[Reader-list] reader-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45
Pawan Durani
pawan.durani at gmail.com
Fri Nov 7 15:02:27 IST 2008
Anything which co relates with hindu / nationalistic views shud be banned.
Wonder Asit never asked for banning SIMI & JKLF.
On 11/7/08, Asit asitreds <asitredsalute at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> i agree with suddha these are portents of fascism communal lumpen
> organisations like abvp should be banned
> asit
>
> On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 2:30 PM, rajendra bhat <raja_starkglass at yahoo.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Hi, Shuddha,
> >
> > why are you shocked, is it because you thought that it is privilege of
> > NSUI and left students wings only have right to be violent.? But again,
> it
> > is not sure if ABVP students were violent as media and secular are always
> > partisan and attribute all violence to hindus only.!
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: "reader-list-request at sarai.net" <reader-list-request at sarai.net>
> > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > Sent: Thursday, 6 November, 2008 9:26:40 PM
> > Subject: reader-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45
> >
> > Send reader-list mailing list submissions to
> > reader-list at sarai.net
> >
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> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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> > than "Re: Contents of reader-list digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: Press Note : Condemn the vandalism of ABVP and RSS in
> > Delhi University (Shuddhabrata Sengupta)
> > 2. Condemn the violence (Pawan Durani)
> > 3. Re: Condemn the violence (Aditya Raj Kaul)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 19:59:04 +0530
> > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Press Note : Condemn the vandalism of ABVP
> > and RSS in Delhi University
> > To: hany babu <hanybabu at gmail.com>
> > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net
> > Message-ID: <CB0C58DE-94DD-45E0-B2FA-550D1A533AA1 at sarai.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="WINDOWS-1252"; delsp=yes;
> > format=flowed
> >
> > Dear all, dear hany babu,
> >
> > I am shocked to read this note. Clearly the ABVP and its allies on
> > the campuses of our universities have become nothing short of
> > criminal gangs that seek to impose their writ through acts of violent
> > intimidation. No words are strong enough to condemn the incident that
> > has been reported below. It only goes to show that the 'culture' of
> > 'cultural nationalists' of the ABVP variety is synonymous with plain
> > thuggery. That the concerned university authorities (the pro-vice
> > chancellor and the proctor) acted in a partisan manner and asked for
> > this meeting (for which prior permission had been sought and granted)
> > to be closed is deeply regrettable.. They have profoundly compromised
> > their integrity and the dignity of their position by the manner in
> > which they have conducted themselves.
> >
> > In any given public meeting, the public is invited to attend, and has
> > the right to ask questions and make critical comments if necessary.
> > That the ABVP chose not to do this, but to attack and disrupt the
> > meeting, and insult and harm the speakers, says all we need to know
> > about their capacity to enter and engage into a debate.. They have
> > nothing to say. They have no facts, no arguments, no reasons, no
> > evidence. All that they have is muscle power, throat power,
> > meaningless and empty slogans, and the patronage of corrupted and
> > compliant authorities and the police.
> >
> > This should be seen, not as a sign of their strength, but of their
> > pathetic weakness.. They will not prevail.
> >
> > best
> >
> > Shuddha
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 06-Nov-08, at 6:14 PM, hany babu wrote:
> >
> > > *Press Note*
> > >
> > > *University Community, Delhi University*
> > >
> > > *6th November 2008*
> > >
> > > *Condemn the vandalism of ABVP and RSS in Delhi University!*
> > >
> > > *Defend the freedom of speech and our democratic rights!*
> > >
> > > Dear media persons and journalists,
> > >
> > > * *
> > >
> > > We wish to bring to your notice the latest incident of vandalism by
> > > Akhil
> > > Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad goons (ABVP, student wing of the RSS)
> > > in Delhi
> > > University, in which members of the press community were also made
> > > victims.
> > >
> > > The University Community, an independent group of students and
> > > teachers of
> > > Delhi University, had organised a meeting on "*Communalism, Fascism
> > > and
> > > Democracy: Rhetoric and Reality*" on 6th November 2008 at Room No.
> > > 22 Arts
> > > Faculty. It did not come as a surprise that right-wing forces would be
> > > opposed to any meaningful discussion on these issues.
> > >
> > > As the Chair of the meeting, SAR Geelani (lecturer at Zakir Husain
> > > College,
> > > University of Delhi), came inside the room and took his seat, one
> > > of the
> > > ABVP members came and *spat on his face twice*. It was then that we
> > > realised
> > >
> > > that this was a planned attempt to disrupt the public meeting –
> > > ABVP goondas
> > >
> > > were sitting inside the room and they rose to hurl abuses at the
> > > participants and physically attack them. DUSU President Nupur
> > > Sharma (of
> > > ABVP) entered the room and declared that SAR Geelani, a lecturer of
> > > this
> > > University, could not speak in the University! This, when we had
> > > taken due
> > > permission from the University authorities to conduct the meeting.
> > >
> > > The ABVP goons attacked the women students and participants, broke the
> > > microphone and hurled chairs. They also manhandled media persons
> > > who were
> > > covering the meeting. Two journalists from Tehelka and Mail Today,
> > > who were
> > > speakers at the meeting, were threatened by ABVP. The mother of one
> > > of the
> > > media persons who was present had to leave the venue because she was
> > > terrorised by the goons. At this point, the Pro-Vice Chancellor and
> > > the
> > > Proctor called one of the organisers and told him *that the meeting
> > > could
> > > not go on because it was creating a 'law and order' problem. *Who
> > > did the
> > > University administration side with? ABVP.
> > >
> > > It was the courage and fortitude of the audience who insisted on
> > > continuing
> > > the meeting. The ABVP goons were pushed out of the room and the
> > > meeting
> > > continued behind closed doors. ABVP did not stop there. *In the
> > > presence of
> > > a large contingent of Delhi Police, and we dare say with their
> > > permission,
> > > they threw stones at the room, broke all the window panes, tried to
> > > break
> > > the doors and continued abusing – *Goli maaro saalon ko, Pakistan
> > > Murdabad,
> > > Vande Mataram – were some of the better ones*. SAR Geelani, in
> > > particular
> > > was targeted. *However, they could not scare us and stop the
> > > meeting from
> > > concluding successfully.
> > >
> > > We wish to bring to your notice that this is not the first effort
> > > of ABVP
> > > *to
> > > snatch all the democratic space available to us in the University*.
> > > Last
> > > year, the faculty members and students of the History Department were
> > > targeted only because of a text in their syllabus. The same goons
> > > who once
> > > attacked our right to study history texts today attacked our right
> > > to hold
> > > meetings and discussions.
> > >
> > > During a meeting on communalism and fascism, we were witness to the
> > > threat
> > > and danger posed by these communal and fascist forces to the
> > > secular and
> > > democratic fabric of our country. The parent organisation of ABVP,
> > > and the
> > > politics espoused by them, is responsible for the widespread attack on
> > > minorities across the country. It is they who were responsible for the
> > > genocide in Gujarat and for spreading the politics of hate and
> > > fear. If we
> > > remain silent today, *we will lose whatever little space that is
> > > left to us
> > > in the University*. Do we need to take permission from ABVP to hold a
> > > meeting in the University? Who does the University administration
> > > and Delhi
> > > Police support in the fight against fascism?
> > >
> > > *We call upon the entire University community to protest against this
> > > assault on academic freedom and democratic rights. In protest of
> > > today's
> > > events, we are organising a protest march tomorrow at the
> > > University, at
> > > 11:00 a.m. at Vivekananda statue, Arts Faculty. We demand*
> > >
> > > *1. **The University administration should lodge a FIR
> > > against ABVP
> > > members, especially persons like Nupur Sharma, Vikas Dahiya, Desh
> > > Ratan,
> > > Sonu Singh and Ashutosh.*
> > >
> > > *2. **Time-bound enquiry into this act of vandalism and
> > > goondaism and
> > > action against the people found guilty. *
> > >
> > > *3. **To give us assurance that future public meetings on
> > > similar
> > > issues will not be disrupted by these goons. *
> > >
> > > University Community
> > >
> > > *Contact Persons: Umar Khalid 9873961701, Harsh Bora 9811855618,
> > > universitycommun...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-
> > > GB&_done=/group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%
> > > 3Fhl%3Den-GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > @gmail.com*
> > > --
> > > MD. MAHTAB ALAM
> > > mdmahtaba...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-GB&_done=/
> > > group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%3Fhl%3Den-
> > > GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > @gmail.com
> > > Phone:+91-9811209345
> > > _________________________________________
> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >
> > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > Raqs Media Collective
> > shuddha at sarai.net
> > www.sarai.net
> > www.raqsmediacollective.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:58:48 +0530
> > From: "Pawan Durani" <pawan.durani at gmail.com>
> > Subject: [Reader-list] Condemn the violence
> > To: "Shuddhabrata Sengupta" <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net
> > Message-ID:
> > <6b79f1a70811060728j6ec5828bx5638437efd82657f at mail.gmail..com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="WINDOWS-1252"
> >
> > Yes, I agree with Shuddha. Any kind of violence must me condemned.
> >
> > So similar to Kashmiris who also indulge in violence by killing people or
> > damaging public and Govt property.All that these kashmiris have is muscle
> > power, Gun power , throat power,meaningless and empty slogans, and the
> > patronage of corrupted and compliant authorities , pseudo secularists and
> > the paid up writers
> >
> > Pawan
> > Jai Andhra ! Jai Hind
> >
> >
> >
> > On 11/6/08, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear all, dear hany babu,
> > >
> > > I am shocked to read this note. Clearly the ABVP and its allies on
> > > the campuses of our universities have become nothing short of
> > > criminal gangs that seek to impose their writ through acts of violent
> > > intimidation. No words are strong enough to condemn the incident that
> > > has been reported below. It only goes to show that the 'culture' of
> > > 'cultural nationalists' of the ABVP variety is synonymous with plain
> > > thuggery. That the concerned university authorities (the pro-vice
> > > chancellor and the proctor) acted in a partisan manner and asked for
> > > this meeting (for which prior permission had been sought and granted)
> > > to be closed is deeply regrettable. They have profoundly compromised
> > > their integrity and the dignity of their position by the manner in
> > > which they have conducted themselves.
> > >
> > > In any given public meeting, the public is invited to attend, and has
> > > the right to ask questions and make critical comments if necessary.
> > > That the ABVP chose not to do this, but to attack and disrupt the
> > > meeting, and insult and harm the speakers, says all we need to know
> > > about their capacity to enter and engage into a debate. They have
> > > nothing to say. They have no facts, no arguments, no reasons, no
> > > evidence. All that they have is muscle power, throat power,
> > > meaningless and empty slogans, and the patronage of corrupted and
> > > compliant authorities and the police.
> > >
> > > This should be seen, not as a sign of their strength, but of their
> > > pathetic weakness. They will not prevail.
> > >
> > > best
> > >
> > > Shuddha
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 06-Nov-08, at 6:14 PM, hany babu wrote:
> > >
> > > > *Press Note*
> > > >
> > > > *University Community, Delhi University*
> > > >
> > > > *6th November 2008*
> > > >
> > > > *Condemn the vandalism of ABVP and RSS in Delhi University!*
> > > >
> > > > *Defend the freedom of speech and our democratic rights!*
> > > >
> > > > Dear media persons and journalists,
> > > >
> > > > * *
> > > >
> > > > We wish to bring to your notice the latest incident of vandalism by
> > > > Akhil
> > > > Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad goons (ABVP, student wing of the RSS)
> > > > in Delhi
> > > > University, in which members of the press community were also made
> > > > victims.
> > > >
> > > > The University Community, an independent group of students and
> > > > teachers of
> > > > Delhi University, had organised a meeting on "*Communalism, Fascism
> > > > and
> > > > Democracy: Rhetoric and Reality*" on 6th November 2008 at Room No.
> > > > 22 Arts
> > > > Faculty. It did not come as a surprise that right-wing forces would
> be
> > > > opposed to any meaningful discussion on these issues.
> > > >
> > > > As the Chair of the meeting, SAR Geelani (lecturer at Zakir Husain
> > > > College,
> > > > University of Delhi), came inside the room and took his seat, one
> > > > of the
> > > > ABVP members came and *spat on his face twice*. It was then that we
> > > > realised
> > > >
> > > > that this was a planned attempt to disrupt the public meeting –
> > > > ABVP goondas
> > > >
> > > > were sitting inside the room and they rose to hurl abuses at the
> > > > participants and physically attack them. DUSU President Nupur
> > > > Sharma (of
> > > > ABVP) entered the room and declared that SAR Geelani, a lecturer of
> > > > this
> > > > University, could not speak in the University! This, when we had
> > > > taken due
> > > > permission from the University authorities to conduct the meeting.
> > > >
> > > > The ABVP goons attacked the women students and participants, broke
> the
> > > > microphone and hurled chairs. They also manhandled media persons
> > > > who were
> > > > covering the meeting. Two journalists from Tehelka and Mail Today,
> > > > who were
> > > > speakers at the meeting, were threatened by ABVP. The mother of one
> > > > of the
> > > > media persons who was present had to leave the venue because she was
> > > > terrorised by the goons. At this point, the Pro-Vice Chancellor and
> > > > the
> > > > Proctor called one of the organisers and told him *that the meeting
> > > > could
> > > > not go on because it was creating a 'law and order' problem. *Who
> > > > did the
> > > > University administration side with? ABVP.
> > > >
> > > > It was the courage and fortitude of the audience who insisted on
> > > > continuing
> > > > the meeting. The ABVP goons were pushed out of the room and the
> > > > meeting
> > > > continued behind closed doors. ABVP did not stop there. *In the
> > > > presence of
> > > > a large contingent of Delhi Police, and we dare say with their
> > > > permission,
> > > > they threw stones at the room, broke all the window panes, tried to
> > > > break
> > > > the doors and continued abusing – *Goli maaro saalon ko, Pakistan
> > > > Murdabad,
> > > > Vande Mataram – were some of the better ones*. SAR Geelani, in
> > > > particular
> > > > was targeted. *However, they could not scare us and stop the
> > > > meeting from
> > > > concluding successfully.
> > > >
> > > > We wish to bring to your notice that this is not the first effort
> > > > of ABVP
> > > > *to
> > > > snatch all the democratic space available to us in the University*.
> > > > Last
> > > > year, the faculty members and students of the History Department were
> > > > targeted only because of a text in their syllabus. The same goons
> > > > who once
> > > > attacked our right to study history texts today attacked our right
> > > > to hold
> > > > meetings and discussions.
> > > >
> > > > During a meeting on communalism and fascism, we were witness to the
> > > > threat
> > > > and danger posed by these communal and fascist forces to the
> > > > secular and
> > > > democratic fabric of our country. The parent organisation of ABVP,
> > > > and the
> > > > politics espoused by them, is responsible for the widespread attack
> on
> > > > minorities across the country. It is they who were responsible for
> the
> > > > genocide in Gujarat and for spreading the politics of hate and
> > > > fear. If we
> > > > remain silent today, *we will lose whatever little space that is
> > > > left to us
> > > > in the University*. Do we need to take permission from ABVP to hold a
> > > > meeting in the University? Who does the University administration
> > > > and Delhi
> > > > Police support in the fight against fascism?
> > > >
> > > > *We call upon the entire University community to protest against this
> > > > assault on academic freedom and democratic rights. In protest of
> > > > today's
> > > > events, we are organising a protest march tomorrow at the
> > > > University, at
> > > > 11:00 a.m. at Vivekananda statue, Arts Faculty. We demand*
> > > >
> > > > *1. **The University administration should lodge a FIR
> > > > against ABVP
> > > > members, especially persons like Nupur Sharma, Vikas Dahiya, Desh
> > > > Ratan,
> > > > Sonu Singh and Ashutosh.*
> > > >
> > > > *2. **Time-bound enquiry into this act of vandalism and
> > > > goondaism and
> > > > action against the people found guilty. *
> > > >
> > > > *3. **To give us assurance that future public meetings on
> > > > similar
> > > > issues will not be disrupted by these goons. *
> > > >
> > > > University Community
> > > >
> > > > *Contact Persons: Umar Khalid 9873961701, Harsh Bora 9811855618,
> > > > universitycommun...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-
> > > > GB&_done=/group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%
> > > > 3Fhl%3Den-GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > > @gmail.com*
> > > > --
> > > > MD. MAHTAB ALAM
> > > > mdmahtaba...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-GB&_done=/
> > > > group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%3Fhl%3Den-
> > > > GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > > @gmail.com
> > > > Phone:+91-9811209345
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > >
> > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > > Raqs Media Collective
> > > shuddha at sarai.net
> > > www.sarai.net
> > > www.raqsmediacollective.net
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________
> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 21:26:26 +0530
> > From: "Aditya Raj Kaul" <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Condemn the violence
> > To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Message-ID:
> > <6353c690811060756m3ed0e674p19a98b4833800ace at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="WINDOWS-1252"
> >
> > Since when did S.A.R. Geelani become an expert in giving a lecture on
> > 'Fascism' and 'Terrorism'. Though he maybe the practical example of the
> > same
> > to the contrary.
> >
> > As per NDTV interview, DUSU President had politely asked Geelani to leave
> > the premises as the organisers had no prior permission to this event. It
> > was
> > an illegally organised programme on a communally sensitive issue. Just to
> > provoke the common student.
> >
> > It was the SFI and AISA goons who clashed with the ABVP peaceful
> protesters
> > which led to violence. And as on record, only one that too an ABVP
> activist
> > was injured in the entire protest.
> >
> > The local SHO Mr. Joshi, is on record to say that they had no prior
> > information, and no permission was taken from them or the University
> > authorities.
> >
> > Lastly, S.A.R. Geelani was released on 'technical grounds'. This doesn't
> > prove his innocence in totality. He still is a culprit and needs to face
> > just trial.
> >
> > Geelani has known links with Kashmiri Separatists and even terrorists.
> Who
> > decided in the first place to invite him and that too as the chairman of
> > the
> > panel, making mockery of the Delhi University.
> >
> > Such anti-social and anti-India elements need to be ignored. We won't
> > tolerate such separatist forces with divisive policies to brainwash the
> > student community.
> >
> > I condemn his presence in the Delhi University.
> >
> > Aditya Raj Kaul
> >
> > On 11/6/08, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, I agree with Shuddha. Any kind of violence must me condemned.
> > >
> > > So similar to Kashmiris who also indulge in violence by killing people
> or
> > > damaging public and Govt property.All that these kashmiris have is
> muscle
> > > power, Gun power , throat power,meaningless and empty slogans, and the
> > > patronage of corrupted and compliant authorities , pseudo secularists
> and
> > > the paid up writers
> > >
> > > Pawan
> > > Jai Andhra ! Jai Hind
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 11/6/08, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dear all, dear hany babu,
> > > >
> > > > I am shocked to read this note. Clearly the ABVP and its allies on
> > > > the campuses of our universities have become nothing short of
> > > > criminal gangs that seek to impose their writ through acts of violent
> > > > intimidation. No words are strong enough to condemn the incident that
> > > > has been reported below. It only goes to show that the 'culture' of
> > > > 'cultural nationalists' of the ABVP variety is synonymous with plain
> > > > thuggery. That the concerned university authorities (the pro-vice
> > > > chancellor and the proctor) acted in a partisan manner and asked for
> > > > this meeting (for which prior permission had been sought and granted)
> > > > to be closed is deeply regrettable. They have profoundly compromised
> > > > their integrity and the dignity of their position by the manner in
> > > > which they have conducted themselves.
> > > >
> > > > In any given public meeting, the public is invited to attend, and has
> > > > the right to ask questions and make critical comments if necessary.
> > > > That the ABVP chose not to do this, but to attack and disrupt the
> > > > meeting, and insult and harm the speakers, says all we need to know
> > > > about their capacity to enter and engage into a debate. They have
> > > > nothing to say. They have no facts, no arguments, no reasons, no
> > > > evidence. All that they have is muscle power, throat power,
> > > > meaningless and empty slogans, and the patronage of corrupted and
> > > > compliant authorities and the police.
> > > >
> > > > This should be seen, not as a sign of their strength, but of their
> > > > pathetic weakness. They will not prevail.
> > > >
> > > > best
> > > >
> > > > Shuddha
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 06-Nov-08, at 6:14 PM, hany babu wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > *Press Note*
> > > > >
> > > > > *University Community, Delhi University*
> > > > >
> > > > > *6th November 2008*
> > > > >
> > > > > *Condemn the vandalism of ABVP and RSS in Delhi University!*
> > > > >
> > > > > *Defend the freedom of speech and our democratic rights!*
> > > > >
> > > > > Dear media persons and journalists,
> > > > >
> > > > > * *
> > > > >
> > > > > We wish to bring to your notice the latest incident of vandalism by
> > > > > Akhil
> > > > > Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad goons (ABVP, student wing of the RSS)
> > > > > in Delhi
> > > > > University, in which members of the press community were also made
> > > > > victims.
> > > > >
> > > > > The University Community, an independent group of students and
> > > > > teachers of
> > > > > Delhi University, had organised a meeting on "*Communalism, Fascism
> > > > > and
> > > > > Democracy: Rhetoric and Reality*" on 6th November 2008 at Room No.
> > > > > 22 Arts
> > > > > Faculty. It did not come as a surprise that right-wing forces would
> > be
> > > > > opposed to any meaningful discussion on these issues.
> > > > >
> > > > > As the Chair of the meeting, SAR Geelani (lecturer at Zakir Husain
> > > > > College,
> > > > > University of Delhi), came inside the room and took his seat, one
> > > > > of the
> > > > > ABVP members came and *spat on his face twice*. It was then that we
> > > > > realised
> > > > >
> > > > > that this was a planned attempt to disrupt the public meeting –
> > > > > ABVP goondas
> > > > >
> > > > > were sitting inside the room and they rose to hurl abuses at the
> > > > > participants and physically attack them. DUSU President Nupur
> > > > > Sharma (of
> > > > > ABVP) entered the room and declared that SAR Geelani, a lecturer of
> > > > > this
> > > > > University, could not speak in the University! This, when we had
> > > > > taken due
> > > > > permission from the University authorities to conduct the meeting.
> > > > >
> > > > > The ABVP goons attacked the women students and participants, broke
> > the
> > > > > microphone and hurled chairs. They also manhandled media persons
> > > > > who were
> > > > > covering the meeting. Two journalists from Tehelka and Mail Today,
> > > > > who were
> > > > > speakers at the meeting, were threatened by ABVP. The mother of one
> > > > > of the
> > > > > media persons who was present had to leave the venue because she
> was
> > > > > terrorised by the goons. At this point, the Pro-Vice Chancellor and
> > > > > the
> > > > > Proctor called one of the organisers and told him *that the meeting
> > > > > could
> > > > > not go on because it was creating a 'law and order' problem. *Who
> > > > > did the
> > > > > University administration side with? ABVP.
> > > > >
> > > > > It was the courage and fortitude of the audience who insisted on
> > > > > continuing
> > > > > the meeting. The ABVP goons were pushed out of the room and the
> > > > > meeting
> > > > > continued behind closed doors. ABVP did not stop there. *In the
> > > > > presence of
> > > > > a large contingent of Delhi Police, and we dare say with their
> > > > > permission,
> > > > > they threw stones at the room, broke all the window panes, tried to
> > > > > break
> > > > > the doors and continued abusing – *Goli maaro saalon ko, Pakistan
> > > > > Murdabad,
> > > > > Vande Mataram – were some of the better ones*. SAR Geelani, in
> > > > > particular
> > > > > was targeted. *However, they could not scare us and stop the
> > > > > meeting from
> > > > > concluding successfully.
> > > > >
> > > > > We wish to bring to your notice that this is not the first effort
> > > > > of ABVP
> > > > > *to
> > > > > snatch all the democratic space available to us in the University*.
> > > > > Last
> > > > > year, the faculty members and students of the History Department
> were
> > > > > targeted only because of a text in their syllabus. The same goons
> > > > > who once
> > > > > attacked our right to study history texts today attacked our right
> > > > > to hold
> > > > > meetings and discussions.
> > > > >
> > > > > During a meeting on communalism and fascism, we were witness to the
> > > > > threat
> > > > > and danger posed by these communal and fascist forces to the
> > > > > secular and
> > > > > democratic fabric of our country. The parent organisation of ABVP,
> > > > > and the
> > > > > politics espoused by them, is responsible for the widespread attack
> > on
> > > > > minorities across the country. It is they who were responsible for
> > the
> > > > > genocide in Gujarat and for spreading the politics of hate and
> > > > > fear. If we
> > > > > remain silent today, *we will lose whatever little space that is
> > > > > left to us
> > > > > in the University*. Do we need to take permission from ABVP to hold
> a
> > > > > meeting in the University? Who does the University administration
> > > > > and Delhi
> > > > > Police support in the fight against fascism?
> > > > >
> > > > > *We call upon the entire University community to protest against
> this
> > > > > assault on academic freedom and democratic rights. In protest of
> > > > > today's
> > > > > events, we are organising a protest march tomorrow at the
> > > > > University, at
> > > > > 11:00 a.m. at Vivekananda statue, Arts Faculty. We demand*
> > > > >
> > > > > *1. **The University administration should lodge a FIR
> > > > > against ABVP
> > > > > members, especially persons like Nupur Sharma, Vikas Dahiya, Desh
> > > > > Ratan,
> > > > > Sonu Singh and Ashutosh.*
> > > > >
> > > > > *2. **Time-bound enquiry into this act of vandalism and
> > > > > goondaism and
> > > > > action against the people found guilty. *
> > > > >
> > > > > *3. **To give us assurance that future public meetings on
> > > > > similar
> > > > > issues will not be disrupted by these goons. *
> > > > >
> > > > > University Community
> > > > >
> > > > > *Contact Persons: Umar Khalid 9873961701, Harsh Bora 9811855618,
> > > > > universitycommun...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-
> > > > > GB&_done=/group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%
> > > > > 3Fhl%3Den-GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > > > @gmail.com*
> > > > > --
> > > > > MD. MAHTAB ALAM=0A> > > mdmahtaba...<
> > http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?hl=en-GB&_done=/
> > > > > group/greenyouth/browse_thread/thread/29a70db7becff1de%3Fhl%3Den-
> > > > > GB&msg=bd0acd545ae5e08f>
> > > > > @gmail.com
> > > > > Phone:+91-9811209345
> > > > > _________________________________________
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> > > >
> > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > > The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > > > Raqs Media Collective
> > > > shuddha at sarai.net
> > > > www.sarai.net
> > > > www.raqsmediacollective.net
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Aditya Raj Kaul
> >
> > Freelance Correspondent, The Times of India
> > Cell - +91-9873297834
> >
> > Campaign Blog: http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/
> > Personal Blog: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
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> >
> > End of reader-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45
> > *******************************************
> >
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