ToSmt. Vasundhara RajeChief MinisterRajasthan29th January 2016Dear Smt. Raje,We are writing to you enclosing a statement condemning the attack on the “Jawabdehi Yatra†in Aklera, Jhalawar on the 16th of January. This statement also demands the arrest of BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena who led the mob in this unjustified and unprovoked attack. The impunity enjoyed by Kanwarlal Meena is unacceptable. The fact that he is an MLA of the ruling party makes this even more glaring and alarming.Mr. Meena has innumerable cases against him and should be classified as a history-sheeter given his record of repeated offences. He is clearly confident that he has the protection of the law enforcement agency and the other powers that be. His remaining at liberty is a threat to the public at large and our democratic structure. It is also an affront to the rule of law. We demand that he be arrested immediately and we hope that the party itself takes appropriate action against him.The Jawabdehi Yatra is a peaceful caravan of people committed to bringing about transparency and accountability. It attempts to raise awareness and uses methods of community monitoring including public hearings and the filing of grievances to promote better delivery of public services and entitlements. It is an effort that is to be appreciated, supported and strengthened, and those responsible for the attack upon it must face due process and the law.We hope for your support and speedy response.
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STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON THE JAWABDEHI YATRA IN AKLERA, RAJASTHAN
News that the “JawabdehiYatra†was attacked on the evening of January 16 near Aklera police post in Jhalawar, Rajasthan has come as a great shock. This 100 day journey was being undertaken by over seventy social activists under the banner of the Soochana Evam Rozgaar Adhikar Abhiyan (SR Abhiyan)– a network of more than 100 citizens groups in Rajasthan.
We are extremely disturbed by the accounts of brutal assault faced by the participants; activists and volunteers of the MKSS and other citizens groups who were carrying out a state wide campaign focusing on issues of transparency, accountability, and the delivery of social sector entitlements. This attack appears to have been planned and pre meditated, carried out by lumpen goons under the leadership of the BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena. Video footage of the attack clearly shows the BJP MLA from Aklera, inciting his compatriots while mercilessly beating activists himself, as they were engaging with the public at a popular market place. Victims include noted theatre and social activist Shankar Singh. Women were also manhandled and beaten, cameras and vehicles were reportedly smashed, and onlookers terrorized. What makes the incident even more condemnable was that it took place in the home District of Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and the Lok Sabha Constituency of her son, Dushyant Singh.
According to news reports in local dailies, this ongoing 100-day accountability rally, flagged off in early December, has been met with unprecedented enthusiasm at the local level. Street corner meetings held in various districts of Rajasthan have drawn tremendous support for the demand for a comprehensive accountability law, and helped to raise awareness of social sector rights and entitlements. The volunteers with the Yatra have facilitated and expedited the registration of over 6000 grievances of various kinds, from those involving ration cards and old age pensions to caste atrocities and violence against women. We find it reprehensible in a democratic order that political leaders should seek to unleash violence in order to intimidate and silence such efforts, instead of addressing the genuine concerns being raised.
Urgent, and firm action is needed from the Rajasthan State government. Thus far 11 people have been arrested in connection with this attack. However, BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena is still at large. We demand…
• That those guilty of the attacks and the leaders behind them be brought to justice promptly.
• That proper compensation be paid for the medical treatment of those who were assaulted, and for the mental and physical trauma they have suffered. The damage done to their vehicles and infrastructure should be evaluated and recompensed.
• That the Rajasthan state government publicly condemn the incident, institute a proper inquiry into it and ensure that elected representatives involved in the attack be disciplined in an exemplary manner.
January 29th, 2016
Signed –
- Pamela Philipose
- Dr. Achin Vanaik
- Shailesh Gandhi
- Jayati Ghosh
- Rajni Bakshi
- TM Krishna
[Endorsed by]
1. Aheli Chowdhury, JOSH2. Akhila Sivadas, CFAR3. Amita Baviskar, Institute of Economic Growth4. Amitava Mitra & Sujato Bhadra, NAPM West Bengal5. Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant - Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat6. Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)7. Arun Kumar8. Arundhati Dhuru, Richa Singh - NAPM, UP9. Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh10. Ashish Ranjan, Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan11. Ashok Bharti on behalf of National Confederation of Dalit Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR)12. B S Rawat – Jan Sangharsh Vahini & Rajendra Ravi13. Baba Adhav, Hamal Panchayat14. Bhaskar Prabhu, RTI activist, Convenor Mahiti Adhikar Manch15. Biraj Patnaik, Principal Adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court on the Right to Food16. Brinda Singh17. C R Neelkandan – NAPM Kerala;18. C.P. Chandrasekhar, Professor, JNU19. Deep Joshi, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)20. Devaki Jain, Economist21. Devasahayam MG, IAS retd22. Dhirendra Singh23. Dilip Simeon, labour historian24. Dipa Sinha, social acitivist, Right to Food Campaign25. Dipak Dholakia26. Diwan Singh, Member, Dwarka Water Bodies Committee, Yamuna Satyagraha, Ridge Bachao Andolan, Campaign for Preservation of Commons27. Dr Karen Gabriel, Associate Professor, Department of English, Director, Centre for Gender, Culture and Social Processes, St Stephen’s College28. Dr. Abey George, (Kerala Institute of Local Administration KILA, NCPRI working com, Kerala RTI collective)29. Dr. Anand Teltumbde, social activist30. Dr. H Sudarshan31. Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti32. Dr. V Mohini Giri, social worker and activist, former chairperson NCW, Guild of Service33. Dr. Vikram Vyas, Centre for Theoretical Physics,St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University34. Dunu Roy, Senior Fellow at Shiv Nadar University and Hazards Centre35. E A S Sarma, Former Secretary, Government of India and Convener of Forum for Better Visakha (FBV)36. Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar37. Gabriele Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN38. Gargi Chakravartty, NFIW39. Gautam Bhan, Indian Institute for Human Settlements40. Girish Karnad, writer, actor, film director41. Girish Nikam, senior journalist42. Harsh Mander, Director Center for Equity Studies43. Harsh Sethi, Consulting editor, Seminar44. Henri Tiphagne, National Working Secretary, Human Rights Defenders Alert - India (HRDA) & All India Network of Individuals & NGO working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI )45. J S Walia, NAPM Haryana46. Jagdeep Chhokar, activist, Association for Democratic Reform (ADR)47. James Herenj, Convenor Jharkhand NREGA Watch48. Jayanti Banerjee49. Jayati Ghosh, Economist, JNU and columnist in Frontline50. Joe Athialy, New Delhi51. Justice K. Chandru52. Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan53. Kalyani Menon Sen, Feminist Learning Partnerships54. Kamal Chenoy, Professor Centre for Comparative Politics & Political Theory, School of International Studies, JNU55. Kamal Kant Jaswal56. Kamayani Swami, Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan57. Karamvir Shastri, RTI activist58. Karuna M, activist, Tamil Nadu59. Kathyayini Chamaraj, activist CIVIC Bangalore60. Kavita Karishnan, AIPWA61. Kiran Shaheen, Memoirist and activist62. Koninika Ray, NFIW63. Krishnakant64. Kunal Chattopadhyay65. Lalit Mathur, IAS retd.66. Lijo Chacko67. Lingraj Azad – Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM, Odisha68. M S Swaminathan, Founder Chairman, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation69. Madhuresh Kumar and Shabnam Shaikh – NAPM, Delhi70. Madhuri Krishnaswamy, activist71. Mahendra Yadav – Kosi Navnirman Manch, NAPM Bihar72. Manisha Sethi, Jamia Milia Islamia73. Manoj Mitta, journalist74. Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive Help Age India75. Medha Patkar - Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)76. Meenakshisundaram77. Meera – Narmada Bachao Andolan, NAPM, MP78. Mohan Kanda79. Mukul Mangalik, Associate Professor of History, Ramjas College, Uni. of Delhi80. Muzaffar Bhatt, RTI activist81. Nachiket Udupa82. Nandini Rao, activist, feminist83. Nandita Das, actor84. National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)85. Neelabh Mishra, journalist86. Neha Saigal87. Nikita Sonavane88. Nirmala Lakshman, senior journalist and editor89. Nisha Biswas, activist, Kolkata90. Nivedita Menon, JNU91. Ovais Sultan Khan92. P Chennaiah & Ramakrishnan Raju – NAPM Andhra Pradesh,93. Parminder, Anita Gurumurthy, behalf of IT for Change94. Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity95. Persis Ginwalla, social activist, Ahmedabad96. Poornima Chikarmane, social activist and Associate Professor at SNDT Women’s University, Pune97. Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, JNU98. Pradeep Baisakh, journalist, Odisha99. Prafulla Samantara - Lok Shakti Abhiyan100. Prashanto Sen, Advocate101. Praveen Jha, Professor, jnu102. Preeti Sampat, Professor, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics103. Prithvi Sharma, ICAN104. Rajastan Majdoor Kisan Union (RMKU)105. Rajendra Ravi106. Raju Ramachandran, Senior Advocate107. Rakesh Agarwal, activist, Dehradun108. Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, RTI activist109. Ram Rahman, photographer, activist110. Ramachandra Guha, historian111. Ramchandra Prasad112. Ranesh Ray, curator and author113. Ranjana Ray, NFIW114. Ravi Chopra, ICAN115. Richa Singh, Sangatin116. Rolly Shivhare, RTI activist, MP117. Rukmini V P, Garment Labour Union, NAPM, Karnataka;118. Runu Chakraborty, activist119. S. Anandalakshmy120. Sagar Rabari, Secretary Khedut Samaj, Gujarat121. Saheli (organisation), New Delhi122. Saikat Ghosh, Physicist, IIT Kanpur123. Sanjay Kak, Filmmaker, New Delhi124. Satish Deshpande125. Shabnam Hashmi, social activist126. Shalini Gera, Advocate127. Shekhar Singh, activist and academic128. Shoma Sen, activist129. Siddhartha Basu, producer-director130. Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union131. Smita Gupta, Convenor, economic cell, All India Democratic Women’s Association132. Soma Marik133. Soumen Ray, Jungle Mahal, West Bengal134. SR Hiremath135. Subhas Mohapatra136. Sudha Bhardwaj, activist137. Sumir Hinduja138. Sunil Savara139. Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe - NAPM, Maharashtra140. Sunny Sebastian, senior journalist141. Sushil Tripathi142. Teesta Setalvad, social activist, Sabrang Communications143. TM Krishna, classical muscian144. Trilochan Sastry, Professor, IIM145. Tushar Gandhi146. Uma Chakravarti, social activist, feminist147. Uma Pillai148. Uma V Chandru, Bangalore149. Valsingh Sastiya, On behalf of Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan150. Vasantha Kumari151. Ved Arya, SRIJAN, social activist152. Venkatesh Nayak, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)153. Vimal Bhai - Matu Jan sangathan & Jabar Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand;154. Vineeta Rai155. Vipul Mudgal, Common Cause156. Viren Lobo, ICAN157. VK Agnihotri158. Vrinda Grover, Advocate159. Zoya Hasan, political scientist
[Those wishing to endorse the above statement may sign here ]
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Press Release
13 days/Two weeks since horrific attack on RTI activists in Rajasthan, MLA not arrested
150 eminent persons write to the Chief Minister and Prime Minister
Over 150 eminent persons including Pamela Philipose (senior journalist), Achin Vanaik (professor, DU), Shailesh Gandhi (Former Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission), Jayati Ghosh (economist, JNU) have signed a statement condemning the attack and demanding the arrest of the MLA.
The statement condemns the culture of impunity that allowed the MLA Kanwarlal Meena to blatantly violently attack the Jawabdehi yatra.
Jagdeep Chhokar of the Association of Democratic Reform said, "This attack is one more example of the criminalisation of politics and the threat it poses to our democratic fabric. Using physical violence and leading a mob against social activists raising awareness about issues related to access to entitlements and justice by the poor shows how much our political establishment is willing to use criminal elements to suppress any dissent."
Support and solidarity with the yatra has been pouring in from across the social sector. Others who have signed the statement include Medha Patkar, Uma Chakravarti, Harsh Mander, Baba Adhav and Annie Raja.
The letter highlights the fact that the brutal assault on the activists took place in Chief Minister Vasundhare Raje’s home district. The letter demands
That those guilty of the attacks and the leaders behind them be brought to justice promptly.
That proper compensation be paid for the medical treatment of those who were assaulted, and for the mental and physical trauma they have suffered. The damage done to their vehicles and infrastructure should be evaluated and recompensed.
That the Rajasthan state government publicly condemn the incident, institute a proper inquiry into it and ensure that elected representatives involved in the attack be disciplined in an exemplary manner.
Others who endorsed the statement include Devaki Jain, Deep Joshi, Siddhartha Basu, Nirmala Lakshman, Ramachandra Guha, Trilochan Sastry, Ram Rahman and Nandita Das.
After giving statements to the police and medical examinations, members of the yatra have returned to their planned route and have moved on to the next districts where they will continue to perform nukkad nataks, sing songs, file grievances and challenge entrenched power structures in creative and exciting ways.
Shailesh Gandhi explains, "two weeks have passed since this brazen attack led by the MLA Kanwarlal Meena took place. Everyday of inaction against him points to complicity of the state government and the ruling. The fact that this took place in the Chief Minister’s home district only raises questions about the degree of impunity provided by the government at the highest level."
The letter asks for immediate action to be taken against the perpetrators of the assault. It states:
"Mr. Meena has innumerable cases against him and should be classified as a history-sheeter given his record of repeated offences. He is clearly confident that he has the protection of the law enforcement agency and the other powers that be. His remaining at liberty is a threat to the public at large and our democratic structure. It is also an affront to the rule of law."
The response of the CM and PM are awaited.
For more information please contact:
Nikhil Dey: 9414004180