Expressing their concern over the incidents of mob violence, academicians said that time has come that all the people must break their silence over the issue and unite against hate to save the country.
Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, July 30: On weekend when most people either take rest at home or go for outing with their family and friends, the heart of Delhi on Sunday witnessed a unique gathering – where teachers, students and civil rights activists had assembled for a cause.
It was the occasion of a grand bike rally of youths where eminent academicians jointly urged the people to rise up against growing communal hatred and culture of lynching in the country.
Expressing their concern over the incidents of mob violence, academicians said that time has come that all the people must break their silence over the issue and unite against hate to save the country. Some of them strongly criticized the BJP government in the centre and some states for the rise in mob violence.
“The violent mob is being inspired by the top political leadership and the political philosophy of the people who rule Delhi – I am specifically referring to BJP,” said Prof. Manoj K Jha of Delhi University.
“The mob is emboldened as it believes that it has sanction and approval of the top leadership. When that sanction and approval are there it becomes very difficult — even the law and order machinery is compromised and the people who lynch are rewarded. In this kind of situation it is a very precarious context for all of us whether the Republic contours of which were shaped by Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar and Lohia shall survive? It is for this reason that this rally is being organized and this is just the beginning,” said Prof. Jha.
“We need to unite everyone – all shades of opinions and civil society organizations and every citizen of this country. We need to tell them that if you remain silent, today it is Junaid, tomorrow the Constitution itself shall be lynched and then nothing shall remain,” he appealed.
Renowned socialist Prof. Yogendra Yadav said: “Today the hatred which is being spread is not the nature of this country. Hatemongers may have power but the soil of this country is with Love and this soil will win.”
The bike rally was taken out from Mandi House area of Delhi and proceeded towards Nuh in Haryana – the state which has witnessed two deaths in lynching in the last four months. Besides Delhi, such rallies were taken out in dozens of other cities in different states.
Appreciating the bike rally initiative Prof. Aditya Nigam from Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) said: “I think it is very good initiative that for the first time a large number of groups are coming together to simultaneously conduct this rally in 50 cities across the country with one message only which is United Against Hate. This is crucial question to be highlighted as there are continuous efforts from the other side to divide Hindus and Muslims.”
JNU Prof. Nivedita Menon, eminent scientist and poet Dr. Gauhar Raza and Dr. M D Thomas, director of Institute of Harmony and Peace were also there to flag off the rally.
Prof. Menon said: “I see this rally very significant in a sense of uprising of ordinary people nationwide. The political parties are not performing their role. And everywhere ordinary people are coming out on the roads to tell the political leadership that we don’t want Hindutv. That is the message that is going out through the ‘Not In My Name’ campaign and this Bike Rally.”
Dr. Gauhar Raza said: “Nation is not just created by leaders, it is created by citizens and society at large. Now in this era of onslaught hate violence, every citizen has right and duty to rise against it and it is only then the democracy of the country can be saved. I am happy that the youth who are busy in their lives have taken out time for this rally as they are disturbed.”
“Today, the hate campaign is supported by the government and therefore they are shifting from one issue to another issue. It is very obvious that where BJP government is operative, there is violence. Every Citizen has to rise up to save the country,” he appealed.
Appealing to the masses Dr. M D Thomas said: “Hatred is the biggest enemy of the society. Life, society, country all are formed with love. So, to spread love is necessary for us. The divisive forces are trying to divide the country. We all as citizens and humans need to save our society and country.”
Eminent social activist Swami Agnivesh, Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar Ansari and Civil Rights activist Harsh Mander were also present on the occasion.
