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- Photo by Mukul Dube, 16 November 2011
All India Democratic Women’s Association
Resolution
This AIDWA Convention against Communal Conflict
Expresses deep concern about the number of incidents in several States where citizens of India belonging to the minority Muslim community have been targets of violence, primarily by forces of the State. It expresses its strong solidarity with the families of the victims, and especially, the mothers, sisters, wives who bear the heavy burden of loss of their innocent loved ones.
These incidents include:
• The police firing in Bharatpur Dsst., Rajasthan where ten members of the minority community were shot dead by the police, many of them inside the masjid where they had taken shelter. This was the result of a longg-pending dispute on the issue of ownership of a graveyard which the administration had allowed to fester, encouraging communal elements;
• The police firing on villagers in Arraria Dsst., Bihar who were protesting the forcible takeover of their land by a powerful local politician belonging to the ruling JD-U/BJP alliance. Four Muslims, including a woman and her baby, were killed and a policeman performed the barbaric act of jumping on the dead body of a young man killed in the firing;
• The police firing on Muslim protesters in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand and the razing of minority-owned shops and property by communal fanatics;
• The police firing in Moradabad, UP killing a young man and then arresting several minor Muslim boys.
In all these incidents many innocent people were injured and property of the minority community destroyed.
This convention strongly condemns the communal bias of the police and administrations reflected in all these incidents.
This convention also condemns the refusal of State Governments involved to take strong action against the officers responsible. Particularly in the case of Rajasthan, the Gehlot Government did everything to protect the officers involved. Similarly, the Nitish Kumar Government refused to take prompt action against those responsible for the barbaric firing and no compensation has been paid to the families of those killed. This Convention demands justice for the victims. It demands exemplary punishment against the police officials responsible and full compensation to the victims.
This Convention expresses its strong protest against the actions of the Gujarat Government in threatening and intimidating those, including senior officers, who dare to expose the role of the Chief Minister and his Government in the Gujarat genocide. Almost ten years after the genocide, a large number of victims are yet to get justice. Instead, activists fighting for peace and harmony are being targetted and harassed.
This Convention demands justice for the Gujarat victims. It expresses its solidarity with those who are being threatened by the Modi Government. It demands that the Central Government take action to protect witnesses who have given evidence against Modi and his Government.
This Convention demands a legislation against Communal Violence and for protection of secular principles and against attacks on minority right.
This AIDWA Convention pledges to uphold the principles and values of secularism. It pledges to defend the rights of minorities against attacks by communal forces including by administrations with a communal bias, regardless of the political party involved. It resolves to work for the unity of women and to mobilize women in the struggle against communal forces.
