65 former bureaucrats speak out against intolerance
TOI tells us, 13th June ’17, “In an open letter, 65 former bureaucrats of Central services said they decided to speak out in view of ‘a sense of deep disquiet at what has been happening in India’ and emphasized that they, ‘had no political affiliation’. If you think people have tired of protesting against “Intolerance”, think again. “The former officers, who have worked with Central and state governments for decades, have lamented a ‘growing climate of religious intolerance that is aimed primarily at Muslims’.”
“They have traced it to the Prime Minister’s controversial remarks about ‘burial grounds and cremation grounds’ (Shamshan vs Kabristan) and power supply during religious festivals of different communities — widely seen as a dog whistle to Hindutva storm-troopers during UP elections. ‘In the run-up to the elections, an odious and frankly communal comparison was made…’ the letter says, without referring to the PM.”
ScoopWoop tells us, “Among these many signatories are former Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, former Punjab cop Julio Ribeiro, former Calcutta Metro general manager Geetha Thoopal, former Bengal chief secretary Ardhendu Sen, former Planning Commission secretary NC Saxena, former ambassador to Nepal Deb Mukharji, former chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and former information and broadcasting secretary Bhaskar Ghose.”
TOI says, “Referring to the lynching of Akhlaq in Dadri village, Pehlu Khan in Jaipur, attacks on nomadic shepherds in J&K, the petition points to the wider problem of “vigilantism” which also underlines the functioning of “anti-Romeo” squads. “Gaurakshaks function with impunity and with the tacit complicity or active encouragement of state machinery….(anti-Romeo squads) a thinly-veiled effort to prevent Hindu-Muslim relationship or marriage, there is no justification to harass these couples,” it says.”
“The former top bureaucrats said students and academics who talk about social justice and equality are being subjected to harassment by the administration, backed by a“supportive government”.
The letter laments, “Disagreement and dissent are considered anti-national. Such attitudes have a chilling impact on free speech and thought…. and accuses the government of violations of FCRA and IT Act to target civil society organizations who have taken a critical stand against the State.”
-Roy Daniels
