ubZ fnYyh] 15 ekpZ] 2013

 

ikfdLrku esa py jgs dV~Vjokn dh fuank

 

& Lokeh vfXuos’k

 

ikfdLrku esa bZ’kfuUnk dk cgkuk cukdj bZlkbZ;ksa ij tks dk;jkuk fgalk cjikbZ tk jgh gS] mldh eSa ?kksj fuUnk djrk g¡wA ikfdLrku bZlkbZ;ksa] fgUnqvksa] f’k;k ,oa vgefn;k eqlyekuksa ds fy, yxkrkj ,d vlqjf{kr ns’k curk tk jgk gSA ;g ?kVuk;sa vYila[;dksa esa yxkrkj c<+rh vlqj{kk dks n’kkZrh gSaA lkFk gh lkFk bu ?kVukvksa ls lkQ gksrk gS fd ikfdLrku dk izkf/kdkjh oxZ vYila[;d lqj{kk ds izfr fdruk laosnughu gSA ^bZ’kfuUnk^ dk ;g ccZjh dkuwu ftldk gokyk nsdj vla[; gR;k;sa dh xbZa vaxzstks ds t+ekus esa cuk;k x;k ysfdu bldks lqn`<+ fd;k lSU; rkuk’kkg tujy ft+;k my g+d usA xkSjryc gS fd ikfdLrku ds fuekZrk ftUuk lkgc Lo;a f’k;k Fks&vkt mUgha ds ns’k esa dfri; ladh.kZ lqUuh yksx bl iS’kkfpd dkuwu] ¼295C½ dk gokyk nsdj vla[; vYila[;ddksa dk ftuesa f’k;k ,oa vgefn;k eqlyeku Hkh ‘kkfey gSa ij vizR;kf’kr fgalk cjik jgs gSaA gky gh esa iatkc ds jkT;iky lyeku rkSlhj dh pfpZr gR;k Hkh blh ohHkRl dkuwu dk gokyk nsdj dh xbZ FkhA rkSlhj lkgc us bZ’kfuUnk ds bUgha dkuwuksa esa la’kks/ku djus dk izLrko j[kk Fkk tks fd dgjiafFk;ksa dks ukxokj xqtjkA bl ukjdh; gR;kdk.M ds ckn dV~VjiafFk;ksa us fQj blh cgkus ls ns’k ds vYila[;d ea=h ‘kkgckt+ HkV~Vh dh Hkh gR;k dj nhA ikfdLrkuh ‘kkldksa dks tYn ls tYn bu ladh.kZ dkuwuksa dks jn~n dj nsuk pkfg;s vU;Fkk og Hkh vYila[;dksa ds f[kykQ vkrad QSykus ds nks”kh djkj gksaxsA

 

gk¡ykfd gky esa ^bZ’kfuUnk^ ds bl dkuwu dk  gokyk nsdj fdlh dks Hkh nf.Mr ugha fd;k x;k ijUrq blds egt ft+Ø ls ikfdLrku esa fgalk dk co.Mj izkjEHk gks tkrk gS& tcfd bl dkuwu ds cgkus ls dbZ yksx vius vU; fooknksa tSls /ku] lEifÙk bR;kfn dk fuiVkjk dj ysrs gSaA bUgh dkj.kksa ls ikfdLrku esa tgk¡ c¡Vokjs ds le; vYila[;dksa dh 23 izfr’kr dh Qyrh Qwyrh vkcknh Fkh] vkt bu ?k`f.kr dkuwuksa ,oa ekufldrkvksa dh ekj >syrs&>syrs egt+ 3 izfr’kr jg xbZ gSA

 ikfdLrku dks vc bu ladh.kZ dkuwuksa ls iYyk >kM+dj dqjku ds lerkewyd ,oa /kkfeZd lfg”.kqrk ds fl)kUrksa dk izpkj ,oa izlkj djuk pkfg,A dqjku vius ekuus okyksa dks v/;k; IV;135 esa vkns’k nsrk gS & ^^tks esjs ekuus okys gSa! os U;k; ij lqn`<+ jgsa] vYykg ds lk{kh jgsa pkgs bldh dher mUgsa ;k muds ekrk&firk ;k vU; ifjtuksa ;k lg;ksfx;ksa dks pqdkuh iMs+------------------------^^ ;g tkudj vlhfer osnuk gksrh gS fd bl ifo= xzUFk ds ekuus okys dSls ‘kq)hdj.k ds uke ij ,slh ladh.kZ ,oa fodV fgalk QSykrs gSaA

 vUrjkZ”Vªh; lekt dks rqjUr gh ikfdLrku esa py jgs bl lqfu;ksftr vYila[;d ujlagkj ,oa fu”dklu ds ekeys esa gLr{ksi djuk pkfg,A eSa la;qDr jk”Vª ls Hkh vkxzg djrk g¡w fd bl lanHkZ esa ‘kh?kzkfr‘kh?kz ,d fof’k”V izfrosnd fu;qDr djds ikfdLrkuh ljdkj dks ryc djuk pkfg,A

Condemning Religious Violence in Pakistan

-Swami Agnivesh

New Delhi, 21 March 2013

I strongly condemn the dastardly violence against the christians in Pakistan on the silly pretext of Blasphemy. Pakistan has become an increasingly hostile place for minorities, be they Christians or Hindus, or Shia or Ahmadia Muslims The recent attacks highlight the heightened state of vulnerability of all minorities. It also shows that the provincial or central authorities are unable or unwilling to protect minorities.

Countless individuals have lost their lives due to this barbaric anti blasphemous law 295(c) which was introduced under the British rule but strengthened during the administration of military dictator Gen. Zia ul- Haq. Although it is interesting to note that MA Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan was a Shia himself, the sectarian factions of the Sunni sect have been constantly using this demonic law and perpetrating violence against the minorities especially shias and Ahmadiyyas. The most high-profile individual to loose his life as a result of this fanaticism was none other than the Governor of Punjab-Salmaan Taseer. Mr. Taseer had supported reforming the laws and was shot dead in January, 2011 Two months later, the countries Minorities’ Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated. Its high time that the rulers of Pakistan scrap these sectarian laws, failing which they must share the blame of orchestrating terror on the minorities.

While there are no recent instances of an anti-blasphemous sentence being carried out, the accusation of blasphemy alone leads to a spiral of violence- And cases are usually about something else, land or money or personal animosity, but where 295-C has been used as a means of assault. Thus at the time of partition, Pakistan had a healthy 23% minority population which now faced with such abominable laws and mentalities has dwindled to less than 3%

The state of Pakistan must do away with such sectarian laws and propagate the Quranic ideals of equality for all and religious tolerance. The holy book instructs to its believers in IV;135-“O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witness for God, even though it be against yourselves or your parents or your kindred………….” It is astonishingly painful to realize how the followers of this holy book indulge in such horrendous sectarian terror and violence in the name of purification.

The International community must step in to curb this systematic elimination of minorities in Pakistan. I also appeal to the UN to nominate a Special Rapporteur which should instruct the Government in Pakistan to immediately stop this ethnic & minority cleansing.

 

Press Statement on Tribal Killings in Bastar By Swami Agnivesh

Press Statement on Tribal Killings in Bastar By Swami Agnivesh

New Delhi

21^st March , 2013 

I am deeply concerned by the reports of cold blooded mayhem, murder and rape by the security forces in the killing fields of Bastar . One such report is about a fake encounter in village Kanchaal of Pamed area in Bijapur district where two innocent tribal women were shot dead due to indiscriminate firing by the joint forces of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh on 9^th March 2013. One of the dead women has been identified as Kunjam Deve of 55 years with four children. She was fetching water from a nearby  stream. A third woman who got injured is being treated in a hospital in Bhadrachalam Andhra Pradesh. The others injured due to police firing include Madvi Kuchud, Kartam Guddi,Markam Deva , Madvi  Kunjam Kiske, Kartam Bheeme, Madvi Hidme, Madvi Bandi. Some of the captured women were subjected to gang rape by the security personel . Some tribals including two women of Godor Parlaam have gone missing. Five women of village Tundem of Usoor Block of Pamed area in the Andhra Pradesh Chhattisgarh border have also been gangraped and subjected to physical torture by Andhra Pradesh police. These women had gone to Tundem village to condole the death of some relations.

                Similar reports of cold blooded killing of two innocent tribal have come from Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. These tribals were hunting some wild animals with their bows and arrows. They were caught hold of by the police, blind folded, hands tied from behind and shot dead in cold blood.

                While all these are recent happenings, the security  forces are emboldened by the fact that the Supreme Court appointed CBI enquiry on 5^thJuly 2011 to investigate the burning down of three villages of Tadmetla, Thimmapuram and  Morepally and killings of four adivasis between 11-16 March 2011 is yet to start its work effectively . The same CBI team has been entrusted with the task of investigating murderous assault on me and my colleagues   at Dornapal barrier in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh has till date come a cropper.

I demand a thorough probe by a high powered investigating agency with security provided by NSG. An all party team of Parliamentarians should also visit the Bastar area and come up with solutions to this spiral of violence and counter violence.

-- 

Indo-Pak Relations , Press Statement by Swami Agnivesh

Indo-Pak Relations

Press Statement by Swami Agnivesh

New Delhi

16^th Jan , 2013

BSP’s Mayawati’s   statement, “War not the only Solution,” is quite sobering and statesman like, compared to BJP’s Sushma Swaraj’s ugly, jingoistic remark about ten heads of Pakistani soldiers in return for one of an Indian soldier, as well as SP’s Ramgopal Yadav’s war mongering statement, “war the only solution.”

But the sad part of continuing border clashes and the despicable beheading of Indian soldier is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that, “there can be no more business as usual,” which threatens to derail the Indo-Pak dialogue and peace process.

The suspension of ‘Visa on arrival’ for senior citizens at Vagah Border is a knee jerk response by our authorities. It will affect the trade and commerce between our two countries, and strengthen the hawkish elements on both sides of the border. A diplomatic “war of words” is understandable, but actual war mongering should be resisted.

I fully endorse Mani Shankar Ayyer’s approach – whatever the provocation, the Indo-Pak, dialogue-based peace process should remain “uninterrupted and uninterruptible”. India should be seen strengthening the democratic forces in Pakistan and desist from walking into a trap of Pakistan’s Army.     

(Swami Agnivesh)     

“Quota for Inter-Religious Marriages” – Sarva Dharma Sansad

On the occasion of World Human Rights Day, Sarva Dharma Sansad (Parliament of All Religions) organized a well attended Interfaith convention at the Constitution Club, New Delhi for the annihilation of caste system in India. Religious leaders of several faiths pledged support to promote and celebrate inter-caste marriages. The Religious luminaries like Swami Agnivesh, Goswami Sushil Maharaj, Jain Munies- Vivek and Lokesh, Father Dominic Emmanual, Swami Aryavesh and noted Buddhist activist Udit Raj, other social activists like Vijay Pratap and Padmini Kumar joined hands on the occasion and reiterated the need to promote inter-caste and  even inter-religious marriages. Several couples who had tied the knot demolishing the caste barrier were also honored and felicitated by the distinguished gathering.

The convention began with a soulful song presentation by Shri Pushkin Arora which set the tone for humanist deliberations. On this occasion, famous socio-spiritual activist Swami Agnivesh said that we must take a leaf out of the magnum opus of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar titled ‘Annihilation of the Caste’ and promote inter-caste marriages at all costs to rid ourselves from this social menace.

Father Dominic Emmanuel recalled the horrors of the Kandhmal pogrom and gave every one the horrifying details of how the society is mired in caste system and how certain vested interests make use of this for their own power. He called upon the missionaries to give up the big schools in towns and cities and provide education to the socially marginalized and down trodden in the villages and tribal societies.

Sadhvi Tapeshwari of Divya Jagriti Sansthan pledged full support for movement.

Arya Samaj leader Swami Aryavesh stressed on the fact that we need to take this movement out of cities and halls and convert it into a national movement.

President of Bhrigu Foundation, Goswami Sushil Maharaj, appealed to the Hindu religious leaders to come together and declare that there was no space for casteism in their religion and that temples and religious spaces should be open for all.

Udit Raj, famous Dalit activist, declared that India had been in shackles for over 2000 years because of only and only its casteist structure and thus such an initiative by religious leaders should be highly welcomed by everyone.

Concluding the function Swami Agnivesh felicitated couples who had married transcending the caste barrier. He logically and scientifically explained the Vaidic Varna Vyavastha as obtained in Purush Sukta of the Rigveda but also declared that it was an obsolete concept in the modern world.

Swami Agnivesh attacked in Bhopal

Swami Agnivesh attacked in Bhopal

Submitted by admin on 2 December 2012 - 11:41pm

• Dalit
 
• Indian Muslim

By TCN News

http://twocircles.net/2012dec02/swami_agnivesh_attacked_bhopal.html

Mumbai: All India Secular Forum (AISF) has strongly condemned the attack on Swami Agnivesh by communal forces in a meeting organized by Garima Abhiyan in Bhopal on Friday.

The meeting was called to make the members of Balmiki community take a pledge that they will not be carrying the night soil (human excreta) on their heads. Swamiji was attacked when he came forward to touch the feet of an old lady from Balmiki Community. The gesture was to recognize the dignity of all the humans being equal. In a way it was to challenge the prevalent practices which derive their origin from caste system. The government has already come with legislation banning this dehumanizing practice, which takes away the dignity of section of society.

In a statement, AISF alleged that the attack was done by communal forces, led by VHP. “This again shows the real agenda of VHP associates, the one of preserving the caste hierarchy and keeping the large section of dalits in their present subhuman conditions. VHP and affiliates, under the garb of protecting Hindu religion want to maintain the graded hierarchy of caste and so this attack on Swamiji, as he staunchly opposed this practice.”

“It also shows the failure of BJP led state Government’s to contain the communal forces. In MP communalism is being promoted through various schemes introduced by government. We condemn the act of VHP led forces and demand that the culprits should be punished as per the process of law. We express our solidarity with Swami Agnivesh’s continuing campaign to get dignity to dalits and Balmiki community in particular and to abolish the practice of carrying night soil on head.”

“We also urge upon the Indian government to ensure that the carrying of night soil should be eliminated all through the country.”