A DELEGATION led by Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) met the Lt Governor of Delhi,  Najeeb Jung on July 15 and submitted a memorandum regarding the communally tense situation in Sriram Colony (Dist North-East Delhi, under PS Khajuri Khas). The delegation included CPI(M) Delhi state committee members P I Raveendranathan and Maimoona Mollah as well as residents of Sriram Colony – Meena Begum, Nargis Begum, Anisa Begum, Tarannum, Yogesh, Nabi Hasan, Yaqoob, and Zeeshan.

They requested the LG for his urgent intervention to prevent the development of any communal conflagration because of the RSS holding shakhas in the Muslim dominated locality in Sriram Colony. Residents of Sriram Colony categorically told the LG that Hindus and Muslims have been living there peacefully, but RSS has created an atmosphere of fear and tension in the area.

 The delegation informed the LG about the police pressure on local residents for a so-called compromise – that the shakha should be conducted upto 7 am and thereafter Eid namaz be held. The people of the area are sceptical about this, given their experience last year about a written agreement that has not been implemented to date.

The memorandum submitted to the LG requested him to ensure that:

1.     Communal forces are dealt with firmly. It is essential to stop the RSS shakha meetings in this area particularly during the Eid festivities on July 17-18-19.

2.     The police pressure on minority community to enter into a compromise should stop.

3.     The police should not discriminate against the minority community. In case there has been any incident which warrants police intervention it must be ensured that the police stop targeting the minority community. In an altercation amongst the neighbours in the area, police had picked boys only from the minority community.