Prakash Kamat
Panaji, August 27-The Women’s groups, LGBTQIA communities and human rights organisations across the country are organising a day of resistance on September 5, 2020 to safeguard the Indian Constitution and its values.
The Hum agar uthhe nahin toh… Hum agar uthhe nahin toh …
हम अगर उट्ठे नहीं तो ..
if we do not rise … campaign is aimed at uniting voices against the targeted attacks on the Constitutional rights of the people of India,say organizers. The press release of the organisers,inter alia, says:
India’s democracy and Constitution are facing an unprecedented crisis. The last few years have seen a collapse of democratic institutions in the country. The independence of the judiciary and other institutions of oversight has come under a severe strain. The lack of transparency in election funding with the system of Electoral Bonds,dilution of the Right to Information Act has hit at the fundamental democratic right of citizens to question the government and hold it accountable are issues of concern.
The growth of fascist and neo-liberal forces in the country, and the resulting rise in violence in society, has deeply impacted the lives of women and members of the LGBTQIA communities. Attacks on minorities have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The country has witnessed a systematic attempt to spread communal hatred and divide people on religious lines. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) pushed through,together with the NRC and NPR, destroys the secular fabric of India’s Constitution by making religion a basis for giving Indian citizenship. People all over India rose up in a unique, women led movement to protect the Constitution. Unfortunately, targeted communal violence was unleashed in response to the movement. Instead of arresting leaders who made hate speeches inciting violence, the women and people who worked for unity, peace and the Constitution are being arrested and incarcerated.
In August last year, the Government abrogated Article 370 and scrapping the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir. The internet has not been restored even one year on; there is a complete clampdown on speech and democracy, and Kashmiri political prisoners are incarcerated in jails without trial, and even former Chief Ministers are being held in house arrest. More recently, the Government has amended the region’s domicile law.
The last few years, have witnessed a frontal attack on the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution – the right to dress, speak, write, eat and choose – which has impacted women and the LGBTQIA communities,disproportionately.
Voices of dissent have been systematically silenced and labelled anti-national.There has been a steady deterioration in the rule of law with alarming cases of police excesses, including custodial deaths.
Neo-liberal economic policies and growing crony capitalism have adversely impacted women in general, but especially those who belong to the Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalised communities. Their fragile economic base has been devastated.
The COVID 19 crisis and consequent unplanned and harsh lockdown imposed to combat the pandemic resulted in economic devastation and destitution for millions of working poor in the country. India’s economy was already struggling to recover from the demonetisation disaster, which had resulted in the worst unemployment in 45 years. The lockdown has pushed this crisis of joblessness to catastrophic proportions, creating widespread hunger and destitution. Informal sector workers, a large section of whom are women, have had their livelihood destroyed. Sex workers, vulnerable even in “normal” times, now face disaster. Micro Finance Institutions are forcibly extorting repayment of loans from women SHG members during the pandemic. The crisis has exposed the dismal state of the country’s public health system.
The lockdown has been turned into an opportunity to dilute and destroy laws protecting hard won workers’ rights. At a time when the pandemic prevents people from protesting in large numbers, the Government is busy privatising public sector units that belong to India’s people, and seeking to destroy the Environmental Impact Assessmemt and at the same time proposing adverse changes to agrarian policies.
Gender based violence and caste based atrocities against Dalits have risen sharply during the lockdown. Violence against women is increasing. Regressive laws like the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act have adversely impacted the rights of LGBTQIA persons. There have also been several moves to dilute SC/ST/OBC reservations, the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and laws to protect women. Suspension of Rules of PC-PNDT Act in the name of mitigating COVID19 shows the anti-women attitude of the Government.
Women and LGBTQIA persons have been at the forefront of the movement to save India’s Constitution. Today, again, we are here with a wake-up call to the people of India: stand up, speak up against the onslaught on peoples’ rights.
To join the Hum agar uthhe nahin toh… campaign, the groups organising the campaign have urged the people to undertake any of the following activities related to the issues mentioned above:
· Make videos of 2-5 minutes and share with us and on social media platforms
· Do Facebook lives
· Create posters, animation, memes, songs and performances for circulation on the social media
· While observing physical distancing norms, gather in small groups of 5-10 people with placards and post pictures on social media
· Give memoranda to local authorities.
"Let us unite and come together to defend our Constitution and our democracy. Let us stand up for each and every citizen who is victimised for speaking the truth and defending the vulnerable. We invite you to be co-travellers in this journey,"say groups who have joined hands for this movement.(eom)
