By Matters India Reporter
Kanpur: Protests by Catholics and other citizens in Kanpur have forced the Army to allow people unhindered access to the cantonment areas of the northern Indian city.
What prompted the protests was a declaration from the army’s Station Head Quarters that nobody would be allowed in the Kanpur Cantonment without a valid pass from June 12.
The Army also levied 75 rupees as fees for a pass valid for a month. The police had to verify the application after specifying the hair and eye colour, height and other personal details of the applicant.
In addition, the army also charged 75 rupees a month for each vehicle. At night vehicles had to douse their headlights and keep the cabin lights on.
However, the Army exempted the prestigious Cawnpore Club that charges 2 million rupees as the membership fee and imposes a dress code.
The order severely affected the Catholic community as the restricted area housed three churches and two schools.
“In the absence of any public written order or circular, the residents and visitors were left to glean information from often conflicting media reports,” said chhotebhai, president of the Kanpur Catholic Association that led the protests.
The Catholic lay leader described the Army diktat as “a case of suit, choot, loot and boot.” The suited members of the club got exemption while the order helped the police too loot the public in the garb of verification and the poor got the boot, he explained.
Chhotebhai said the Army’s “drastic action” would have “devastating effect” on the parishioners of St Patrick Church built in the cantonment area in 1860. The Church also managed St Aloysius’ School, and St Patrick’s School (Hindi medium) in the area.
“Harassment and time consumption apart, a family of 2 elders, 2 parents and 2 children could end up spending upwards 2,000 rupees just to go to the church for a month. This was blatant exploitation and naked aggression,” chhotebhai explained.
Accordingly, on June 15 he led a delegation of the members of KCA and the Kanpur Nagrik Manch (Kanpur citizens forum) to meet Harinder Singh, Cantonment Executive Officer, at his office, and present a memorandum. The delegation also comprised women and children of slums who studied in the Hindi medium school managed by the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate.
The group listed ten reasons explaining why the proposed pass was anti-people, impractical and a gross violation of civil liberties and constitutional rights.
The memorandum noted that only 2 percent of 400,000 people living in the cantonment area were army personnel. Should 98 percent of the population be harassed to placate the 2 percent, the memorandum asked.
The memorandum stated that preventing people from practice of their religion was a direct infringement of Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India, and hindrance in running a minority institution was likewise an infringement of Article 30.
The CEO said that he agreed with the points raised in the memorandum. He also admitted that he had no clue how the army had made such a hasty decision, and under what provision of law. He assured the delegation that he would forward the memorandum to their headquarters.
Since it was a matter of civil liberties he advised the delegation to complain also to the District Magistrate.
The local print and electronic media gave the meeting wide coverage.
Chhotebhai told Matters India that the Army has now lifted the restrictions.
“The rifle toting soldiers have withdrawn allowing unhindered movement. The army now proposes to put up CCTV cameras and do random checking. It is not yet clear if the orders have been withdrawn. As of now it is the status quo ante,” he added.
The KCA delegation included Cornelius Kujur, Elizabeth Singh, Praveen Dungdung, Joseph Lal, Angelo Menezes, Peter Fernandes, Prem Kumar, Michael Dass and Brian Thompson. The KNM was led by former corporator Madanlal Bhatia, together with Suresh Gupta, Athar Naim and Arvind Trivedi.