Skip to main content

FIR against veteran Gandhian: Why can't RSS debate on historical facts?: PADS

By A Representative
The civil rights organisation People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) in a statement has expressed concern over two FIRs being filed in Odisha (Kandhmal and Katak) against Kumar Prashant, president of thr Gandhi Peace Foundation, allegedly for hurting sentiments of local RSS members, spreading lies about RSS and instigating people against the actions taken by the Union Government in Kashmir.
Battini Rao, convenor, PADS, said, "Instead of proving Kumar Prashant wrong by publishing or speaking their refutation of his views, RSS has taken recourse to court. The role of RSS, Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League during our India's independence movement is well documented and is still being debated."
He added, "Historical controversies cannot be resolved or put to rest in courts of law. They are academic and political matters. The RSS leadership, must be well aware of this fact but it has chosen to take recourse to intimidation and threats to suppress a democratically expressed opinion by Kumar Prashant."
Insisting that this is nothing other than "an attempt to police public opinion by threats" and "is an example of the totalitarian habit of mind of the RSS", PADS said, "We trust in our judiciary and are confident that the Kandhmal and Katak courts will do justice to the veteran Gandhian. We also expect of the Naveen Patnaik government to intervene and prevent the Odisha Police from taking any unlawful action against him."

Comments

TRENDING

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline. 

To Sonam Wangchuk: 'Will undertake 70 hour solidarity fast in Gujarat'

By Martin Macwan *  Dear Colleague Sonam Wangchuk, I have never met you personally. I wrote a short article at the time of your arrest. Your work correctly introduces you. There is truth in your words. You have embarked on a fast, following the footsteps of Gandhiji. Your intention is to make people think. Your demand is reasonable; I believe that the resignation of a single education minister will not improve the state of education in India. However, the question you have raised is extremely important for the future generation of the marginalized. Education is the key to power, development, and progress, which empowers a citizen.

Gujarat police SOP sparks questions over communal profiling

By Shabnam Hashmi*  The Gujarat government must be held accountable for what appears to be a deeply disturbing instance of state-sponsored communal profiling. Ahmedabad resident Sahal Qureshi recently shared with me an official document , which I translated with the help of AI before forwarding it to several media organisations and political leaders.