Investigate violence against women wrestlers: Memorandum to NCW, Police Commissioner

By Our Representative
A delegation of representatives from multiple women's organizations have submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, demanding investigation into alleged police violence against “peaceful protesters”, several of them top women wrestlers.
Comprising of Jagmati Sangwan and Asha Sharma from the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Annie Raja and Dipti Bharti from the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Ritu Kaushik from the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), Mandvi from the Centre for Struggling Women (CSW), Vertika Mani from the People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and Poonam Kaushik from the Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan (PMS), the memorandum said, there was “excessive use of force” by the police in detaining and removing “unarmed, peaceful protesters advocating for justice against sexual harassment at Jantar Mantar on May 28, 2023.”
Disturbingly, it said, the protesters, including wrestlers and their supporters, were “subjected to public humiliation, physical and verbal abuse by male police officers, groping, beatings, and unwarranted detentions lasting beyond sunset”, adding, “These actions flagrantly violate the fundamental rights enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) -- the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and Article 19(1)(b) - the Right to Assemble Peacefully, guaranteed to every citizen of the country.”
“Regrettably”, a spokesperson of the delegation noted, “Despite prior intimation of the delegation's arrival, the chairperson of the NCW was unavailable for a meeting”. Hence, it had to be submitted to the chairperson's personal secretary. “The delegation expresses its disappointment with the NCW chairperson's lack of attentiveness toward pressing issues concerning the welfare of women in the nation”.
The delegation also visited the Delhi Police headquarters where the Commissioner of Police was unavailable, and therefore, the memorandum was submitted at his office.
The memorandum wondered: "If internationally acclaimed sportswomen, who have brought honour to the country, are treated in such a manner, how can an ordinary woman in India dare to seek justice?"
“It is deplorable that instead of apprehending the accused, who faces multiple charges of sexual abuse under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) (POSH) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Acts, the Delhi police targeted the victims of sexual abuse and harassment. These victims, exercising their fundamental right to protest, were peacefully seeking justice”, it added.
The delegation demanded:

Immediate arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of sexual harassment, as alleged in multiple cases, including those under the POCSO Act, and the initiation of a transparent and impartial investigation into the matter.
Prompt establishment of a committee to investigate the violence committed by the Delhi Police against the protesting individuals at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on May 28, 2023.
Withdrawal of false cases against the struggling wrestlers.
Scrutiny and investigation into the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) reveals a concerning lack of internal redressal mechanisms, such as an Internal Complaints Committee, as mandated by the POSH Act and duly acknowledged by the Supreme Court of India.

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog