People's Democracy

ON March 2, hundreds of people sat on dharna outside the Gujarat Bhavan in New Delhi to express their anger, protest and horror at the communal carnage led by constituents of the Sangh Parivar and supported by the state government in Gujarat. The dharna was initiated by All India Democratic Women's Association, Joint Women’s Programme, National Federation of Indian Women, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Young Women’s Christian Association, All India Women’s Conference and ten other groups and organisations. Several other groups and representatives also joined the dharna.

The participants observed two-minute silence to mourn the death of the innocents. Women from different parts of the city --- workers, housewives, professionals from different communities --- joined the dharna. Some were carrying placards that read:

Speaking on the occasion, Brinda Karat said those who had expressed their contempt for the constitution and the law of the land are implementing the slogan of Hindu Rashtra with the help and connivance of the state government. The communal carnage is an expression of that. Amarjeet Kaur and Jyotsna Chatterjee said the BJP is politically isolated and is trying to get its constituency back. Syeda Hameed said it was essential for every citizen to stand up and protest. Nirmala Deshpande said Gandhi was being killed in his own land again.

Also present at the dharna were DUTA president Saswati Mazumdar, JNUTA president Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Rizwan of the Jamia Millia University, Professor Prabhat Patnaik, Sudhanva Deshpande and others.

The meeting adopted a resolution signed by over 35 organisations including the All India Democratic Women’s Association, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Joint Women’s Programme, National Federation of Indian Women, YWCA of India, Muslim Women’s Forum, Nirantar, Saheli, Sama, Jagori, Women’s Unit -- Indian Social Institute, Agragami Mahila Samity, All India Women’s Conference, WIPSA, Guild of Service and many others. (INN)