New Delhi: A group of renowned leaders and scholars from different backgrounds on November 1 asked the federal government to protect the freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution to all sections of society.
They also want the government to refrain from targeting any organization or group as part of political agenda.
The group demanded to stop demonizing social activists, NGO’s, impartial media, progressive and minority organizations and Indian Muslims who they noted seek “a peaceful and secured life in harmony” with their fellow citizens, twocircles.net reported.
The group’s statement termed vilification campaign against organizations as an attempt by the present BJP government to muzzle dissent in the country.
The statement also noted that the hate mongers and extremist outfits connected with Hindutva politics roam free in the country and divide people and instigating violence on religious minorities and progressive sections. The federal and the state governments fail to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.
“On the other hand, as we have seen in the past, it seems that another round of vilification campaign is being intensified by some government agencies with the help of a section of media that are biased against minorities and progressive groups. The atmosphere of hatred that is being created against them is with a specific and calculated purpose,” the statement says.
“On previous occasions, much before the banning certain organizations, their demonization by quoting government agency reports and media trials were on the air. Once again such an atmosphere is being created against certain Muslim groups by putting on them the tag of helping extremist and terrorist elements,” it adds.
The scholars stated that if any of these organizations’ members are found involved in criminal activities they should be prosecuted according to the law of the land. But they demanded the federal government to protect the freedom of association guaranteed by our constitution to all sections of society and to refrain from targeting any organization or group.
The signatories to statement include Prashant Bhushan, K Sachidanandan, Maulana Mahmood Madani, V T Rajashekar, Nivedita Menon, Apoorvanand, Zafarul Islam Khan, Muhammad Manzoor Alam, Ashok Bharati, Amit Sengupta, G. Hargopal, Ravi Nair, Vidya Bhushan Rawat, Dr. SQR Ilyas, Prof. A Marx, and Gopal Menon.