VHP activists attack Swami Agnivesh

By Dilip -

BHOPAL: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists on Friday manhandled social activist Swami Agnivesh here when he came to join the launch of the eradication of manual scavenging march from Bhopal to New Delhi. 
The VHP attack was over Agnivesh's comment on the Amarnath 'shivling' earlier this year. Agnivesh had said that Amarnath 'shivling' which is holy for Hindus was a natural occurrence caused by the collection of ice drops throughout winter.
Local VHP head B L Tiwari and supporters of saffron organisation Sanskriti Bachao Manch attacked Swami Agnivesh and manhandled him at the Ravindra Bhavan. The violent activists tried to tear apart Agnivesh's robe claiming that he did not deserve to wear saffron attire. They even called him a traitor to the nation, sympathiser of Naxals and insurgents. The VHP even alleged Agnivesh had deceived Anna Hazare during the crusade against corruption. Police rescued Agnivesh from the spot while the VHP workers continued to raise slogans. In May this year, Agnivesh faced the wrath of the saffron brigade and was slapped in the face during a meeting in Ahmedabad for the same remark on Amarnath ice deity.
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Statement of condemnation by All India Secular Forum

We strongly condemn the attack on Swami Agnivesh by communal forces in a meeting organized by Garima Abhiyan in Bhopal. The meeting was called to make the members of Balmiki community take a pledge that they will not be carrying the night soil (human excreta) on their heads. Swamiji was attacked when he came forward to touch the feet of an old lady from Balmiki Community. The gesture was to recognize the dignity of all the humans being equal. In a way it was to challenge the prevalent practices which derive their origin from caste system. The government has already come with legislation banning this dehumanizing practice, which takes away the dignity of section of society.

This attack was done by communal forces, led by VHP. This again shows the real agenda of VHP associates, the one of preserving the caste hierarchy and keeping the large section of dalits in their present subhuman conditions. VHP and affiliates, under t
he garb of protecting Hindu religion want to maintain the graded hierarchy of caste and so this attack on Swamiji, as he staunchly opposed this practice.

It also shows the failure of BJP led state Government’s to contain the communal forces. In MP communalism is being promoted through various schemes introduced by government. We condemn the act of VHP led forces and demand that the culprits should be punished as per the process of law. We express our solidarity with Swami Agnivesh’s continuing campaign to get dignity to dalits and Balmiki community in particular and to abolish the practice of carrying night soil on head.

We also urge upon the Indian government to ensure that the carrying of night soil should be eliminated all through the country.

Asghar Ali Engineer, L.S. hardenia, Ram Puniyani, Irfan Engineer

All India Secular Forum
C/o CSSS Santacruz Mumbai
Email: ram.puniyani@gmail.com


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