November 04, 2014
APPEAL BY ALL INDIA PEOPLES' FORUM PREPARATORY COMMITTEE
Communal tensions in Trilokpuri, Bawana, Mundka and several other
places in Delhi recently over the annual Muharram celebrations are a
threat to amity and peace in Delhi. Muharram processions are an annual
event conducted by the Muslim community all over the country. The decision
by an extra-legal “mahapanchayat” to disallow this procession in Bawana
through their traditional routes is therefore illegal and unacceptable.
The role of the police and the administration which has sought to play
along with the decisions of these extra-legal bodies is also dubious and
unacceptable.
It is clear that the incidents in Trilokpuri and Bawana are being
orchestrated as part of a larger political conspiracy to polarise
communities and heighten communal tensions in the run up to possible Delhi
assembly elections in the near future. These set of events are in line
with similar actions by communal forces elsewhere in the country that have
resulted in riots and communal polarisation, for electoral gain.
We, the undersigned, appeal to the people of Delhi to maintain
peace and communal harmony. Tolerance and respect for minority rights are
the need of the hour. Unity in diversity cannot be compromised. We appeal
to the people to unite against communal forces and thwart their bid to
raise tensions among the peace loving people.
We demand that the police and administration must allow the Muslim
community the freedom to conduct their annual Muharram processions without
any hindrance, as is their guaranteed constitutional right. We demand that
the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Home Minister of the country take
responsibility to ensure that peace is maintained and strict action taken
against any elements that try to foment violence and target the Muharram
procession.
Sd/-
Vijay Pratap, Samajwadi Samagam, Kavita Krishnan, Communist Party
of India (Marxist-Leninist)- Liberation, Gautam Mody, National Trade Union
Initiative (NTUI), John Dayal, ND Pancholi, Peoples' Union of Civil
Liberties, Citizens for Democracy, Srinivasan Ramani, Left Collective,
Rafiq Jabbar Mulla, SDPI & others on behalf of All India Peoples' Forum (AIPF)
Preparatory Committee.
Information