Undemocratic, says tribal rights group as Gujarat govt disallows rally in Ahmedabad

A 2019 tribal show of strength in Ahmedabad

By A Representative

The Gujarat government has refused permission to the Ekalavya Sangathan for a tribal rally in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Riverfront stating that it would "obstruct traffic". A Gujarat police letter to the tribal rights group claimed, the decision not to allow the rally has been taken following "negative opinion" to hold the convention.
"The Gujarat government and the Gujarat Police have behaved in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner by not allowing the tribal rally to be held in Riverfront East at Ahmedabad on Thursday May 05, 2022", said Paulomee Mistry, who leads the Ekalavya Sangathan.
Mistry said, "The implementation of Forest Rights Act, MGNREGA and Food Security Act have been extremely lame in Gujarat. So the poor and unemployed tribals of the state wanted to gather in more than 10000 numbers to demand employment, food and land rights. The police have exposed their dictatorial mindset by not allowing tribals to hold conventions and peaceful rallies."
She wondered, "When the government claims that it has done a lot of welfare work for the tribals by giving advertisements worth crores of rupees, where is the justice in tribals of the state not being allowed to represent the details of development in the public interest?"
"Can only political leaders organise rallies?", Mistry asked, adding, "Doesn't the tribal community have a right to have their say? What kind of democracy is this? We had applied for permission for the last one month to the police and the officials of the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner."
She warned, "The answer to this will be given by the tribal community in the coming elections."

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

Counterview

Search This Blog