On October 20th of 2006, a group of Hindutva fascists entered the campaign shelter of the Kerala State Committee against Death Penalty, Trivandrum and assaulted its key campaigners. Mr. Rajmohan K K, Mr. T. K. Vasu and Mr. Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan were inside the satyagraha shelter at this time. (Sathyagraha is the non Violent way of protesting used by Mahatma Gandhi ).
Those intolerant fascists were returning after "hanging" Muhammad Afsal Guru's effigee.
This incident remind us that we should be vigilant about the fascist culture gaining superiority in a 100 % literate state like Keralam. We request all those people who respect Democracy and its civil institutions to condemn the fascist acts of Hindutva promoters.
Irrespective of their intolerant attitude, the satyagraha movement is gaining momentum . Prominent citizens like Mr. K. K. Koch, T. K . Vasu, Chandran.K.K, Anoop Chandran, Sanni Kapikkad, Shaju. V .V, Fr. George Pulikkuthityil, Civic Chandran and Ambalathara Krishnan observed hunger strike till now.
Nailini Jameela took the baton from Rajmohan today. We also recieved support and suggestions from prominent journalists like T.N.Joy, J. Raghu, M. M. Khan, Elizabeth, P. J. Cheriyan,R.Unni, P.Udayakumar, Salim.T.K, G.Arunima, Mukundanunni, V. Sanil and K.M.Venugopal oupon sending the report of Hindutva assault on our campaigns .
We also recieved solidarity emails from
Ammu Abraham Women's Centre, Mumbai
Shweta Saheli Resource Centre, Delhi
Sukla Sen Ekta
Rohini Banaji Hensman Insaaniyat, Mumbai
Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee
Some suggestions we recieved are :
There must be immediate initiative to demand action to book the culprits, for which a broader platform comprising all the non-sangh parivar parties and groups may be made for signing up a petition to the home ministry.Therecent and other acts of vandalism by these outfits may be cited.
Let us not forget that this is an instance where the power of ideology takes forms of brutal voilence, and yet, counter initiatives/activities often simply fail thanks to the superciliousness of individuals,groups and parties who might otherwise be genuinely concerned, though.
Principled avoidance of display of solicitude to these lawless and bigotist leaders, albeit in "personal' relations may be called for. It may be noted that there is nothing "personal" in such gestures other than disguised political endorsements of their legitimacy of existence of their ilk.
Media, especially the print media may be persuaded to desist from entertaining these "nationalists"by giving supportive/neutral coverage for their utterances of hate. Even the readers of such papers may be persuaded to unsubscribe such newspapers and journals.
Please forward this message to friends and suggest what you could personally
do in this .Looking forward to your response,
Dileep Raj,
Kizhakke Chathen Velil,
N C C Junction,
Cherthala, 688532
Alappuzha Dist, Kerala
Tel: 09447316701
