Gujarat farmers denied permission for 2000 km motorbike rally, Khedut Samaj protests, writes to Election Commission

By Our Representative
In an unusual turn of events, top farmers' body, Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG), which had planned a 14-day motorbike rally from South Gujarat's Bhilad to North Gujarat's Amirgadh starting on November 17, has been denied permission to pass through Surat district. "We were told by that they don't have enough cops to handle the bike rally", Sagar Rabari, general secretary on the non-political farmers' organization told Counterview.
Insisting that KSG would continue with its rally, which will start at 9.00 am, come what may, Rabari said, "If they wish, they can detain us. All that they need is a police jeep to along with the motorbike rally. If they want to detain us along with our motorbikes, they would need several police vehicles. They have got staff and heavy vehicles for that!"
Rabari, while announcing the decision to take out the farmers' motorbike rally for about 2000 km, had told newspersons on Wednesday that the KSG would campaign for voting against the BJP, whose policies have been "anti-farmer." He had said, the "pro-industry" government was forcing farmers to part with their prime farm land in the name of development.
Protesting against the state administration behaving in a "high-handed" manner despite the fact that it is not under the state BJP rule but is under the Election Commission of India (ECI), Rabari said, "We demand that the ECI should immediately act and ensure that permission for our rally is given."
Meanwhile, KSG president Jayesh Patel, who proposes to lead the rally, has written a letter to chief electoral officer, ECI, Gujarat State, BB Swain, saying, "Under the pretext of election, every right is being denied in Gujarat", even as seeking his "urgent intervention".
The letter says that KSG has organised statewide motorbike rally to make farmers aware their "democratic rights" ahead of the Gujarat state assembly elections, even as educating them about "how to exercise their vote to achieve good, people friendly governance."
"As per the prevailing rule of law, we applied for permission to all concerned district/taluka officers. We wrote the same letter to the Surat district magistrate on Novembrr 15, 2017. In response the district magistrate denied permission citing a government order No 464/INST/2014/EPS dated April 10, 2017."
"We have gone through the above order and find nothing in it that restricts people to express their right to express their grievances, organize rally or public meetings for awareness", Patel said, adding, thr refusal to give permission "indicates police’s partial role and negligence to peoples’ rights."
"The only reason one can assume is, being administered by one party for long, the police machinery has become part of the misdeeds of the ruling political establishment, doesn’t want any change in government to save its interests, and is seeking to hide its misdeeds. If such is the case, how can people trust that the elections would be fair and just?"
Asking ECI to grant permission "to carry on our declared programme", Patel demanded the immediately transfer the concerned officer who has misinterpreted ECI instruction and misused the letter to deny permission. He regretting, "We sent SMS to you and the nodal police officer to intervene but there was no response, hence this letter..."
A copy of the letter has been forwarded to the Gujarat High Court chief justice.

Comments

Stagnating wages since 2014-15: Economists explain Modi legacy for informal workers

By Our Representative Real wages have barely risen in India since 2014-15, despite rapid GDP growth. The country’s social security system has also stagnated in this period. The lives of informal workers remain extremely precarious, especially in states like Jharkhand where casual employment is the main source of livelihood for millions. These are some of the findings presented by economists Jean Drèze and Reetika Khera at a press conference convened by the Loktantra Bachao 2024 campaign.

Modi win may force Pak to put Kashmir on backburner, resume trade ties with India

By Salman Rafi Sheikh* When Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term in India with a landslide victory in 2019, his government acted swiftly. Just months after the election, the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, it stripped the special constitutional status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, and downgraded its status from a state with its own elected assembly to a union territory administered by the central government in Delhi.

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.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime. TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Bill Gates as funder, author, editor, adviser? Data imperialism: manipulating the metrics

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* When Mahatma Gandhi on invitation from Buckingham Palace was invited to have tea with King George V, he was asked, “Mr Gandhi, do you think you are properly dressed to meet the King?” Gandhi retorted, “Do not worry about my clothes. The King has enough clothes on for both of us.”

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas* I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

India's "welcome" proposal to impose sin tax on aerated drinks is part of to fight growing sugar consumption

By Amit Srivastava* A proposal to tax sugar sweetened beverages like tobacco in India has been welcomed by public health advocates. The proposal to increase sin taxes on aerated drinks is part of the recommendations made by India’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the parliament of India.

Counterview

Search This Blog