Anhad

Statement issued by ANHAD in Solidarity with Rayana R Khasi

anhad e-admin — 2010-08-28T14:31:56Z

ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) stands in full solidarity with Rayana R Khasi, from Kasaragod District, Kerala who has been lately receiving life threatening calls from fundamentalist organization Popular Front of India for not wearing Veil. We condemn in unequivocal voice all such fanatic, anti-constitutional and anti women attempts of issuing diktats.

It is a matter of grave concern that communal and fundamentalist forces are raising their heads in once a tolerant and progressive society of Kerala. There has been categorical escalation of fundamentalist and identity-based politics during the past two decades and unfortunately it has gone almost unchallenged. The politics deeply rooted in communal-hate politics and patriarchy must be countered strongly.

Victimization of Rayana R. Khasi has been going on for the last one year, yet no serious note was taken by the authorities to uphold her democratic rights. We are sure Rayana is not the only girl receiving threats for not following their diktats but she is one strong and vigilant individual who decided to stand by what she believes in and not to let any fundamentalist forces to take her freedom of expression lightly. Being a citizen of a democratic country she has all the freedoms including what she wants to wear, how she wants to live, what she believes in.

ANHAD demands from Kerala government to provide her full security because any harm to her would be considered as an assault on secular and egalitarian ethos of Indian constitution.

Anhad
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi 110001
Tel 23070740/ 22

Anhad's Notice to BJP

anhad e-admin — 2010-08-21T15:46:16Z

To
The President
Bhartiya Janta Party
New Delhi

August 21, 2010

Dear Mr. Gadkari,

I am absolutely shocked to see a BJP advertisement issued by your party in the Indian Express on 20.8.2010 and Navbharat Times on 21.8.2010 wherein a photograph of an ANHAD demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi held on 8.7.10 has been misused. In the said advertisement on top of the photograph appears the slogan of your party “Kashmir Bachao Divas” being organised by the BJP today at 3pm at the Mavlankar Auditorium, Constitution Club, New Delhi.

ANHAD, which was formed in 2003 in response to the hate ideology of the Sangh Parivar displayed during the Gujarat carnage of 2002, is an anti communal organization. Anhad has worked for the last 8 years against communal activities in India and for upholding the values of the Indian constitution.

To use our photograph in your advertisement is not only an insult to ANHAD but it also grossly defames our organization because it seems to suggest that Anhad has given the consent to BJP to use the photograph of its demonstration. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The demonstration organized by ANHAD was specifically regarding the excessive acts of violence by the security forces in Kashmir. Our dharna was essentially against the methods of the army and paramilitary forces against unarmed civilians and innocent persons. The dharna highlighted the fact that the policies of Kashmir and Delhi governments are resulting in the alienation of the people of the state who have been suffering violations of their civic rights for years. Rather than understanding the grievances of the people and addressing them through peaceful negotiations the authorities have decided to increase deployment thus worsening the situation. The dharna was to urge the governments to reverse their policies and to show remorse and to apologize for the deaths of innocent people. This is in total contrast to the BJP meeting which is unconcerned about the plight of the people of Kashmir and looks at the issue as a law and order problem and calls for even more severe repression by the use of security forces.

To connect our photograph with your programme is defamatory and illegal. Our grievance with respect to the use of a photograph about our dharna in your advertisement goes beyond your Kashmir Bachao Divas as Anhad and BJP are two diametrically opposite organisations as per our understanding of upholding the constitutional values in the country.

To carry a photograph of people associated with Anhad in association with your party itself, irrespective of the issue is defamatory, unethical and illegal as it gives a clear impression to the public at large that our organization and those associated with Anhad whose photographs are clearly visible in your advertisement are associated with the BJP and associate with your views.

Mr Gadkari we are a small voluntary organisation but we see every word before it goes out in public, perhaps a small tip to learn from. It definitely gives us some comic relief about the total ideological bankruptcy of the BJP which uses the Anhad photograph with slogans “10,000 Missing in Kashmir who is responsible? Stop Killing Innocent People in Kashmir”, while having a diametrically opposite understanding about the issue.

We call upon the BJP to issue an advertisement of equal size in all the newspapers in which this advertisement has appeared apologizing for the use of that photograph and stating therein that Anhad and the persons who are shown in the photograph have nothing to do with the BJP.

If we do not receive a satisfactory answer within one week we will be at liberty to take further action in accordance with law.

Yours sincerely

Shabnam Hashmi

Managing Trustee

9811807558

Encl: advertisement and the photograph

3 attachments — click on the pictures for bigger view

'Situation in Kashmir and Way Forward' - Press Release

anhad e-admin — 2010-08-11T07:51:53Z

Anhad
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi

Press Release

11 August 2010, New Delhi

A Panel Discussion and Press Conference “Situation in Kashmir and Way Forward” was organized by ANHAD on August 10 at Press Club of India in New Delhi. It was chaired by eminent Historian Uma Chakravarty with Panel comprising of Prof Siddiq Wahid (Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Avantipora, Kashmir), Anuradha Bhasin (Executive Editor, Kashmir Times) Sayeed Mallik (Senior Journalist), Tanveer Hussain Khan (Youth Activist, Anhad) and Vrinda Grover (Human Rights Lawyer). Expressing grave concern over the political inaction of Government of India in holding the situation Siddiq Wahid said, “Kashmir is a dispute that challenges the definition of sovereignty between Kashmir and the rest of the India. This is the high time and opportunity before the Civil society of India that believes in democratic ideals but unfortunately having cursory understanding of the situation in Kashmir owing to the biased reporting by main stream media, to connect cords with the people of Kashmir.” People are tired of the words and speeches that had never been followed with correct political actions. There is so much anger in them against India. “All the democratic institutions including Judiciary have failed to deliver. The gross human rights violations by the state and security agencies was never even questioned or objected by the Government of India. Entire generation has been born and brought up in the stifled environment of rapes, random arrests, blatant shooting outs, nocturnal raids, disappearances, encounters etc, and they have always witnessed ugly face of Indian democracy”, said Anuradha Bhasin. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh's much touted willingness to resolve the issue of Kashmir, senior Journalist Sayeed Malik said that his motivation lies in the silence he has worn in the last 60 days by not responding to the deaths of 51 civilians comprising mainly of teenagers and youth. He also said that People of Kashmir are constantly living under the shadow of fear for the last 20 years, earlier it was the Militancy and now Indian State responsible for that fear. Tanveer Hussain Khan, a young activist from Kashmir expressed the rationale behind the anger of the young Kashmir who have been consistently denied any political dialogue and have been targeted with tear gas shellings or bullets at point blank range. He quoted, “All the ATM banks were fixed with the maximum withdrawal limit of Rs. 1000/- on the day of relaxation on August 8, 2010 in the curfew after 7 days” an incident stating the ugly and mean level of oppression of Indian State. “People in the rest of India cannot imagine what it is to live in an occupied territory filled heavily with Army, Security Agencies, Paramilitary forces and so on” , said Vrinda Grover. She also said that, “Government of India had been bluffing with the people of Kashmir for so many years, running away from its responsibility by denying the right to Justice to the people and the civil society of India is complicit in the crimes of Indian State by keeping silence”. A collective voice from the platform emerged that there is a dire need to break the cycle of breach of trust of 62 years, as it is going to be now or never situation.

51 persons including children and women have been killed in the Kashmir Valley, locked out by hartals and curfews, in the last two months. On June 11 Tufail Ahmed Mattoo a 17 year old student died, while returning home from tuition in Srinagar's downtown, due to an injury caused by tear-gas shell. This incident triggered protests and anger began spilling on the streets with stone pelting youth engaging armed policemen and CRPF. The stone pelting initially limited to some pockets of Srinagar and a few rural areas was met with disproportionate force like targeted tear-gas, lathi-charge, random arrests, raids and even lethal firing. Several youth were injured. Within a week, two people were shot dead by the security forces, one while he was attending another victim's funeral procession. Three deaths in quick succession multiplied the rage across the Valley.

The protests, peaceful or with stone pelting, have only grown in size and fury. Over these last two months, more security troops have arrived in the highly militarized state of Kashmir, the army has held flag marches and public protests responded to by unrestrained and disproportionate firing and teargas shelling. The human toll as it stands today is 51 dead and hundreds injured many of them with bullet wounds and tear gas shells inflicted above the waist. Many of those killed and injured have been innocent bystanders, including 2 nine-year-old children. It is quite evident that the Jammu and Kashmir state police and the CRPF are not working in accordance with established standards of crowd control, which makes it obligatory for them to respect the right to life of the protestors.

Both the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Government of India are responsible for precipitating the crisis. The state government abandoned its people and took no measures to rein in the police and security forces. The Central government caused greater provocation by labeling the protests as engineered by cross border terrorist outfits and branding the angry youth and those slain as ‘paid miscreants'.

The women and men protesting in the streets of Kashmir valley understand this callous and undemocratic approach of the state and central governments against a background of twenty years of unrelenting violation of basic human rights. Fake encounter killings, torture, rapes, arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions and enforced disappearances and a denial of justice each time has contributed to the deep sense of alienation and anger.

The refusal of the Central Government, in New Delhi, to address the political conflict in Kashmir and to repeatedly talk about the morale of the security forces rather than the right of the Kashmiris to justice, lies at the heart of this uncontrollable rage.

We call upon the Government of India and the state government to take the following measures immediately:

To ensure restraint by all security forces and respect for right to life in responding to protests. Zero tolerance for any disproportionate or targeted use of force by the security forces.

The repeal and withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act, which grant impunity to the security forces

Immediate and time bound measures to initiate criminal prosecutions, legal proceedings, grant of sanction for prosecution against all security personnel indicted for human rights violations including enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, and rape.

Constitute a credible commission to enquire into the complaints of human rights violations including the killing of civilians in the recent public protests.

These measures will have to be followed up with systematic reduction of troops from Kashmir and a sustained and meaningful dialogue with Kashmiris.

“We Are Not Begging, We Are Demanding Our Rights”

anhad e-admin — 2010-07-31T09:43:43Z

New Delhi, July 29, 2010: Around 5,000 women from across the country rallied near Jantar Mantar with a slogan “We are not begging, we are demanding our rights”. 300 colourful banners with lakhs of signatures of women were placed on both sides of the road. The place was full of life with songs, music and women raising slogans demanding to pass the 33% Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha. The crowd got more excited when the celebrities and politicians made their entry to support the cause.

A delegation, representing 350 women's and civil society groups from all over India, met President Pratibha Patil and appealed to use her good offices to get the Bill passed in this session of Parliament. The delegation presented a memorandum signed by thousands of women and men to President Patil, which noted that the "passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha has been a significant step, but the Bill does not become law unless it is passed in the Lok Sabha, and endorsed by at least 15 state assemblies." The delegates told President Patil that this is a now-or-never moment for the country. Passing the Bill would be a historic step, not just for India, but for the world. Said one of the delegates to President Patil, "It will be truly befitting if this Bill is passed under your presidentship as the country's first woman president. The government should ensure that the right strategies are deployed to secure the passage of the Bill in the Monsoon Session."

President Pratibha Patil expressed her full and unequivocal support for the Women's 33 per cent Reservation Bill. Speaking to a delegation representing the Alliance for 33 per cent, she said, "I am with you, as my speech to Parliament indicated. Women's reservation is good for the country."

Even as the delegates were meeting the president, a mammoth rally of over 4000 people was taking place outside Parliament. The delegates presented with the president a special cap and umbrella which had the campaign message emblazoned on them. They told the president that it was symbolic of the demand of all the participants, including notable personalities like Sharmila Tagore, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, and prominent parliamentarians like Jayanthi Natarajan, Brinda Karat, D. Raja, and Christine Lazarus. The delegates expressed the desire that President Patil take their message to the political establishment.

Addressing the rally Annie Raja, NFIW said: “Today is a historical day. All national women's organizations, other women's groups, students and many others came together with one demand – to pas the 33% of Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha. We have been fighting for this since many years. UPA government has to take initiative to pass the Bill.”

Sharmila Tagore, celebrity: “Yes reservation bill is a unique step to take the women forward. It is a shameful thing that there are only 69 women in Parliament against 537 men. Our country has always been male dominated country. They always tried to make women sit within the four walls. We won the battle against the British. Now the fight to give freedom to women is still going on. The fight is there at home, office, school and everywhere. I came to tell you that I am with you all in demanding 33% of reservation for women. This decade is meant for women.”

Jayanti Natarajan, “Since fourteen years all women's groups have been fighting for this Bill. That is why we were able to pass this in Rajya Sabha and all Opposition parties have supported us. I assure you on behalf of my party that our efforts are there to pass the 33% Women's Reservation Bill.”

Brinda Karat, MP and AIDWA said: “In the past we demonstrated many times on the Bill. It is just 10 steps or 5 min from Rajya Sabha to Lok Sabha. After the Bill has been passed in Rajya Sabha it has not reached Lok Sabha. There is definitely some political gap. It is not the question of men and women but the entire country. Women are resource of the country. They are doing injustice to the country by not recognizing them.”

D.Raja, MP: “The struggle for the empowerment of women, struggle for passing 33% Reservation Bill for women is not the struggle for women alone. It is the struggle of women, men and the entire society. It is a long drawn struggle from Comrade Gita Mukherjee. Rajya Sabha has already passed the Bill to provide 33% reservation for women. I hope the UPA government will take the Bill to Lok Sabha and pass it. As a Member of Parliament I saw what happened in the Parliament. I saw what happened in the Lok Sabha. I demand of 33% reservation bill to be passed. In fact women should get 50% reservation. They should get due place in the Parliament and Legislative Assembly.

Javed Akhtar “It is shameful to say that half the population of the country should get their rights. Now some people are showing excessive sympathy to women and they are demanding reservation within the reservation. I want to ask those people that why they never thought to give reservation to women from their 22% reservation.”

Dr. Vimal Thorat: “I want to ask a question from people sitting in the parliament-what kind of equal participation is this when we have to struggle this much to get 33% reservation?”

Ranjana Kumari, CSR and WPC said: "After 63 years of Independence also the fight for the women's reservation bill is still going on. Prices are increasing, the situation of women is increasing and it is now time to give equal rights to women for the better future of the country. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad said: "If Mulayam, Lalu and some Maulvis think , they can force women to sit at home, that women are there only to bear children…then they are wrong…When the constitution gaurantees equality to women…then who are these people." Madhu, Jagori said: "All capitalist powers are also supporting women reservation bill but women groups are fighting for this Bill for different reason. They want to abolish patriarchy. We want reservation for women from all communities through this Women Reservation Bill."

The delegation comprised 10 people. They were Anju Dubey Pandey from CSR, Annie Raja of the NFIW, Beulah Shekhar of the YWCA, N. Hamsa of WPC, Indu Prakash of the IGSSS, Jyotsna Chatterji, JWP, Mansi Sharma from Anhad, Pamela Philipose of WFS, Sudha Sunderaraman, AIDWA, and Suneeta Dhar of Jagori.

For more information please contact following persons:
Ms. Mansi Sharma, Anhad (9818809018)
Ms. Kalpana, Young Women's Christian Association of India (9810026403)
Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Centre for Social Research (9873620162),
Or email: 33percentnow@googlegroups.com.

Pass The Women Reservation Bill Now

anhad e-admin — 2010-07-27T23:05:03Z

Press Release

New Delhi, 27 July 2010

The Alliance for 33%, a collective of more than 300 women's groups, individuals, civil society organizations and networks from across India, is demanding the immediate passage of the 33% Women's Reservation Bill by the current Lok Sabha. The Bill, which has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha, can become law only after it is passed in the Lok Sabha and endorsed by at least 15 state assemblies.

The Alliance is organizing a massive rally on 29 July 2010 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi followed by a march to Parliament. Around 5,000 women from various parts of the country will be coming together for the rally.

At a press conference this morning, the Alliance for 33%, called on all political parties in Parliament to come together and ensure the smooth passage of the 33% Women's Reservation Bill without delay. They also appealed to all progressive forces to strongly and vocally support the cause of women's rights and equality in India.

Speaking at the press conference Annie Raja National General Secretary of NFIW said, "The UPA lacks the political will and social commitment necessary for getting the Bill passed by Parliament. The parties opposing the bill do not believe in gender equality. They are trying to prevent women from coming into mainstream politics.”

Jyotsna Chatterjee (JWP) said: "We have been waiting since 1995 for this legislation. If the government was serious about empowering of women it would have passed the bill by now. But there seems to be a lack of political will."

Beulah Shekhar of YWCA: "It is now or never! If we need to achieve the Millennium Development Goal No. 3 which aims at promoting gender equality and empowering women, India has to pass the Bill now. Will there be a better time than this? We think not. Using the excuse of the reservation within reservation to delay the bill is a gross violation of the CEDAW and the Constitution of India where Equality is emphasized”.

Sudha Sundararaman, General Secretary, AIDWA: “The passage of the 33% Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha on March 9th 2010, and its inclusion in the business list for the current of Parliament are the result of the relentless struggle waged by the women's movement on this issue. For 14 long years, this Bill has been the victim of patriarchal ideology, and “consensus” politics that served to delay the Bill inordinately. AIDWA, along with other organizations and groups committed to women's representation demands rectification of this gross injustice.”

She added, “The time for prevarication and delays in the name of a nonexistent consensus is past. We call on all the political parties committed to the strengthening of democracy to work for its passage in this parliamentary session, and take a historic step towards the equal participation of women in the highest decision making bodies of our country”.

Dr Ranjana Kumari, Center for Social Research: “The recent passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, was one of the rare occasions when a political consensus was reached between the three major national parties- the BJP, the Congress, and the Left parties- representing the extreme political spectrum supported the Congress led bill. Today, all women's organizations stand united for the cause and we the women of India will not give up till we have achieved our goal of sharing power for nation building. The Alliance for 33% group will use all democratic instruments at its command to persuade the government to take up the Bill during the monsoon session of Parliament.”

Shabnam Hashmi from ANHAD said “Conservative sections of society are using religion to tell us that a woman's place is in the home. We reject their advice. The women of India, which ever religion they belong to, are capable of deciding their own life. We demand that the UPA does not give in to the feudal, conservative and patriarchal mindsets within various political and religious formations and ensure the passage of this Bill in the present session of Parliament”

Speakers also pointed out that: Ensuring reservations for women in the panchayats and urban local bodies has facilitated the entry of millions of women across the spectrum into the public arena. Today, women from all castes, classes, religions and regions are actively discharging their responsibilities as sarpanchs, panchayat members, Zilla Parishad chairpersons, block development officers, mayors and in innumerable other capacities in different states of India. These women have faced tremendous hurdles in their bid to participate in elections and assume leadership positions. Today they have emerged triumphant and are role models for their community and country. While their presence has great symbolic value, these women have also been able to bring to the fore many important social and gender concerns and agendas. This positive example needs to be strengthened and replicated at all levels.

"The Alliance for 33% representing over 321 organisations from all over the country demands that the Women's Reservations Bill be passed now."

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Kalpana, Young Women's Christian Association of India 9810026403
Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Centre for Social Research 9873620162
Ms. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad 9811807558
Ms. Mansi Sharma, Anhad 9818809018

PROGRAMME BRIEF

Date/venue: 29th of July; Parliament Street, New Delhi

Starting 11 A.M., the gathering of thousands promises to be a massive show of strength in favour of the 33 per cent women's reservation bill. From Brinda Karat, MP and General Secretary of the All India, Democratic Women's Association, to actress Sharmila Tagore and Niyaaz Apa, a survivor of the 2002 Gujarat carnage, women and men from different walks of life will participate in the demonstration.

Women representatives of gram panchayats and leaders from the hinterlands – such as Sharmi Bai, the sarpanch from Sirohi district of Rajasthan to Sundi Bai, a sarpanch from Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh and Deepa Negi, the sarpanch from district Nanital in Uttarakahand - are expected to be part of this huge demonstration.

Other speakers for the day include Aruna Roy, activist and member of the National Advisory Council; Annie Raja, General Secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women; Kavita Srivastava from the People's Union of Civil Liberties; danseuse and activist Mallika Sarabhai; well-known poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar; Alka Lamba, Secretary All India Congress Committee (AICC); Kanimozhi, an MP representing the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham; Shabnam Hashmi from Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD); and Dr. Vimal Thorat from the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch. Many young activists, college students are also expected to attend the demonstration.

Folk groups from Rajasthan, girls from the music society of the Lady Sriram College, activists from Jagori and ANHAD will perform at the occasion.

Repression and killings will not 'calm down' Kashmir

anhad e-admin — 2010-07-08T17:47:11Z

STATEMENT RELEASED ON JULY 8, 2010

ANHAD
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi
Tel.: 23070740/ 22

It is a matter of grave concern and anguish that no sensitive measures have been taken by the Central Government in response to the ongoing deaths, injuries and killings in cold-blood of civilians in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including young girls and boys, most of them innocent, peaceful protestors, or even just bystanders. And consequently both North and South regions of the valley are on flame. To make matters worse, the Army, along with para-military forces, have been issued orders to shoot at sight to uphold the almost relentless curfew — basically to block protests against the continuing spiral of non-stop and indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians. The presence of army and security forces dominates the Valley and reinforces the deep-rooted angst of people. The reality is that democracy is under severe strain and is almost absent in many parts in this state, despite an elected government backed by the Centre holding the reigns of power at Srinagar.

ANHAD and many other concerned civil society groups in India want the governments in the state and Centre to come out clean — urgently and immediately — and explain if this is indeed a democratic and constitutional method of handling a manifold and multiplying crisis in a highly sensitive region. Obviously, the establishment thinks that branding it as mere law and order problem and repression and killings would 'calm down' the situation as sensitive and grim as that of Jammu and Kashmir. This will be like choking tens of thousands of people into the silence of absolute suffering and blind rage. Will this violence ever stop, and will we ever find the root causes for a political solution based on consensus, understanding, mutual harmony and human rights?

Tuesday began with protests against one death which led to the second death and then suddenly, Srinagar was back under curfew. The cycle of violence has spun out of control all over again. Last week witnessed a similar series of killings taking its toll in Anantnag district where people were killed in clashes with security forces since they were not allowed to protest against the killings of civilians. This has become a tragic and vicious circle of hopelessness.

Instead of issuing any statement of sympathy or concern or wisdom, our highest offices of governance in the country, are only pushing for an escalation in the number of deployment of security forces. This clearly indicates the callous attitude of the governments in Delhi and Srinagar. Such acts of brutality are in complete violation of the law of the land and constitutional rights of the people that have resulted in mass outrage and alienation of large sections of the civilian population in Kashmir.

These are unarmed, non-violent citizens, who are being treated with such blatant and indiscriminate use of military force — why? Is there no other way to negotiate with civil unrest? And what is the root cause of this civil unrest if not the brutalities executed by the police and para military forces? And what about cases of atrocities committed on people who are not even protesting?

There is no excuse for such cruelty. Despite repeated assurances by the central and state governments of zero tolerance towards human rights violations, the fact remains that little has been done to punish those responsible for such heinous and gross violations. This organised insensitivity and vacillation to act firmly against such elements is bound to put a question mark on the credibility of the State and its track record in terms of human and democratic rights of the people, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Mere rhetoric and institution of official enquiries is not enough to restore the shattered and shaken confidence of the people. It is imperative that the central and state authorities take firm and visible action against those responsible for unleashing this brutish violence on innocent people. Any delay will only compound the alienation and anger of the people — resulting in irrefutable damage to the peace process in the Valley and elsewhere in the state.

ANHAD expresses serious concern over the absolute antipathy and lack of political initiative displayed by the UPA-led central government in response to the situation in the valley. They should learn some lessons from history. People cannot be won over or suppressed at gun point. Certainly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a more rational, humane, visionary and sensitive response from the Indian State.

We demand from the Central and the State governments to:

• Take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and property

• Put an end to the violence perpetrated by the security forces with immediate effect.

• Immediately appoint an independent and impartial time bound Commission of Enquiry to look into the killings of peaceful civilians & human rights violations

• Initiate an inquiry into instances of attacks on ambulance services

• Ensure security of the journalists both of local and national media

• Ensure freedom of expression and press

• Immediately start a political dialogue with various stake holders

Endorsed By:

Aashima Subberwal- Delhi University
Abeer Gupta - filmmaker
Adnan Nabi – Kashmir
Alana Hunt – Artist
Ali Asghar – Social Activist, Hyderabad
Amit Sengupta, Journalist, Delhi
Amrita Nandy – SANGAT
Anil Choudhury- Peace
Anjali Thomas – Student DU
Anjum Rajabali, Cinema Script writer
Ankita Dash – Student DU
Appu Esthose Suresh - The Sunday Guardian, Delhi
Aqsa Anjum – Delhi
Arindam Jit Singh – Team Nishan
Arun Kumar Tiwari – Anhad
Aslam Khan – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia
Astha Rajan – Anhad
Atique Farooqui – Lucknow
Avinash Kumar-Oxfam India
Biju Mathew – Professor of Business, Rider University, NJ, USA
Bindia Thapar - Architect/Illustrator, New Delhi.
Bobby Kunhu – Researcher and Writer
Colin Gonsalves-Human Rights Law Network
David Devadas - Senior Journalist
Dev Desai – Gujarat
Dhananjay Tripathi – South Asians for Human Rights
Dunu Roy – Hazards Centre
Fahad Shah, journalist, Srinagar
Faizen Haider Naqvi - Businessman, Delhi
Gauri Dasan Nair – Senior Journalist, kerala
Gowher Nabi Gora – J and K
Harsh Dobhal- Human Rights Law Network
Harsh Kapoor – South Asia Citizens Web
Inder Salim – Activist
Indu Prakash Singh- IGSSS
John Dayal- General Secretary, All India Christian Council
Kallol Bhowmik - Spl Correspondent Ajir Dainik Batori and Eastern Chronicle
Kalpana Tikku
Kashif-ul-Hoda - Editor, TwoCircles.net
Madhu Chandra - All India Christian Council & North East Support Centre & Helpline
Madhura Chakrvoraty – Student Jadhavpur University, West Bengal
Maia Barkaia – JNU student
Manas Arora – Student, IP College of Engineering
Manisha Sethi – Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association
Manisha Trivedi – Anhad Gujarat
Manjit Singh Roperia – Student Hissar
Mansi Sharma-Anhad
Moggallan Bharti – JNU student
Mohan Kumawat- Anhad
Mohd. Ali - Delhi Correspondent of news website TwoCircles.net
Mudassir Kawa, Activist, Srinagar
Mukul Manglik – Historian Delhi University
Murli Natarajan, South Asia Solidarity Initiative, USA
Mushtaq Koka, Activist, Srinagar
Naazim Mohammed – Social Activist, Bangalore
Nadim Nikhat - Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Navaid Hamid -Social Activist
Neha Dhole, Aman Trust, New Delhi
Prasad Chako- NCDHR
Pratap Singh Negi, Anhad
Prativa Thomas – Amnesty International, UK
Prem Dangwal – Anhad Mumbai
Prof Anuradha Chenoy, JNU, Delhi
Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU, Delhi
Prof. KN Panikkar, Historian
Raj Gopalan – Trivandrum, Kerala
Ram Puniyani – Ekta, Mumbai
Rashid Ali – Freelance Journalist
Rima Aranha
Rohit Sinha – Student DU
Rupal Oza, South Asia Solidarity Initiative
Sabir Hussain – Jammu and Kashmir
Sachin Pandya – Anhad Gujarat
Sania Hashmi – Anhad
Sanjay Sharma – Anhad
Sanjeev Mahajan, CA, USA
Saqib Sana - Mumbai
Seema Duhan-Anhad
Shabir Hussain – Srinagar, J &K
Shabnam Hashmi- social activist, Anhad
Shahnawaz Malik – Lucknow
Shaweta Anand, Journalist and Researcher
Sheeba Aslam Fehmi – Researcher JNU
Shesh Narain Singh-Senior Journalist
Shoaib Khan – Srinagar, J&K
Shrish Chandra – Lucknow University
Shweta Tripathi – Programme Officer, SHRUTI
Sohaib Niazi – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia
Sohail Hashmi-Social Activist
Sonam Gupta - Anhad
Sonia Jabbar- Independent Filmmaker
Tanveer Hussain Khan -Anhad Kashmir Coordinator
Thulasi Kakkat – Photographer, Kerela
Uma Chakravarty- Academician
Vijayan- Delhi Forum
Vrinda Grover- Human Rights Lawyer, Supreme Court
Waqar Kazi – Anhad Mumbai
Wasim Khan, NJ, USA
Yasmeen Qureshi, Human Rights Activist, CA, USA
Zafar Abbas – journalist, Delhi
Zafar Agha, journalist, Delhi


Statement on Kashmir Released on 8 July 2010: (PDF Version)

Statement issued by ANHAD on the recent killings of civilians in Jammu and Kashmir

anhad e-admin — 2010-06-29T18:46:31Z

Anhad expresses its deep shock and anguish over the sad and unfortunate killings of nine young boys in the last two weeks in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Valley has seen a sharp escalation of police and para military atrocities, leading to many deaths and injuries. Scores of youngsters and innocent people have been killed. Even a brazen case of yet another fake encounter at the hands of a rogue army official has come to light. These acts of brutality, in complete violation of the law of the land and constitutional rights of the people, have resulted in mass outrage and alienation of large sections of the civilian population in Kashmir. These are unarmed, non-violent citizens, who are being treated with such blatant and indiscriminate use of military force — why? Is there no other way to negotiate with civil unrest? And what is the root cause of this civil unrest if not the basic premise of police and para military brutality? And what about cases of atrocities committed on people who are not even protesting? There is no excuse for such cruelty. Despite repeated assurances by the central and state governments of zero tolerance towards human rights violations, the fact remains that little has been done to punish those responsible for such heinous and gross violations. This organised insensitivity and vacillation to act firmly against such elements is bound to put a question mark on the credibility of the State and its track record in terms of human and democratic rights of the people, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Mere rhetoric and institution of official enquiries is not enough to restore the shattered and shaken confidence of the people. It is imperative that the central and state authorities take firm and visible action against those responsible for unleashing this brutish violence on innocent people. Any delay will only compound the alienation and anger of the people — resulting in irrefutable damage to the peace process in the Valley and elsewhere in the state.

Tanveer Hussain Khan
Shabnam Hashmi
Mansi Sharma
Seema Duhan

All is Not Well With The Proposed Communal Violence Bill : The government must incorporate concerns of human rights groups

anhad e-admin — 2010-06-26T21:40:06Z

Anhad
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi—110001, Tel.: 23070740/22

26 June 2010

While one wing of the government engaged the activists in negotiations on Communal Violence Bill (CV Bill) the other leaked out to the media that all the concerns have been incorporated in the CV Bill. It looked from the press reports on June 25 and 26, 2010 that a wonderful CV Bill is about to be passed. These are lies and unethical politics. Most of the civil society's non negotiables are yet to be incorporated in the proposed CV Bill. Please see below the news reports of an urgent press conference that we held today. The Home Ministry is unaware of the extent of communal virus that has seeped at the ground level and it is no longer confined to Gujarat.

We are releasing to the media amendments submitted to NAC sub group on the proposed Communal Violence Bill [see PDF File enclosed below]

The Hindu, May 27, 2010

New Delhi, June 27, 2010

Activists upset at reports on communal violence Bill

Smita Gupta

They express shock to read news reports indicating this

Even as the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) is holding consultations with a cross section of civil society groups to evolve a consensus on The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, so that their suggestions can be incorporated in the final text before it is brought to Parliament in the coming monsoon session, the government appears to have finalised the Bill. Or so members of civil rights groups alleged here on Saturday.

Shabnam Hashmi of Anhad, which had organised the second National Consultation to discuss the Bill in February 2010, and John Dayal of the All India Christian Council referred to news reports which appeared a few days ago, which indicated the government had finalised the bill. The publication of these reports, Ms. Hashmi and Mr. Dayal said, virtually coincided with the meeting that they had with two members of the NAC, Harsh Mander and Farah Naqvi, who had invited them – along with representatives of several other civil society groups — for a “consensus-building discussion” on the Bill, prior to the July 15 meeting of the full NAC on the subject. Ms. Hashmi and Mr. Dayal said they assumed that discussions were still on to decide the final shape of the bill, and so they were shocked to read news reports, which they said they presumed emanated from the Ministry of Home Affairs.” It looks as though the government has made up its mind,” said Mr. Dayal.

Ms. Hashmi and Mr. Dayal also released the recommendations they had made to the NAC earlier this week, which include what they termed as “non-negotiables.” These include opposition to the preamble, which reads: “To empower the State governments and the Central government to take measures to provide for the prevention and control of communal violence…” Their view is that the government does not need to be “empowered,”, it needs to be made “accountable.” Secondly, the Bill lays down the conditions under which a communally sensitive region can be declared as a “communally disturbed area.” The civil society groups are opposed to this provision as they feel that when an area is declared “communally disturbed,” the government acquires draconian powers, which entitles them to conduct combing operations, “search and seizure” exercises, etc.

Thirdly, they want crimes of sexual assault not only to be added as offences, but the definition of sexual crimes to be broadened. “Traditionally, sexual crimes mean only rape,” Ms. Hashmi said, adding, “but what about cases of stripping of women in public, pushing iron rods into their bodies etc.” Fourthly, they want an autonomous new authority, free of the influence of the Home Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission, at the Centre, the state and the district-level to monitor the implementation of the Bill. Finally, they want both public servants and non-State actors criminally responsible for both “their acts of omission and commission.”

If these are the issues engaging civil society groups, senior government sources told The Hindu that the Bill was unlikely to be passed in its current form as it would be contested by the State governments as it gives special powers to the Centre to deal with communal violence, including declaring a region as a disturbed area. These sources added, “civil society groups are looking at everything through the prism of Gujarat. The country is not Gujarat. What is required is political will – not more laws.”

o o o

The Times of India

Neither Centre, nor state. A panel to deal with riots?

Manoj Mitta, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 03.33am IST

NEW DELHI: For all the priority accorded to it by Sonia Gandhi's National Advisory Council, home minister P Chidambaram and law minister Veerappa Moily have not been able to break the five-year deadlock over the communal violence Bill. The sticking point is who should exercise the contemplated powers in the course of communal violence: state, Centre or an autonomous body?

While the Bill, originally introduced in Parliament in 2005, envisaged that the state government would declare an area "communally disturbed", the changed version mooted by Chidamabaram and Moily for the forthcoming monsoon session entrusted that crucial power to the Centre.

The idea of shifting the real time decision-making power from states to the Centre in the event of communal violence has already been spurned by civil society. And, given the threat it poses to the existing federal arrangement, the Centre's evidently self-serving proposal is likely to meet with stiff resistance from states as well.

The alternative suggested by campaigners of the Bill is the creation of a national commission, which will be empowered to notify the application of the communal violence law if the state concerned fails to do so. The commission is proposed to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and include diverse official and non-official members.

Civil society's radical proposal of independent monitoring of the communal violence law has not found favour with Chidambaram and Moily, probably because it would amount to ceding a vital aspect of governance. The ministers would, however, be hard pressed to counter the argument put forth by activists that, given the history of communal violence in India, no government could be trusted to initiate action against officials complicit in the killings.

The need for independent oversight has been established, according to activists, by the instances over the years of abuse of state machinery during and after communal violence. Only an independent body can have the impartiality to exercise the wide range of powers provided by the Bill: notification of the application of the communal violence law, measures to protect the life and property of victims, curbing hate speech, inquiring into complaints of dereliction of duty, appointment of special public prosecutors, etc.

As a corollary, activists have also been demanding that the regular safeguard of prior sanction of the government for prosecuting officials should not be extended to those allegedly complicit in communal violence. From the viewpoint of activists, the vicious cycle of abuse and impunity can be broken only when officials guilty of negligence or complicity in communal violence are rendered liable to criminal proceedings.

The government, however, believes that it has done enough by providing that officials guilty of errors of omission will be punished with prison term up to three years and those guilty of errors of commission will get "not less than three years".

One important issue on which the draft revised by Chidambaram and Moily has incorporated civil society's concerns is about broadening the definition of gender-based crimes to include not just rape but also sexual violence like stripping and genital mutilation.


AMMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO NAC ON JUNE 24, 2010: (PDF File -213kb)

Joint Protest Statement Against the Muslim Religious Leader's Attack on Women's Reservation Bill

anhad e-admin — 2010-03-21T08:02:46Z


We Support the Women's Bill


Sit in at Jantar Mantar - 20 march 2010

Not in Our Name!

We the undersigned Muslim citizens as well as secular activists support the Women's Reservation Bill which is the first step towards equality and justice for women. We believe once the Bill is adopted there can and will be democratic processes through which space and genuine participation for excluded women including Muslim women can be worked out. However, it is shocking the way some religious leaders are opportunistically using the debate on the Bill to make reprehensible statements in national media about women and their role in society.

Some men claiming to be clerics have made statements in the national media such as “ Allah sent women on earth to give birth to children and raise them to be doctors and engineers.” “Auraton ka kaam he achchi nasl ke bachche paida karna”. “What do women know about politics? Their place is at home.”

We strongly condemn these irresponsible and disgraceful statements. They are not just ludicrous but also extremely dangerous in thought and intent. They are not only anti-women, unjust, inhuman and violative of the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of India, but in our view also un-Islamic. This is nothing but patriarchy masquerading as Islam so we say to them loud and clear: Not in our name! Every Indian who believes in justice, equality and democracy must oppose these. As Indian Muslims and as secular citizens we are also seriously concerned that these fascistic outdated, outmoded male chauvinistic utterings have come to signify the voice of Muslim community. We state that these men may speak for a section but we question their posturing as spokesmen of all Muslim men, leave alone women. Muslim women are equal citizens and fully capable of speaking for themselves. Equally well, we challenge their partisan, male-centric interpretation of Islam. We urge friends in the media not to give undue space to these elements to spread their divisive and retrograde beliefs. As in other communities there are enough sane and progressive voices, both male and female, that need to be brought together and amplified.

1. A.A. Sheikh, Gujarat
2. Abdulsalam.A.Shaikh ,The Noor Education Trust
3. Abid Surti, Writer, Mumbai
4. Adhveta Marathe ,Oxfam India Trust
5. Amena Khatun A. Aziz, Gujarat
6. Amit Sengupta, journalist, Delhi
7. Annu, Nazareth Mahila Samiti, Delhi
8. Anup Kumar Srivastava , PWESCR, New Delhi
9. Priti Darooka , PWESCR, New Delhi
10. Anwar Rajan, Pune
11. Anwar Veerji ,Sanchetna
12. Appu Esthose Suresh, Correspondent, The Sunday Guardian
13. Aseem Srivastava
14. Aslam Khan, AISA, Jamia Millia Islamia
15. Avalokita Dutt, Delhi
16. Avinash Pasricha, Freelance photographer
17. Ayesha Bano Pathan ,Manav Sewa Trust
18. Ayesha Pathan, Gujarat
19. Aziza Ahmed, human rights lawyer, New York
20. Azra Abidi, Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi
21. Babu Mathew, Action Aid India.
22. Banubi Basha, Mahila Kamgaar Sanghatana, Mumbai
23. C K Subair, Kerala
24. C Saratchandran, Documentary Film-maker, Kochi, Kerala
25. C.D. Chauhan, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
26. Cedric Prakash ,Prashant
27. Charul Bharwad ,Loknaad
28. Digant Oza ,All India Secular Forum
29. Dilip Simeon
30. Dolphy D'souza, The Bombay Catholic Sabha, Mumbai.
31. Syed Zafar Mahmood, President, Interfaith Coalition for Peace, New Delhi
32. Chandrakant Puri, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai
33. Faizan Haider Naqvi, Delhi
34. Gagan Sethi, Gujarat
35. Gauhar Raza, Scientists, Delhi
36. Gaurang Rawal ,Drishti Media
37. Gautam Thakker ,PUCL
38. Geeta Dharmarajan, Katha, Delhi
39. Ghanshyam Shah, academician, Gujarat
40. Gulshan Khan, Hamraaz Legal Cell, Mumbai
41. Hanif Lakdawala ,Sanchetna
42. Harsh Kapoor, Delhi
43. Harsh Mander ,Aman Biradari
44. Hiren Gandhi ,Samvedan Cultural Program
45. Hozefa Ujjaini ,Aman Samudaya
46. Iftikhar A. Khan, Vadodara, Gujarat
47. Indu Kumar Jani ,Naya Marg, Gujarat
48. Iqbal Baig, Samerth, Gujarat
49. Irfan Engineer, CSSS, Mumbai
50. Ishaque Arab, Aman Biradari
51. Jamila Khan, Gujarat
52. Javed Akhtar
53. Javed Ameer, Action Aid, Ahmedabad
54. Javed Anand, Muslims for Secular Democracy, Mumbai
55. Jimmy Dabhi, Kabul
56. Juzar S Bandukwala, Baroda
57. Jyoti Punwani, columnist, Mumbai
58. K.A. Sheikh, Gujarat
59. Kamala Bhasin, Sangat
60. Kamini Kapadia, Child Rights Activist, Mumbai
61. Keshubhai Patil, Aman Samuday, Gujarat
62. Khairun (PARWAZ)
63. Khairun N. Hur, Parwaz Sangathan, Gujarat
64. Khatunbibi M. Shaikh, Gujarat
65. KP Sasi, Documentary Film Maker
66. M.A. Sheikh, Gujarat
67. M.A.Karimi, Gujarat
68. Maherajbibi B. Pathan, Gujarat
69. Maherunnisa, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
70. Maimudi, Gujarat
71. Mallika Sarabhai and Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad
72. Manas Ranjan, Action Aid, Bhuvaneshwar
73. Manisha Trivedi, Anhad, Gujarat
74. Manjula Pradeep (NAVSARJAN TRUST)
75. Manoj Sharma, Anhad, Gujarat
76. Manshuri Nasimben, Gujarat
77. Mansi Sharma, Anhad
Md. Ashraf Ali, Right Track, Kolkata
78. Meena Jagtap (DASTAK)
79. Meera Malik (CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT)
80. Mehamuda Patel, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
81. Mehjan , Sahrwaru, Gujarat
82. Mohan Bhagat, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, US
83. Mukund Sindhav (HUMANIST RATIONALIST ASSOCIATION, GODHRA)
84. Nadeem Ahmed, Editor – The Sunday Indian (Urdu)
85. Nadim Nikhat, CSJ, Gujarat
86. Nafisa Barot (UTTHAN)
87. Nahid Siddiqui, Delhi
88. Naish Hasan,Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Lucknow
89. Najmabanu, Gujarat
90. Nargis Tariq Husein, Concerned Individual, Bahrain
91. Naseem Mansuri (NISWAN)
92. Naseem Shaikh (NISWAN)
93. Naseeruddin Shah, Actor, Mumbai
94. Natvarbhai, Aman Samuday. Gujarat
95. Neela Limaye, Maharastra Mahila Parishad, Mumbai
96. Nida Kirmani, University of Birmingham, UK, UK
97. Nidhi Bhardwaj, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
98. Nitin More, LEARN, Mumbai
99. Noor Subasha, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
100. Noorjahan Ansari (NISWAN)
101. Noorjahan Diwan (BHARTIYA MUSLIM MAHILA ANDOLAN)
102. Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Mumbai
103. Nupur Sinha (CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE)
104. Praful Bidwai, columnist, Delhi
105. Prasad Chako (NCDHR)
106. Amit Bhaduri, JNU, New Delhi
107. Angana Chaterjee, California Institute of Integral Studies, USA
108. Rekha Pande, Centre for Women Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad
109. Punam Kathuriya (SWATI organization)
110. Purshottam Waghela (MANAV GARIMA)
111. Pushpa Achanta - Bangalore based freelance writer and volunteer
112. Qudsiya Contractor, Student, TISS, Mumbai
113. Rafi Malik
114. Rajgopalan, Course Director, CDIT, Trivandrum, Kerala
115. Raman Mehta, Action Aid, Delhi
116. Rashida Ansari,Aman Samudaya, Gujarat
117. Razia Rehman, Hukook-e-Niswan Sanghatana, Mumbai
118. Razia Shaikh, Mahila Kamgaar Sanghatana, Mumbai
119. Razzak Mansuri, Urja Ghar
120. Ritu Pathak, Mumbai
121. Romel Sutariya, Indian Socity Youth Org, Gujarat
122. Rubina Nafees Fatima, Safa Society Hyderabad
123. S.A. Sheikh, Gujarat
124. Sabiha Hussian, Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi
125. Sachin Pandya (ANHAD)
126. Sameera Khundmiri, Centre for International Programs, Osmania University, Hyderabad
127. Samina, Parwaz Sangathan, Gujarat
128. Saminabanu Afazalbhai Fakir, IDP,Gujarat
129. Sarita Bisora, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
130. Sarup Dhruv (DARSHAN)
131. Satinder Bhagat, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, US
132. Seema Duhan, Anhad
133. Sejal Dave
134. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad , Delhi
135. Shagufta Shaikh, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
136. Shaheen Sayed Kadri, Jt. Sec, Minority Development Dep, Mantralaya, Mumbai
137. Shahjahan Mirza, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
138. Shaikh Vahida, Jan Surjan Trust, Gujarat
139. Shalehabanu Ayubbhai Sheikh, IDP, Gujarat
140. Sheba George (SAHRWARU)
141. Shehnaz Ansari (AMAN SAMUDAYA)
142. Shobha Ramachandran, Books for Change, Bangalore
143. Shweta Karkera, ACTIONAID INDIA, MUMBAI
144. Sofia Khan (SAFAR)
145. Sohail Hashmi, New Delhi
146. Sudhir Joglekar, Pragati Nagrik Sanghatana , Belgaum, Karnataka
147. Sujaat Vali ,Humanist Rationalist Association, Godhra
148. Sulekha Ali (ARZOO)
149. Sumitra Thakker (ANANDI)
150. Sushila Prajapati (ACTION AID)
151. Teesta Setalvad, Co-Editor Communalism Combat, Mumbai
152. Vijay Parmar (JAN VIKAS)
153. Vinay Mahajan (LOKNAAD)
154. Vrinda Grover
155. Waqar Qazi (ANHAD)
156. Yasmin Sayyed, Freeelancer in the field of Health and Human Rights, Mumbai
157. Zaid Ahmed Shaikh
158. Zain Rahimtulla, New Delhi
160. Zakia Soman, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Delhi
161. Zubeda Malek, Sahrwaru, Gujarat
162. Zulekha A. Multani, Sahrwaru, Gujarat


Delhi Protest Sit in 20 March 2010

Celebrating Diversity and Pluralism

anhad e-admin — 2010-03-02T20:32:09Z


Poster for Celebrating Diversity and Pluralism: (March 6, 2010, St Andrews College Auditorium, Mumbai)

March 6, 2010

St Andrews College Auditorium, Bandra West, Mumbai

4:00 -5.00pm Umbrella Painting on Diversity: Children 10-15yrs (already registered for the program)

5.00pm onwards artists paint on a 100 feet canvas on the theme of diversity, pluralism, democratic rights ( we invite visual artists , students to participate)

5.00-6.00 pm - Interactive Session Diversity and Pluralism : Nandita Das and Rahul Bose talk to college students, youth ( others are invited too)

6.00-9.00pm – poetry, music, dance, theatre, solidarity statements

Participating artists and activists include:

Amjad Khan, Anand Teltumde, Atul Tiwari, Auritra Ghosh, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Dhruv Sangari, Gersen da Cunha, Imaad Shah, Kumud Misra, Madhur Bhandarker, Mahesh Bhatt, Mahesh Dattani, Manu Rishi, Mehneer Sudan, Mohit Kaycee, Neiloufer Bhagwat, Nandita Das, Piyush Misra, Proscenium, Priyanka Borpujari, Rahul Bose, Rajit Kapoor, Ravi Shekhar, Saba Azad, Salim Arif, Sabhaji Bhagat, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Sen, Shyama Kulkarni, Swanand Kirkire, Vahida Nainar, Vidhyadhar Bhave, Vikrant Chaturvedi, Yuvak Biradari

9.00-10.00pm- The programme will culminate with Dhruv Sangari, disciple of Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan adding flavour of Sufism by singing Sufi music. He will be accompanied on Tabla by Amjad Khan.

This is an open event for every denizen of Mumbai to join in and be part of ‘Celebration of Diversity and Pluralism' of Mumbai with the artists, dignitaries and organisers.

The programme is organised by Anhad and supported by Oxfam India and Hivos.