Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, July 8: Strengthening their movement against the culture of mob lynching, a civil society group on Friday released a draft law – Manav Suraksha Kanoon (MASUKA) – and urged the BJP-led central government to enact it through the Parliament to ensure speedy justice in such cases.
“We want a Bhay Mukt Bharat (Fear Free India). The fight that our forefathers fought was for an independent country but the fight of today is for individual liberty. We may be an independent country but we cannot be a truly free country unless we stop being scared,” said Adv. Sanjay Hegde, member, drafting committee of MASUKA, while speaking at the launch of the draft law at the Constitution Club of India here in New Delhi.
In last three months, around two dozen people, mostly Muslims, have been lynched by self-styled Gau Rakshaks in BJP-ruled states over allegation of beef consumption, cow slaughtering and smuggling.
Standing in support of MASUKA
The draft bill named “The Protection From Lynching Act 2017” deals with several legal aspects from making the responsibilities and accountabilities of Police, Administration and Judiciary to provisions for compensation to victim’s family in mob lynching cases.
Salient features of the draft:
— Lynching should be made non-bailable offence
— Immediate suspension of concerned SHO (Police Officer) of the area until time-bound judicial probe completes
— Life imprisonment for those convicted under mob lynching
— Punishment for the conspiracy or abetment to lynch and obstructing legal process
— Punishment of at least 1 to 3 years with fine for disseminating offensive material
— State Government will make arrangements for the protection of victims and witnesses
— Video graphic evidence of survivors’ statements would also act as evidence
— Time bound judicial enquiry which should not take more than 6 months
— Compensation and rehabilitation for the victims’ family
Besides Adv. Sanjay Hegde, the drafting committee comprised of lawyers and academicians including Adv. Rebecca John, Adv. Anas Tanwir, Adv. Shehzad Poonawala, Prof. Manoj K Jha, Prof. Nivedita Menon, Prof. Apoorvanand Jha and Journalist Anil Chamaria.
Speaking at the event, Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar, said: “This kind of Act has now become necessary. I hope the government will accept this bill without having buts and ifs. If govt. passes this bill in the parliament, a message will go across the nation that this government is not with the culture of lynching. Govt. should always speak in favor of social system, not just keep quite over it or just express anger over it.”
Eminent civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad, said: “All citizens must support this draft as it has the points through which the responsible law implementing authorities are being held accountable if they do not act as per law.”
L-R: Teesta Setalvad, Shehzad Poonawalla and Sadaf Musharraf (sister of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed)
Shehla Rashid, former JNUSU vice president, said: “Today we demand the Prime Minister to enact this law. Everyone knows what BJP governments in the center and states are doing. The existing laws don’t capture the pattern under which lynching happens. Lynchings are not spontaneous, these are organized. Mobs are instigated. Ruling party should come and say “Not In Our Name” either. Lynching is not just the crime against a person, it is crime against society aiming to terrorize it.”
Tehseen Poonawalla, entrepreneur and activist and brain behind the “National Campaign Against Mob Lynching”, launched early June this year, said: “This law is not about one political ideology. This law is against vigilantism and MPs of all political parties believe that civil society should not have this kind of lynching.”
Eminent persons send video messages to support MASUKA
Through video messages, senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, RJD leader Prof. Manoj K Jha, Dalit youth leader Jignesh Mevani, and actor Swara Bhasker appealed to people to support MASUKA.
The draft law will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all Members of Parliament and political parties urging them to discuss it in the coming monsoon session of Parliament. People have also been appealed to organise protest in various districts and give a copy of the draft bill to their MPs and District Magistrates.
Website launched to gather support for MASUKA
To get support of the people, a website named www.stopmoblynching.com has also been launched. It asks people to sign in online petition for MASUKA draft. People can also extend their support for MASUKA by giving a missed call on a mobile number 9555226955. For suggestions and feedback they can send email to [email protected] .
