Pune: More than 4000 people including women and kids participated in peaceful silent rally against mob lynching of poor Muslims and Dalit in Pune today. Teesta Setalvad, and J B Kolase Patil along with many Muslim leaders attended the rally.
More than 40 organisations including Muslim NGOs like Muslim Foundation, Indian Muslim Foundation and political parties like Republican Party of India came together for the peace rally. The rally started from Konark Park in Kondhwa and ended at Kausar Baugh. The rally concluded with Teesta Setalwad, former judge J B Kolase Patila nd organisers of the program asking participants to respect law and order and protest against mob lynching like attacks.
Participants were holding placards of the messages like ‘Not In My Name’, ‘Terrorism is not allowed in the name of cow’, RSS is not Hinduism, ISIS is not Islam, against hate and for love and so on. This was the rare time when more than 1500 Muslim women clad in hijab participated in the rally.
J B Kolse Patil, former judge of High Court, said, “RSS and BJP want to remove Muslims, Dalits and Adiwasis from the India and want to make this nation as Hindu state. But we need to understand we are rule by Constitution. 90% of communal riots are done by RSS and Muslims are blamed for it. I want religious leaders of Muslim community to allow youth to study the real history on the nation and allow them to think independently.”
Anjum Inamdar, of Rastrapremi Kruti Samiti and one of the organisers, said, “more than 24 individuals have been targeted by these goons starting from Mohsin Sheikh in Pune to Aleemuddin in Ramghad Ranchi. Also foul Dalit brothers were brutally beaten in Una, Gujrat. We strongly condemn the taking of law and order in the hands of mob and urge all the law abiding citizens to condemn this sort of atrocities on the fellow Indian citizens.”
Sadique Sheikh, father of Mohsin Sheikh, who was killed by right wing activists, “My son was the first victim of mob lynching after Narendra Modi came into power. No charge sheet is filed in the case of murder of my son. Ujjwal Nikam, public prosecutor, left the court case without any explanation. We have requested Rohini Salian as special prosecutor but Chief Minister hasnot paid attention. We pray for justice to my son and all victims of mob lynching and attacks. We pray that there would be peace across India.
Govt wants militarise the nation: Teesta Setalwad
Teesta Setalwad, said, “RSS and BJP wants to militarise the nation and you can see Bhosla military school in Pune and Nagpur. Even in states like Odisa, Chhattisgarh, there military when there is no need. They don’t need army to control Adiwasis. Government just need to start development projects like education and health facilities at these places. Its not about beef and what people eat. It about taking resources in hand.”
