Odisha rights activists protest against growing atrocities against women and girl children in the country

Counterview Desk

Text of the note by Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD) Moderator, Odisha

Odisha activists working on different rights based issues in the State protested against growing atrocities against women and girl children in the country at Lower PMG, Bhubaneswar on 18th April 2018. 

Raising serious concern over the very recent two cases happened in last two weeks i.e., one the rape of a minor girl of Unnao and murder of her father in police custody who came to file complaint to seek justice and second, the gang rape and murder of an 8 year old minor girl belongs to a Muslim nomadic tribes, they said “This is a severe and unspeakable brutality which has shaken the morale and humanity of the entire nation.”
The protestors alleged that most shamelessly, by sacrificing all the rationale and morale into astray, in two of these incidents, the Ruling BJP with political patronage and support of Hindu Ekta Manch is involved in both the States”.
Condemning the protest by Jammu lawyers against the investigating officers who came to file charge-sheet in the court,” they raised serious question on the humanity that exist in our society.
Targeting the Hindu Ekta Manch and ruling BJP Govt. they said “ these are the sangathans who preaching and pretend to honor women as “Jaaya, Janani, Bhagini and Kanya Ratna” and the which has been shouting slogan “beti bachao, beti padhao” . “Instead of preventing such incidents take place and taking strong actions against the criminals, the ruling Govt. is giving political protection to the culprits and converted the slogans into a political treachery”.

They said. “This has quite evident from the recent incidents of withdrawal of cases of rape and other serious charges against former Central Minister, Swami Chinmayanand and protection given to his muscle man MLA by Yogi Adityanat.” They further alleged.
“When the common man of the country is struggling to access minimum education, health care and facing serious challenges due to displacement from their own land-forest and water because of current policies of development, the ruling Bramhinical, Manuwadi and fundamentalists forces have adopted a suppressive strategy. As a result, the tribals, dalits, minorities and other marginal groups especially the women and children of these groups are the worst victim of atrocity and exploitation.” They alleged.
Activists also raised concern over the incidents of rape and murder took place in Surat of Gujarat, Ghaziabad of UP, Soro (Nilagiri) of Odisha and country’s capital New Delhi. “This one after another incidents of women atrocity, rape, gang rape, murder, sexual exploitation, etc. taking place in the ruling BJP Govt. are increasing day by day, which is creating the feeling of fear, panic and insecurity among the sensible citizens.”
The protesters also demanded for immediate justice to the aggrieved and called upon every citizen of the country to join in the State wide protest. Many peoples’ organizations and human rights activists joined in the protests. 

Among the several organizations and individuals who took part in the protest are Pramila Behera, All India Krantikari Mahila Sangathan, Jyotsnarani Sahoo, All India Progressive Women’s Society, Mahendra Parida, All India Peoples Front, Hena Rani Barik, Basti Surakshya Manch, Narendra Mohanty, State Convener, INSAF, Jasaswini, NAWO, Sanghamitra Jena, Journalism Students Forum, Golak Bihari Natha, Ganatantrika Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan, Ranjan Mishra, Trade Union Centre of India, Rumita Kundu, Freedom of Political Prisoners, Abhiram Malik, Mulanibasi Samata Parishad, Prasant Paikaray, Bistapan Birodhi Janabikas Janandolan, Sudarshan Pradhan, Samajwadi Party, Sibaram CPI (ML) Red flag, Radhakant Sethy, CPI (ML) Liberation, columnist Amiya Pandab and Tusharkant, Pradip Sahoo & Dr. Sricharan Behera from CSD Odisha, Swati, ISKOF, Satish Acharya, Chhai, Raj Narayan Dakua, Left Youth Leader, Manas Jena, Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch, Human Rights Activist Biswapriya Kanungo, Bijay Panda, Akhand, Prof. Birendra Nayak, Political Analyst, Srimant Mohanty, Mr. Chandranath Dani from CSFHR, Odisha Soochana Adhikar, Pradip Pradhan, Social Activists Prasant Samantasingahr, Hetuwadi Andolan, Md Sukur, Janabadi Writer, Kulamani Jena, Surendra Tapasu, Lenin Kumar, Ramesh Alibesant and others.