The present violence proved to be a fascist attack on the peace-loving people of Delhi, said Justice A.K. Ganguly, Ex-Judge of Supreme Court of India, Chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission and former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and Madras High Court. He also sought an answer from the police who darted into the campuses of universities and smashed the houses of knowledge (Library) and even did not hesitate in mercilessly lathi-charging the future of the nation (students). Justice Ganguly was addressing a press conference on “Murder of Humanity in Delhi” organised, in the backdrop of North-East Delhi riots which claimed 53 innocent lives, mostly Muslims, by the Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA) at Press Club, Kolkata on March 10, 2020.
Justice Ganguly came down heavily upon those who are alleged to have instigated the people who ultimately caused the violence. He specifically mentioned the leaders and rogue elements who uttered “Goli-maro Salon ko…” ; and why they were not charged suitably. Justice Ganguly further said, “What does Delhi stand for in the world?” He clarified that Delhi is the capital of the democratic country that takes pride in calling itself the largest democracy in the world.
Justice Ganguly further said that a conscientious judge of the High Court of Delhi, Justice S. Muralidhar held court at midnight to ask the police what steps were taken by them against people who openly threatened to shoot people. The said judge was under order of transfer. The state machinery moved with tremendous speed. His transfer order was signed at the dead of night. Justice Ganguly said that he is not saying anything against the transfer of the judge. But the speed with which it was executed is exemplary. Let the government show the same speed in dealing with those who are real miscreants. Have FIRs been lodged against those people?
He further spoke that the most shocking thing was the destruction and burning of the library and committing inhuman acts in the universities’ campuses. This is, in fact, a sort of ‘fascist attack’ on the peace-loving people as well as on ‘democracy’ which is certainly in peril. During the course of his speech he mentioned as to how the Home Minister instigated the rogue elements in the society.
He said, “If anyone would ask me to describe the Constitution in three words, I would say ‘democracy, socialism and secularism’.” He further elaborated the point that these three features are combined together and, as such, they can’t be isolated from one another. Secularism is the most essential feature. The Supreme Court has said that this is the soul of the Constitution.
He urged the people to fight peacefully for the protection of Democracy and the Constitution. He supported the peaceful demonstrations (against CAA) being held at several places in the country. He forcefully asked, “Who has got the right to ask for our citizenship?” Concluding his speech, he said that we all, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians must resolve and pledge that such horrific violence that occurred in Delhi would not recur anywhere in India.
Rev. Francis S. Rosario, Priest Barasat Church, Kolkata, clarified that the riots in Delhi were not against any particular community but against the entire humanity. He stressed the point that India and the Constitution of India must be saved at all cost. In his short speech he also mentioned Nazi Germany where genocide against Jews was committed.
Sardar Jagmohan Singh Gill, Vice-President FDCA West Bengal, alleged that the people who had projected the acts of barbarism sometime in the past, have appeared on the stage now in Delhi and committed the heinous acts of barbarism. He expressed satisfaction that the people of Bharat are not going to let the situation go unfettered and repeat the barbaric acts anywhere in the country. He further said that people would fight the evil together. He highlighted that there are places of worship of both Hindus and Muslims standing side by side at several places. He also said that some members belonging to the Sikh community reached and cleaned the spot at Shaheen Bagh.
Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, Editor-in-Chief of Radiance Viewsweekly and social activist, expressed his ire at the eerie silence of the Prime Minister Modi and the Home Minister Shah at the heart-rending violence which continued for three days in Delhi. He pointed out that the world opinion is clearly targeting the country and thus the image of democracy is shattered. He also mentioned how some leaders ignited the sentiments of the rogue elements through their poisonous speeches which ultimately culminated into the violence causing killing of innocent persons and destruction of properties. He criticised the role played by a section of the police. He quoted an ayah from the Qur’an which means “killing of one innocent person is like killing of the entire humanity”.
Prof. Ratan Khushnavish, Dept. of English, Kolkata University, opened his heart saying that India would live fully embracing the concept and ideology of ‘Unity in Diversity’ and that ‘sovereignty’ must remain intact. He further said that the government failed in addressing the basic needs of the people. He also said that rulers levelled the ground for causing violence in North-East Delhi. It was in the fitness of things that the violence could not spread in other parts of Delhi because the right-thinking and peace-loving people did not accept the poisonous ideology propagated by the biased leaders.
Mr. Avik Saha, a social activist, spoke at length focusing on the riots, and in this connection mentioned Harsh Mander who asked the Supreme Court to take suitable steps to punish the culprits. He also named Kapil Mishra who allegedly projected his biased and ugly mentality in creating a vicious atmosphere which ultimately resulted in the eruption of violent riots. He specifically mentioned that the riots in Delhi were not stopped by the Delhi Police but by the right-thinking and peace-loving people. He then said that people should visit the riot-affected areas and see with their own eyes the scale of destruction and loss of human life caused by the violence. He too mentioned as to how both Hindus and Muslims saved and protected each other’s life and property. He urged all to come forward together to fight the evils of communalism.
At the end of the conference, when asked as to how to avert Delhi-like violence in the country in future, Justice Ganguly replied that peace-loving persons and intellectuals must come forward to protest against the injustices being perpetrated by rogue elements and unscrupulous bureaucrats and government machinery. On being further asked whether the army would not be called in the event of our fighting the corrupt and biased police force, he replied that this would probably not happen.
Abdul Aziz, Secretary, FDCA West Bengal, extended his heartfelt thanks to the distinguished speakers and the media personalities and the dignitaries present on the occasion.