GOONS of BJP, RSS and other rightwing forces launched attack on protests and demonstrations, organised by Left and democratic forces in several parts of the country, over the Jawaharlal Nehru University issue and the suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University. The series of attacks on peaceful protests and demonstrations in Silchar (Assam), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Udaipur (Rajasthan) among other places were aimed at silencing the Left and democratic voices of the country as hundreds of people took to the street to protest against the BJP-RSS attempt to impose the Hindutva ideology in all spheres of society, particularly institutes of higher education.
The series of attacks began in Uttarakhand where rightwing forces targeted the SFI office in Dehradun. Similar attack was also reported from Chattishgarh. These were followed by the cowardly attacks on the CPI(M) Central Committee office in New Delhi and Punjab state headquarters in Chandigarh. On February 14, a few goons owing allegiance to the rightwing forces attacked the CPI(M) headquarters, AKG Bhawan. A day after on February 15, the country witnessed the shocking incident of hooliganism indulged in by lawyers and goons owing allegiance to BJP at the Patiala House Courts in Delhi. In Chandigarh on February 17, RSS and BJP goons attacked the Party office. About 75 hoodlums threw stones at the office building. Five policemen, present at the site, were silent spectators when the goons were throwing stones at the office building. The windowpanes of the office were smashed by the goonda elements of the RSS and BJP.
ALLAHABAD
A mob of about 200 lawyers attacked a protest demonstration organised by Left parties, their affiliate organisations and activists at the district collectorate building in Allahabad on February 25. The protesters demanded a fair probe into the Jawaharlal Nehru University incident and Rohith Vemula’s death and the release of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and other students arrested on sedition charges.
The attackers hurled abuses at women and other protesters and assaulted them with sticks and rods, leaving over a dozen injured. Avinash Mishra, Allahabad division president of All India Insurance Employees Association, sustained serious head injury in the attack. Among other injured were CPI(ML) district president K K Pandey, Anu Singh, and Utpala Shukla of PUCL.
CPI(M) leader Sudhir K Singh said the programme was organised with prior permission from the administration. As the dharna started around noon, a group of 10-12 lawyers approached us in an aggressive manner and asked us to stop the dharna. We tried to reason with them saying we had the right to put our views. Then, one of them made a phone call and within a few minutes a mob of 150 to 250 lawyers attacked us with lathis and stones, he said. The attackers were shouting “Pakistan wapas jao (return to Pakistan)”, “deshdrohi (traitor)” and “Vande mataram” even as they assaulted us. “They even hurled abuses at women,” Singh said. CPI(M) district secretary Ravi Mishra and noted writer Doodh Nath Singh were part of the demonstration. A police complaint has been filed at Colonelganj police station. However, police were dilly-dallying on acting against the culprits. Lawyers of the Allahabad High Court have condemned the attack on the demonstration.
SILCHAR
ABVP and RSS hooligans attacked an SFI rally in Silchar on February 17. SFI took out a protest march demanding immediate release of Kanhaiya Kumar and against the attack on democratic rights. The procession started at 1 pm from Narsingtola in Silchar. Soon a group of around 10 ABVP-RSS hooligans attacked the marchers with sticks and rods. In the attack, three comrades – Sandeep Nath, Saharul Barbhuyan and Sabez Mazumdar – were injured. A complaint has been filed. The Superintendent of Police assured that quick action would be ensured in the case. On February 19, a citizens’ meeting was held where intellectuals, prominent individuals and many democratic organisations took part. A procession was held condemning the attack and immediate action against the miscreants.
UDAIPUR
ABVP goons attacked SFI and AISA supporters, distributing pamphlets at University College of Science in Udaipur in Rajasthan seeking justice for Rohith Vemula and Kanhaiya Kumar, on February 17. About 40 ABVP goons tried to stop the Left activists from distributing leaflets on the university campus. Then, they assaulted the Left student activists, threatened them and damaged their motorcycle. A complaint was filed at Bhupalpura police station. But police initially refused to file an FIR. A delegation of Left parties later met police officers and demanded registering of an FIR and immediate arrest of the accused. Earlier, ABVP goons tore up posters demanding justice for Rohith Vemula at Mohanlal Sukhadia University.
GWALIOR
BJP’s youth wing activists targeted a symposium on B R Ambedkar in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh injuring a few persons. The BJP goons target was Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Vivek Kumar, who addressed the symposium organised by Ambedkar Vichar Manch on February 21. He, however, escaped unhurt. The BJP youth activists tore up posters outside the venue and attacked the gathering with lathis and fired gunshots, alleging that Prof. Kumar’s speech was "provocative and anti-national”. An FIR has been filed against Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha district president Vivek Sharma and 100 unknown persons. Due to the attack, Prof. Kumar missed his flight to Mumbai where he was to deliver a lecture on “Appropriation of Dr B R Ambedkar in the contemporary era” at Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
