Women activist from the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) have issued a statement about the ongoing violence in Delhi’s North East district. The statement signed by Deepti Bharti, general secretary of the Delhi Unit of the NFIW) says, “Violence ravaging parts of North East Delhi from the 24th onwards, need to be condemned unequivocally. NFIW Delhi would like to categorically state that we do not consider it to be a clash between communities, as some narratives would have us believe. It is the result of systematic violence and intimidation of the Hindutva goons abetted by the political dispensation in power and aided by the police forces.”
The statement adds, “The Islamophobic speeches and teaching of the RSS and the leaders of the BJP have translated into the re-creation of the Gujarat Model of Violence in Delhi.” This is a callback to unchecked violence that was allegedly allowed to escalate during the Gujarat genocide in 2002.
The statement says, “The violence is showing a distinct pattern. Goons mouthing slogans, taught to them by BJP and other right wing leaders, armed and dressed in fake police or army uniforms uses small arms in the form of hammers, rods, stones, swords and trishuls. Backed by a police, they show no compunction in beating people, torching property, ransacking houses and terrorizing the weak. The entire exercise reeks of hatred for Muslims and a sociopathic behavior that needs to be curbed, not shielded and encouraged.”
NWIF also highlights sexism and misogyny of the perpetrators of violence stating, “We have reports of the rioters unzipping their pants and asking women protesting against the CAA shouting, ‘le lo Azadi’. The fear of a group of protesting women, challenging convention seems to have touched a raw nerve with the BJP. The need to sexually humiliate the women and abuse communities emanates from the diet of bigotry and misogyny that the goons have been brought up on.”
Calling for Amit Shah’s resignation, NFIW says, “The Delhi unit of NFIW seeks an explanation from the Home Minister about the involvement of the police in terrorizing the minorities, looking away from violence and facilitating the heinous brutalities unleashed on Muslims in North East Delhi. Mr. Home Minister, your office is meant to protect the weak, safeguard the rights of all humans in the country and as the controller of the Police in Delhi, ensure that the forces do their job. If you are unable to keep the city safe and violence free, we urge you to resign and publically confess to your inability to discharge your duties. Creating a parallel goon force will not mask your incompetence and bigotry.”
They also don’t let Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal off the hook. The statement says, “The Chief Minister of Delhi and his cabinet too must take moral responsibility of stopping a mob of raving lunatics from rampaging across the city. If the pro-CAA criminals can muster a 100 armed men, with its mandate AAP should not find it difficult to gather a force of 1000 to counter them. A thousand unarmed men would be enough to deter the rioters from destroying the city. The least they elected members of Delhi can do is provide succor to the victims.”
The entire letter may be read here: