Noting as many as six attacks on minorities in recent weeks, the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) appealed to the Uttar Pradesh Governor to investigate such matters within the state.

The AIUFWP intends to send a letter to Governor Anandiben Patel on May 1, 2022 Labour Day to highlight the recent violent incidents of attacks on Muslim and Dalit communities. The organisations demanded that Patel highlight such incidents in the state and countrywide to prevent the violation of human rights.

“Our country is one that celebrates religious festivals. It is India’s culture to celebrate all festivals together equally. However, the last few days have shown how certain anti-social elements are using these occasions as opportunities to create a communal sentiment. They abuse the Muslim community, insult their women, religious places and symbols to create a sense of fear,” said AIUFWP in the letter.

Members pointed out that governments at the union and state-level are failing the Muslim community by treating them as second-class citizens and ignoring their rights. In some instances, the Union claimed that violent groups even violated international human rights laws.

Yet, it cited the Ram Navami attacks and especially the Khargone violence wherein the police allegedly charged Muslims for the damages. According to the AIUFWP, some of the people named in the chargesheet are already in jails or admitted in hospitals. Further, residents alleged that police invaded their houses at midnight, assaulted people, arrested men and misbehaved with the women, completely dismissing the community’s human rights.

Similarly, Muslim residents of Jahangirpuri suffered violence at the hands of an aggressive group celebrating Hanuman Jayanti. After this they were charge-sheeted. In both instances, communities also suffered the demolition of their houses by bulldozers.

Attacks on Dalits

Sadly, Muslims were not the only ones to face oppression in April. In Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, some savarna extremists assaulted a Dalit labour youth for demanding his wages. The person was made to lick the accused’s feet. This is the same state where a Dalit man has to seek police assistance to ride a horse for his wedding.

During Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, Odisha’s Bajrang Dal attacked a local Dalit procession. Many participants were injured. Similarly, Covid health worker Jitendra Meghwal, a Dalit man, was killed for sporting a moustache in Rajasthan.

“In all these instances, the aggrieved are minority groups, labouring for their livelihoods. This is a planned attack on people who after the global pandemic are struggling with poverty and unemployment. Such incidents are destroying the democratic values of India,” said AIUFWP.

It warned that this is a bad omen for a country based on the values of equality, freedom and brotherhood.

The entire letter may be read here:

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