STOP THE SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO PIN BLAME FOR THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE IN DELHI ON WOMEN AND ALL THE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS AGAINST NPR-CAA-NRC

STATEMENT BY WOMEN’S GROUPS & INDIVIDUALS

STOP THE SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO PIN BLAME FOR THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE IN DELHI ON

WOMEN AND ALL THE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS AGAINST NPR-CAA-NRC.

INSTEAD

HELP CITIZENS SEEK JUSTICE.

TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE REAL PERPETRATORS.

HELP CITIZENS COME TOGETHER AGAIN.

HELP HEAL THIS COUNTRY.

Delhi struggles to recover from the terrible violence in the north east which hit some of the poorest people in our country - tailors, scrap dealers, carpenters, and daily wagers. Scared and displaced Muslims, who were the primary target of this hate-attack, are still in relief camps, holding on to their children and their dignity despite this devastation. Hindu families who lost homes and properties are struggling to come to terms with this nightmare as well. Both communities bear the sorrow of lives and livelihoods lost in this senseless violence. We stand with each of them.

This is a moment when we need our governments to give us justice, reassurance and relief. But what we see instead is that the State, a section of the media, and vested interests creating even more hate. Instead of taking action against an erring police force, and against those who openly instigated and perpetrated this violence, we find them trying to pin the blame on the women for protesting peacefully. What we are witnessing is a concerted misinformation campaign that criminalises the protestors, spins conspiracy theories and targets all those who supported the protests. Anyone who has been to these protests will know how morally low this is.

These protests brought together all the colours of our country. We are proud that Muslim women led these protests, in the best tradition of our freedom struggle, and proud that we joined this struggle with them, in full measure as Indians – as students, women’s rights activists and queer groups, people’s movements, farmers and workers collectives, and as ordinary citizens; to fight for justice, harmony and peace for all. Clearly, something resonated in the soul of India, which is why in over 300 places, women sat and many still sit on our streets to be heard, to be visible as democratic citizens. This is surely what women’s empowerment is all about. This is what India must celebrate and stand behind.

Today, the rainbow that is India is being targeted. There is intimidation, FIRs based on falsehoods, threat of arrest against the protestors and those who stood with the protests. This politics of intimidation threatens all women, it threatens each citizen, and it must end. Now.

This vicious campaign against citizens of a free democratic country and our collective right to protest must stop immediately.

We say, across identities of religion, caste, class, gender, sexuality and ability that we oppose the proposed National Population Register (NPR), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). We stand by the protestors and the right to protest. And we shall defend that right.

We demand that:

WE REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT to the values of peace and communal amity even as we continue our struggle

 We stand united.

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