Salokha Samiti calls to join a meeting 17th March 2023 at 5 pm Bhupesh Gupta Bhawan, Prabhadevi
In the last few years there is a growing atmosphere of hatred and violence in the country and we are all very worried and disturbed by it. Since the MVA government was toppled in Maharashtra and the BJP has gained power with the help of a few people, we have been experiencing this changed environment in Maharashtra as well. The last few days have seen the passing of a GR for setting up a committee on “Inter religious marriages” and along side many “Hindu Jan Akrosh Morchas” organised all over the state using the bogus propoganda of “love jihad”. This is creating a very worrying atmosphere in the state.
Apart from this, these forces have been inciting people for targeted violence against specific communities in constant violation of the Constitutional promises made to all citizens. The silence of the administration and their apparent support at least in allowing these to happen is further adding to the environment of fear. In such a climate it is important that all of who feel disturbed by these happenings come together to counter this hatred and stop these forces from succeeding in their agenda. Today these organisations are backed by State power and so it is important that there be a citizens’ voice against their hateful and violent propaganda.
We believe that there are many of us acting against this in our own ways. But since our efforts are not consolidated, these efforts do not have the same impact. So it is our attempt to get all progressive voices from Bombay and around together and hence have called for this meeting on 17th March.
Although this meeting call is going from a recently formed platform called Salokha Samiti, the endeavour is to keep it a completely open process. If you agree with us we urge you to share this invite with others and bring as many voices together as is possible.
About Salokha Samiti:
On 17th Jan 2023, a meeting was organised in the CSSS office to discuss the targeted violence against religious minorities and counter this atmosphere of hate and fear that is constantly being propagated. Formation of a loose network by the name “Salokha Samiti” was suggested in that meeting by all those present.
In the first meeting itself it was decided that the group and network will work primarily on three fronts – what can we do to prevent such violence, if violence happens how do we intervene in it and after the violence (in case it does happen) how doo we work towards rehabilitation.
With this background, we have started work on the following three things:
1. The GR in opposition almost to inter religious marriages: We had a public meeting on 13th February which was attended by all opposition parties and since then we have been in contact with the opposition MLAs so that they raise this issue in the assembly and get this GR cancelled.
2.Jan Akrosh Andolan: In this context every time we hear of a morcha being organised we have handed a letter to the DGP Maharashtra and the chief police officer in that district to make sure that they control the situation and act against those making hate speeches. It has also been a way to say that some of us are keeping a watch. Much more needs to be done on this, however.
3. Start conversations with different groups of people via unions, community organisations, social media, to get more people to rise against this hateful and violent environment.
So far the following organisations are part of this effort:
Aawaaz-E-Niswaan;
Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sangathna,
Bebaak Collective
Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani
Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Mumbai
Justice coalition of Religious, Maharashtra
Forum Against Oppression of Women
Platform for Social Justice
People’s Union for Civil Liberties
Maharashtra Mahila Parishad
Majlis
Centre for Development Research and Action
Manav Nav Nirman Sankalp Trust
Swadhaar
Kamgar Ekta Union Maharashtra State
National Alliance of People’s Movements
Indian Christian Women’s Movement
Human Rights Defender Network
National Council of Women Leaders
Maulana Azad Vichar Manch
Stri Mukti Sangathan
Parcham Collective
National Solidarity Forum
Bharatiya Mahila Federation
Mahila Vikas Kendra
Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal
Sarvahara Jan Andolan
Mahila Rajsatta Andolan
Savali Samajik va Shaikshanik Sanstha, Satara
Mooknayak Vichar Manch, Vashim
Vidrohi Mahila Manch, Sangli
Lok Pratishthan, Usmanabad