The following is a statement issued by the All India Secular Forum:
We strongly condemn the attack on Swami Agnivesh by communal
forces in a meeting organized by Garima Abhiyan in Bhopal. 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.
This 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.
Asghar Ali Engineer, L.S. hardenia, Ram Puniyani, Irfan Engineer
All India Secular Forum
C/o CSSS Santacruz Mumbai
Email: ram.puniyani@gmail.com
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