Skip to main content

Gujarat Congress student activists "part of" saffron attackers on Ahmedabad NGO in Xavier's College campus

Outside the NGO building following the attack
By Our Representative
Are Congress student cadres in Gujarat operating as “B” team of the Sangh Parivar? Amidst accusing fingers being leveled on saffron outfits “attached” with RSS for the recent attack on a well-known NGO, operating from the premises of the St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, a senior Dalit rights leader has told Counterview that the leadership of the attack was “provided by an active member of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), student-wing of the Congress.”
A Congress spokesperson, while confirming that an NSUI cadre was part of the attack, in which several youths dashed into the NGO campus and broke window panes, damaging flower pots, said, “He is, however, not an NSUI leader. We have nothing to do with the attack.”
When asked whether the Congress would make a statement to condemning the attack, the spokesperson told Counterview, “Whatever has happened is unfortunate. But we do not want to get into it. We do not think a statement is desirable.”
The attack took place on Wednesday. The small group which took dashed into the NGO campus of the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), formerly Behavioral Science Centre, was protesting against an advertisement put saying that non-reserved category individuals would be “preferred” for a sweeper’s post.
What incensed the attackers was the mention of castes and religions that would be “preferred” for appointment as sweeper – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Banias, Parsis, Muslims and Christians.
“The advertisement was put up on the notice board of the HDRC on April 6 this year. It is not known how it became so important. All kinds of elements are on the look out in the college in search creating mischief. Even plainclothes persons freely move around”, said an insider.
The controversial ad put on HDRC notice board
“It seems quite plausible for someone spotted the advertisement on the NGO notice board, took a photograph, and informed miscreants to create mischief”, the insider added.
The Dalit rights activist, who is not attached with any political party, said, “We have video footage of the persons who were involved in the attack. We want the cops to take action against them. It was not the intention of the HDRC to create caste tension through the advertisement.”
The activist added, “Had it been the intention of the HDRC to create caste tension, as claimed by the attackers, they would have publicized it. The very fact that it was put up on the notice board, which few would notice, suggests they did not have any such intention.”
The activist said, “The attackers came to the campus five times. It is because of the police’s presence that they were not able to physically harm the HDRC staff. However, it is regrettable that a police complaint has been filed against HDRC director Prasad Chacko for inciting caste and religious violence, while no action has been taken against the attackers.”
The Dalit activist said, “If at all, it is the attackers who are responsible for inciting caste discord. One of them, for instance, was openly proclaiming that it is not the job of the upper castes to do the sweeping job; their job is to fight for the nation on the borders. Another opined, Dalits have never fought for the country on the borders. Does it mean that only sweeping job is reserved for the Dalits?”

Comments

TRENDING

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra*  The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

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.

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas*  In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates. 

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam*  The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Polygamy in India "down" in 45 yrs: Muslims' from 5.7 to 2.55%, Hindus' 5.8 to 1.77%, "common" in SCs, STs

By Rajiv Shah Amidst All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) justifying polygamy, saying it “meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women”, facts suggest the the practice is down from 5.7 per cent of Muslim families in 1961 to 2.55 per cent in 2006.

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk  As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Modi govt 'wholly untrustworthy' on Covid data, censored criticism on pandemic: Lancet

By Rajiv Shah*   One of the world’s most prestigious health journals, brought out from England, has sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government for being “wholly untrustworthy on Covid-19 health data”, stating, the “official government figures place deaths at more than 530 000, while WHO excess death estimates for 2020 and 2021 are near 4·7 million.”