People's Democracy

MORE than 3,000 people marched in a procession in Mumbai to Raj Bhavan on April 8, demanding dismissal of the Narendra Modi government of Gujarat. Unlike other, usually slogan raising processions, however, it was a silent morcha. The participants carried placards and banners depicting the ongoing atrocities on and carnage of the people in the BJP-ruled Gujarat. The procession started in silence from Azad Maidan, wending its way through the busy streets of Dhobi Talao, Chera Bazar, Thakurdwar, Girgaon and Opera House, and reached at Chowpati where steel helmet wearing police stopped them.

This procession was organised by the newly formed Social Harmony Forum. It comprises people from different walks of life and professions. Amongst the participants were school and college teachers, students, housewives, doctors, lawyers, engineers, cinema actors, cultural activists, writers, journalists, political functionaries, trade union leaders, labourers and executives. There were also amongst them leaders of political parties, such as Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI(M), CPI, RPI, Lal Nishan Party, Janata Dal(S), Kamgar Aghadi and others.

Some of the placards in the procession read:

and the like.

When the marching procession reached Chowpati, near the Raj Bhavan, the governor’s house, they were cardoned off by a large contingent of police force stationed there. The memorandum to be submitted to the governor, demanding dismissal of the BJP-led Narendra Modi government and imposition of president’s rule in Gujarat, was read out by the Congress leader and former minister Hussain Dalwai.

Former prime minister V P Singh administered a pledge for upholding national integration.

A delegation, led by V P Singh, was then allowed to meet the governor. Besides V P Singh, the delegation comprised the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, Congress leader Hussain Dalwai, RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, CITU leader K L Bajaj, CPI(M) Mumbai committee secretary Mahendra Singh, Peasants and Workers Party leader Professor N D Patil, Nationalist Congress Party leader Narendra Verma, Lal Nishan Party leader Yashwant Chawan, CPI leader Prakash Reddy, Janata Dal leader Subhas Lomettee, noted social reformer Asghar Ali Engineer and several other prominent personalities.

Among other things, the memorandum drew the governor Dr P C Alexander’s attention to the observation of the National Human Rights Commission about the situation in Gujarat. The memorandum pointed out that the "depth, extent and nature of the situation in Gujarat is unparalleled in the recent history of our country. The situation is so explosive that, if not arrested, it would lead to India’s balkanisation. It has shaken not only the foundation of secularism, an integral part of Indian constitution and body politic, but also brought the national integrity in jeopardy. It is a matter of great concern for the entire nation which believes in social and religious harmony."

The deputation asked the governor to immediately convey the secular Mumbai’s feelings to the president, Dr K R Narayanan. The delegation wanted imposition of president’s rule in Gujarat. Dr Alexander, the governor, assured the delegation that the memorandum would immediately be forwarded to the president and the feelings expressed by the delegation conveyed.