Rally in Solidarity with the People from the North-East! Unite to Maintain Amity and Peace!!

The last few days have witnessed an unprecedented exodus of people from the North-Eastern states residing in different parts of India in the wake of insecurity, incidents of intimidation and an atmosphere of fear purportedly generated by rumours spread through SMS and the social media.  Karnataka has witnessed the maximum number of people fleeing due to the acts of intimidation by a few miscreants and also due to the spread of rumours. There have also been a few incidents of assaults on people from the North-East in Pune and Bangalore.

The Congress-led UPA government as well as the BJP-led state government in Karnataka have displayed utter insensitivity to the problems of the students, workers and professionals from the North-East and allowed the crisis to worsen. No effective steps were taken to build confidence and to instill a sense of security among the people from the North-East. Criminal negligence and absolute inaction have been the hallmarks of the response of the ruling classes as far as this issue is concerned.

It is necessary to maintain vigil in the wake of efforts by the RSS and other outfits of the Sangh Giroh to stoke communal passions and to use it to attack the Muslim Community. People from the North-east living elsewhere in the country have faced systematic discrimination and stereotyping for a long time. Sexual assaults, harassment and racist attacks have worsened the feeling of insecurity from time to time. These pre-existing concrete conditions have enabled the communal right-wing forces to fish in muddied waters when the recent flare-up began. While cases of intimidation and assaults have been reported, the arrests made so far in Bangalore also point to a larger conspiracy by vested interests to spread a hate campaign in order to reap political benefits. Meanwhile, leaders from the Muslim community and Imams have played a proactive role in assuring the people from the North-East that no hate campaign will be allowed. An Iftar for the people from the North-East organised by a local Mosque in Bangalore was a significant confidence-building measure aimed at ensuring harmony in the State.

SFI, jointly with the CPI(M), DYFI, AIDWA,  Dalit Sangharsh Samiti, Praja Vimochana Chaluvali, Tipu Sultan United Front and other progressive sections, came out in the streets on 18 August in support of the people from the North-East who have been fleeing Bangalore in the wake of the atmosphere of fear that is reigning in the city. A mass Harmony March along with progressive organisations was organised from the Mahatma Gandhi Statue to the Raj Bhavan in Bangalore in which hundreds of people took part. The peaceful march was stopped by the police and more than 200 protesters were detained and kept at the Cubbon Park police station as they tried to force their way to meet the Governor and submit a memorandum. A Solidarity Committee has also been formed in Bangalore involving broad sections of society to ensure that the students and workers from the North-Eastern states who have stayed back in Bangalore feel secure. SFI is in the forefront of forming such Solidarity Committees in other cities affected by such rumours and acts of intimidation.

In keeping with their disgraceful traditions, the ABVP in JNU has come out with releases that seek to incite communal rage, hoping to divide the student community and the people at large. SFI condemns this vile propaganda and appeals to the JNU community to remain united in maintaining peace and amity. At the centre-stage of the whole issue are sections of society who have been historically marginalized in our country, and the devious machinations of the communal right-wing forces in pitting them against each other need to be fought and defeated. The need of the hour is to resist all divisive trends while building the broadest solidarity for peace and harmony.

Sd/-
Kopal, Siddik Rabiyath, Samuel Philip Mathew, Rityusha Tiwary, Subin Dennis

(For the SFI Unit Organising Committee, JNU)

SFI appeals to the student community to join the 

PROTEST MARCH called by the NORTHEAST STUDENTS’ FORUM, JNU, 

tonight (21 August 2012) at 9.30 from Ganga Dhaba.