[Reader-list] reader-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45

Asit asitreds asitredsalute at gmail.com
Fri Nov 7 15:40:51 IST 2008 

in any democratic civilised society religious bigotry is anti people it
applies to all fundamentalists
asit

On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 3:02 PM, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>> >
>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> >     https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> >     reader-list-request at sarai.net
>> >
>> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>> >     reader-list-owner at sarai.net
>> >
>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> > 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
>> > > > > _________________________________________
>> > > > > 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/>
>> > > _________________________________________
>> > > 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/>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > 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/
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------------------------
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > reader-list mailing list
>> > reader-list at sarai.net
>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>> >
>> >
>> > End of reader-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45
>> > *******************************************
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >      Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to
>> > http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
>> >
>> > _________________________________________
>> > 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/>
>> _________________________________________
>> 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
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