Melbourne/Sydney; 19 Sep 2020 (UMMN): Following statement was issued by The Humanism Project – Australia;
The Humanism Project (THP) represents Indians in Australia who belong to various faiths, linguistic and cultural backgrounds and take pride in the rich diversity of our heritage. We are deeply concerned about the human right violations, assault on minorities, suppression of dissent and authoritarian tendencies of the current political dispensation in India.
In past year, since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, there has been protracted internet restrictions, arbitrary use of some of India’s most stringent laws, verbal orders of detention, crippling of the local media and a systematic dismantling of all avenues for justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In February 2020, the Delhi Pogram claimed at least 53 lives and injured more than 500.This violence occurred with active participation of the Delhi Police with police officers indulging in violence with the rioters; torturing in custody; using excessive force on protesters; dismantling protest sites used by peaceful protesters and being mute bystanders as rioters wreaked havoc.
In the months since the riots, Delhi police in their investigations into the riots have filed more than 750 First Information Reports (FIRs) and at least 200 charge sheets. Most of these were targeted against students, professors and human rights activists, who were involved in organising peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Despite the aforementioned violations, there has been no attempt by the Ministry of Home Affairs to hold the Delhi police accountable till now.
These government actions are just a part of a larger systemic suppression of press and academic freedom in India, through the invocation of repressive Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, 1967 and sedition provisions against activists , students, and academics. While dissenting voices have been muted, the State and ruling party leaders have supported disinformation campaigns demonising political opponents, Muslims and dissenters.
We, at The Humanism Project - Australia, call for a Judge - led independent investigation into the riots, cessation of political persecution and an immediate end to state sanctioned silence of dissent.
