India: Delhi Protest in response of the call given by VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal, BJP leaders and MoS MHRD Katheria to kill Muslims

Press Release
1 March 2016

Protest in response of the call given by VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal, BJP leaders and MoS MHRD Katheria to kill Muslims at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

Civil society organizations sat in spontaneous demonstration against the statement of Ram Shankar Katheria made on Sunday Feb 28 in Agra that war would have to be waged against  Minorities to avenge the killing of Arun Mahaur, a VHP worker.

The protesters set silently behind placards which stated 'MP Katheria come kill me I am a Muslim'. The placard was a terrifying visual depiction of how Muslims are being demonized in this country by the demon forces themselves.

'This blatant violation of Representation of People Act and the Oath taken on the Constitution by MP Katheria, should result in his immediate expulsion from Parliament' said Shabnam Hashmi of ANHAD, one of the organizers of the protest.

'In arrogating to himself the role of police, prosecutor and judge, the VHP district secretary has declared that revenge will be taken before the 13 day period is over. Such naked aggression and incitement should merit instant action by the competent authority' said Apoorvanand Professor of Hindi, JNU.

'This is the rock bottom moment for democracy in our country. Two days ago an officer of NMC is reported to have said that he cannot sleep nights because of the tremendous insecurity suffered by minorities and today none other than a Central Minister and one who is entrusted with the most sacred portfolio, Education has given its most heinous proof. ‘Nothing less than indictment by all elected representatives and immediate expulsion is called for' said Dr. Syeda Hameed one of the protestors at the site.

A letter has been sent to the President of India detailing the event and demanding action from the state. As the protest gathered force and more and more people joined the cause of the protestors they demanded to know how the authorities had responded. Prominent among protesters were Navaid Hamid, Dr. John Dayal, Ovais Sultan Khan, Adv Ali Mohd Maaz, Ameeque Jamei, Faizan Hydar Naqvi,  Imran Khan, Mahtab Alam, Mohd Zakir Reyaz, Minakshi Singh, Mohd Aamir Khan, Nishi Verma, Paul Divakar, Pramod Singh, Pratap Singh Negi, Rajesh Singh, Shehzad Poonawalla, Saiyad Danish, Vijay Pratap, Vimal Bhai, Vijay Lal, Kunwar Danish Ali and others.

The protest ended with the resolve that there will be country wide agitation to save this sinister and systematic attempt to reduce to tatters everything that constitutes the essence of India.

//

Memorandum to President of India

   ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "shabnam hashmi" <shabnamhashmi@gmail.com>
Date: 1 Mar 2016 11:51 am
Subject: MEMORANDUM
To: "pstopresident" <pstopresident@rb.nic.in>
Cc:

To
The President of India

Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji,

We are writing to you to express our deep anguish at the hate speeches by several leaders including BJP’s MP from Agra and Union minister of state for human resource development Ram Shankar Katheria, BJP’s Fatehpur Sikri MP Babu Lal, party MLAs, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders.

About 5,000 people gathered for a condolence meeting on Sunday, February 28, which was attended by these leaders mentioned above.

“All preparations” had been made to seek “revenge” before the 13th-day death rituals for Mahuar, the speakers said. A condolence meeting was organized in Agra for VHP worker Arun Mahaur, who was killed last week by some Muslim youths. Five people have been arrested for Mahaur’s murder. We strongly condemn this murder and appreciate that arrests have already been made, however the way this death is being used to spread venom is dangerous for the country’s communal harmony.

VHP district secretary Ashok Lavania, who was earlier jailed for assaulting Muslims, said that “human skulls will be offered for his [Mahaur’s] martyrdom”. “The revenge of the killing of one brother demands killing of ten demons.”

According to the Indian Express reports that Lavania went on to talk about the “action” that was planned.
“Many have approached me asking why we are not doing anything. They are saying do something — arson, murder, shootout. These are common Hindus. We are avoiding this because the organisation (VHP/RSS) is careful about not being held responsible… ultimately it becomes an act of the society. Once people are galvanised, no question would be raised at all. In cases like Ram Janmbhoomi, Muzaffarnagar, the party had disappeared. But it is certain that revenge will be taken before the [thirteen day period] is over”.

Katheria demanded that Mahaur’s killers be hanged, saying that his ministership would not get in the way and that his “hands are not tied”. “We have to be strong now”. As quoted in Dainik Bhaskar report he said,  “We have to wage a war. If we don’t do this now, we will lose another partner tomorrow”.

VHP General Secretary Surendra Jain warned the administration, “If anyone, even the IG here, has any doubt about the law, they can approach me. I will show them the clauses of the IPC that say if you (police) do not perform your duty then common citizens can take law in their own hands”.

Bajrang Dal district coordinator referred to Muslims as ‘descendants of Ravana’, saying: If you want to live in India, live like Rahim and Rehman. If you try to be Akbar and Babar, we will raze your homes. We are the descendants of Rama. We will destroy the descendants of Ravana”.

The elected representatives have violated the Representation of the People Act (India) and the Other taken the Constitution.

We had expected an immediate action by the Prime Minister yesterday and waited for a day for the Minister to be dropped, unfortunately that has not happened.

We are writing to you with an appeal to dismiss the minister and advise the government to take immediate action against all those mentioned above in hate speeches and creating an atmosphere of intimidation and insecurity in the country. 
As you are aware the communal incidents as well as atrocities against the Dalits have increased many folds in the past 18 months. There are attacks on intellectuals, artists, human rights defenders, minorities, students. All dissent is suppressed.
  
We request you to intervene urgently.

Yours sincerely

Shabnam Hashmi
Navaid Hamid
Apoorvanand

Ovais Sultan Khan
Dr Syeda Hameed