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April 06, 2015

Secular Action Network March-April 2015


Secular Action Network -link http://www.csss-isla.com/SAN-March-April-2015-new.pdf Newsletter of All India Secular Forum Volume. 10 No.3 March- April 2015 C O N T E N T S Editorial 1. Forum News Marathon for Peace and Communal Harmony 2.Stand By Teesta 3. CSSS News National Seminar on Religion, Violence and the State 4. Articles - India: The Prision house of identy -Trying cage a Tigress: Roused Civil Society defends Teesta Setalvad against Gujarat attempt to humiliate her - Modi Sarkar – 300 days 5. News - Hashimpura acquittals – Implications for India’s democracy: Press release - Workshop on Capacity building and minority rights - US concern over diminishing religious freedom in India is justified, say Indian Americans - Protest against attackes on Christian minorities in Pakistan and India - Protest on Maharashtra’s beef ban 6. Event - Lecture on Ghar Wapsi and Religious Freedom - ToT on National Integration, Peace and Justice 7. Interview 8. Resources -------------------------------- Ph. 022-26149668, 022-26135098 E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in Editor: Ram Puniyani, ram.puniyani@gmail.com, www.pluralindia.com Advisory Board: L.S. Hardenia, Irfan Engineer, Dhirendra Panda, Mohammad Arif. From the Editor’s Desk The increasing attacks on religious minorities during last 10 months are glaringly obvious. The Incidents of communal violence have gone up, the intimidation of religious minorities are very alarming to say the least. The spate of attacks on churches has shaken very prominent Christians like prominent police officer Julio Reibero, and Sushil Kumar, the Retd Chief of Naval staff. The harassment of Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anad has been pursued relentlessly by Gujarat Government in a very blatant fashion. The keenness of Gujarat police to arrest them for the alleged financial lapses was uncalled for and the Supreme Court finally granted anticipatory bail to the brave activists. Many a protests all over the country, “We are Teesta” took place all around with scores of people participating in them. This 19th March Modi Government completed its 300 days in office. Nearly 100 social organizations came together to register their protest on the occasion, “Julmaton ke Daur mein”. On this occasion a dharna was held at Jantar Mantar, in which activists from different parts of the country participated and many social activists and leaders of various political parties spoke. A book Compiled by John Dayal, 300 days, chronicling the acts of violence was released. The Maharashtra Government, in pursuance of its agenda brought in a bill to ban the beef in the state, various social organizations came together to protest against this sectarian communal agenda of the BJP led Government. Many a workers from Devnar abattoir, who will become jobless due to this decision of the government, also participated. Ram Puniyani (Editor)