AIDWA welcome the arrest of RSS activist V.R Bhat in Bangalore for threat of rape and violence against a woman activist

ALL INDIA DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

4th Aug.2014

PRESS RELEASE

We demand justice for victim of abuse and intimidation in Bangalore, Karnataka.

We welcome the arrest of V.R Bhat in Bangalore, which was an outcome of the pressure mounted on the Karnataka Chief minister by concerned organizations and individuals within and outside the state.

The serious violation of rights on social media that occurred in Bangalore city of Karnataka where a woman activist was threatened with rape and assault for posting critical comments on the net had led to widespread outrage. Protest demonstrations were held in Bangalore demanding arrest of the intimidator, V.R Bhat, who belongs to the RSS. At the national level also, concerned individuals and organizations signed a petition which was mailed to the Karnataka Chief Minister, demanding his arrest. The CM had to respond to the just demand raised, and V.R. Bhat has finally been arrested under the goonda Act.

The petition that was mailed to the CM of Karnataka, along with the signatories, is attached.

Sd/- Sd/- Sd/-

Malini Bhattacharya Sudha Sundararaman Jagmati Sangwan

(President) (Vice President) (General Secretary)


2nd August 2014

To,
The Chief Minister,
Karnataka,

Petition

Dear Shri. Siddaramaiah,

The atrocious threat of rape and violence against a woman activist issued by an RSS man, V.R Bhat, in Bangalore through social media on July 28th 2014 represents a serious attack on the freedom of expression which is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

The appalling threat was blatantly posted on the social media in response to a critique that Ms. Prabha, an activist of the BGVS in Karnataka, was making of a tendency in our country to have purohits inaugurating schools, colleges, hospitals, or even rocket launches, which hardly displays a scientific temper. Her comment against superstitious practices has provoked the ire of the Hindutva brigade, who cannot bear any criticism or democratic difference to be expressed, especially by a woman. Giving a call to rapists to drag out a woman by her hair and rape her on the streets is an atrocious provocation to violence, and constitutes a punishable crime. It reveals the extent to which these hardliners are willing to go, to intimidate and suppress any kind of dissent or difference. Such abuse and threat of violence must be stopped by taking stringent action against the perpetrators.

Unfortunately, the Bangalore police have trivialized the seriousness of the complaint, and booked the culprit under some very mild sections. The reluctance to punish offenders is leading to further instances of intimidation. A noted writer who has reacted on this issue, and quoted references from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to illustrate how depiction of women has been derogatory in the epics, is also facing similar threats on the social media.

The Karnataka Government has been claiming that they are taking stringent action against rapists by invoking the goonda Act against them. But they are silent on this issue.

We urge the Karnataka Government to immediately arrest these anti socials who are instigating a crime like rape openly, and prove their commitment to preventing crimes against women. Justice to those who are the targets of intimidation and violence must be ensured without fail.

Jagmati Sangwan, General Secretary, AIDWA

Malini Bhattacharya, President, AIDWA

Asha Gambhir, Secretary General, AIWC

Deepti , Saheli

WSS (Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression)

Rajni Palriwala, Professor of Sociology

Ayesha Kidwai, Professor, JNU

Dr. Arathi PM, Associate Fellow, Council for Social Development, New Delhi

Professor Amiya Kumar Bagchi, Emeritus Professor, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD

Rekha Awasthi, Janvadi Lekhak Sangh
MMPSingh , Janvadi Lekhak Sangh

Githa Hariharan, Writer

Jayati Ghosh, Professor, JNU

Moloyshree Hashmi , President, Jana Natya Manch

Mohammad Imran (NRI SAHI)

Kamayani Bali Mahabal, feminist and human rights activist Mumbai

Runu Chakroborty