Appeal

Please join in large numbers to register a strong protest against the government’s clampdown on peaceful demonstrators in the wee hours of 5 June 2011, reminiscent of the Jallianwala Bagh incident of 13 April 1919 when British troops opened fire on innocent citizens. The difference this time was the use of batons instead of bullets. In both the cases, there was no provocation.

Even otherwise, the government has been using repression to curb dissent and muzzle the voice of civil societies demanding change and a better system of governance. Demand for a strong Lokpal or retrieval of black money from tax haven countries cannot be deemed provocation in a country that prides of its democratic traditions. We take strong exception to some ministers’ attempt to malign the movement of India Against Corruption, and their effort to stupefy civil society members of the Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee.

Betraying total lack of sincerity to improve the state of the nation, the government, instead of redressing grievances and trying to meet people’s legitimate demands, has preferred to run down civil societies employing devious means. These include the attempts to malign the messengers of change and not allowing people to protest by imposing Section 144 at vantage points in the city

The government cannot snatch away the fundamental rights of ‘the right to expression’ enshrined in the Constitution. The police action has raised a fundamental issue: “Will it be possible for the citizens of this country to exercise their legitimate rights?”  OR “Should we succumb to the undemocratic and unconstitutional act of the government?”

Let us march silently, holding placards, with our mouths tied in black cloth, from Rajghat to the office of the National Human Rights Commission, on 18 June 2011.

Route: Rajghat, Ambedkar Stadium, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tilak Marg, India Gate, Copernicus Marg. Time: 5 pm

This is a call to all thinkers, artists, athletes, scientists, writers, poets, journalists, teachers, corporate sector heads, actors, activists and other eminent citizens of the country to stand by the side of the hapless and innocent who are looking up to you for moral support in this dark hour of India’s democracy.

Come one! Come all!
PS: Water, adequate first aid tools and vehicles for the aged and the ailing, who cannot walk the distance, will be available on spot

List of people issuing this appeal:

1.     Arif  Md Khan (former Union Minister and crushader for justice)

2.     Ved Pratap Vaidik (former Editor of Navbharat Times and Editor PTI and Bhasa)

3.     Ram Bahadur Rai (journalist)

4.     Jaya Prakash Narayan (former IAS officer and President of Lok Satta Party)

5.     Surendra Srivastava (President Lok Satta Maharashtra unit)

6.     Shri Ashok Tandon (Director Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Evam Sanchar Vishwavidyalaya)

7.     DP Sinha (winner of Sangeet Natak Academy Award)

8.     Maloy Krishna Dhar (former Joint Director IB)

9.     Udai Sinha (journalist)

10.                        Raja Bundela (film actor, director and social activist)

11.                         KN Govindacharya (political thinker and social activist)

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