

Setalvad told rediff.com that although the group has been working for nine years and across all political parties to garner support, there is a deliberate attempt to stall the bill.

“The GOI brought in a draft in 2005 that in fact was problematic since it gave the police more powers. After huge protests it was allowed to lapse ) In 2010, the National Advisory Council presented a draft to the government and the government said it was working on it. It seemed more like they were trying to sabotage our bill. We are persuading the government and all political parties,” said Setalvad.

The activists said the Right to Information Act was passed after 195 amendments and they are willing to make amendments. The campaign to write to PM by more public would also mean a public pressure to get themselves protection during any communal violence, a bill that doesn’t exist today.


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http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ngo-campaigns-for-anti-riots-bill-1910508

DNA 29OCT2013
NGO campaigns for anti-riots Bill

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013, 9:32 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

In an attempt to fast forward the tabling of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill 2011, a group of NGOs on Monday got together and launched a ‘postcard campaign’.

The campaign, organised by Justice For All, aims to send one lakh postcards to the prime minister with the demand that the long-pending Bill be tabled without any delay. “The idea of this Bill is to establish the principle of accountability. Those who are opposing it have vested interests,” said advocate Yusuf Muchhala, who attended the conference here, along with social activist Teesta Setalvad and actor Rahul Bose.

The Bill was first drafted in 2005, but it lapsed as it was considered to be “weak”. It was drafted again in 2011 by the National Advisory Council along with members of the civil society. “The Bill aims at removing certain anomalies in the existing structure, so that people can be held accountable,” said Setalvad. Among other things, it looks to remove sections that require sanction to file complaints against a public servant.

“Many a times the sanction is not given; and if it’s given, the crucial evidence lapses. This is something that we have seen in the case of the 1992-93 riots,” said Muchhala.The organisers said that they are in touch with political parties who have reservations and suggestions about the Bill.


TOI 29OCT2013
PG 09

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/10/29&PageLabel=9&EntityId=Ar00910&ViewMode=HTML

Postcards to PM for communal violence law

Mumbai: A coalition of human rights outfits has launched the ‘Justice for All Campaign’ to press for the tabling of the bill to tackle communal violence in the Winter Session of Parliament.
The campaign aims at sending a lakh postcards to the PM demanding the tabling of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Access to Justice and Reparation Bill 2011. Actor Rahul Bose launched the effort, signing the first postcard.
Convened by activist Teesta Setalvad, the campaign includes former Bombay Catholic Sabha president Dolphy D’Souza, Maulana Daryabadi and advocate Yusuf Muchhala. TNN


JUSTICE FOR ALL CAMPAIGN NEWS

TWO ONLINE PETITIONS Please Sign...

1) Table the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice & Reparations) Bill in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of the Indian Parliament
Please join this campaign: http://chn.ge/H7Kn3L
Sign the Online Petition Above…..

2) One Million Post Cards to Prime Minister .. Help Meet the Target

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/End_Impunity_for_Mass_Crimes_Table_the_PCTV_Bill_in_the_Upper_House_of_Indian_Parliament_after_a_Million_Voices_speak/?copy

Spend 50 Paise Buy a Post Card and send it to

Dr. Manmohan Singh Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government of India
South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi - 110011.

Single Point Demand-
Table the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice & Reparations) Bill in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of the Indian Parliament

This Bill when it becomes Law will be an Institutional Mechanism
To protect the Lives and Properties of Disadvantaged Citizens who are Victims of Targeted and Mass Violence during which bouts, officers of the state have shown overt ot covert complicity; in short to breathe life into Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution (Right to Life and Right to Equality Before the Law)

Ensure an End to Impunity,
Ensure Accountability from Public Servants
Breathe Life into Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution
Support the Justice for All Campaign

SAY NO to Violence, YES to Justice and Peace