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Citizens groups condemn violent attacks against Adivasis in Assam

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A vehicle burnt by protesters at Gossaigaon in Sonitpur district of Assam on Wednesday. Photo: PTI

A vehicle burnt by protesters at Gossaigaon in Sonitpur district of Assam on Wednesday. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Sanmilito Janagosthiyo Oikya Mancha, Assam (An United Platform of 23 Organisations) strongly condemns the brutal Killings of innocent Adivashi People BTAD and its adjacent areas of Assam. On 23rd December, 2014 by Bodo Terrorist Group NDFB (S) attacked upon most oppressed Population of Assam Adivashi Santhals in two separate District of the State.

The indiscriminte attack took place at Shantipur, Lungshung – Ballamguri, Ultapani under Kokrajhar District of BTAD, Assam where atleast 26 Bodies were found till yesterday evening. In Sonitpur District which is adjacent to BTAD witnessed two separate attacks in Batashipur and Fulpur (Under Pavoi Reserve Forest) where at least 36 innocent people specially women, children were Killed. It is important to mention that all the areas where attacks took Place falls under the proposed Bodoland area where Bodos are Microscopic Minorities.

Though Bodos are microscopic Minorities in this areas, they want to be in Majority through continious Ethnic Cleanching since 1989. Forces of Bodo Political Hegimony are behind this continious attacks and Ethnic cleansing. Though these continious Attack taking Place for more then three decades, the Govt. is very soft towards this Millitancy. The Bodo Millitants Groups including NDFB (R), NDFB (P), NDFB (S), Ex-BLT and many other hidden Miscreants group very much Active all over BTAD and Proposed Bodoland areas Govt. is not taking any actions against these Groups. Due inaction from the Part of the Govermnent, Killings, Kidnapping and large scale Extortion are Day to Day happenings in these areas.

There is not a single village having Population Koch-Rajbonshi, Bengali Hindu, Assamise Muslims, Adivashis and other Non-Bodo Groups where Extortion Letter has not been served by this Millitant Groups. As per Govt reports before this round of Attack 177 People were Killed more then 377 People were Kidnapped by Bodo Millitants only in BTAD area this Year. Unfortunately, though some of them have returned paying huge ransom, many of them still traceless or were killed even after paying huge ransom. Sanmilito Janagosthiyo Oikya Mancha, Assam has been demanding more security posts in the area and to start combing operations against Terrorists and illegal Arms in the area and immediate compensation for the victims. It is matter of concern that the Adivashi and other Non-Bodo Groups of Peoples living in Pavoi Reserve Forest were threatened since last three months to Vacate their Land by these Terrorist Groups, Govt. did not took any Security measures where 30 people were killed yesterday. In Lungsung where atleast 12 persons were Killed Yesterday, the BTAD Council itself trying to Vacate the Land for the last three Years. So, the nexus between BTC Authority and the Millitants can’t be ignored.

After this indiscriminate firing of militants, the situation is going to be deteriorated very fast in BTAD and its adjacent area of Sonitpur district. In many places burning of houses and clash between inactive police and general people is taking place. Government must take strongest action to root out the militants and tackle the situation carefully.

The government of Assam has failed in tackling the situation and as the violence is spreading very fast in many parts of the area. central government should have sent additional forces to tackle the situation. Government must start combing operation against the militants very quickly to save the people.

PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY:

1- Mr. JAMSHER ALI (President, BTAD Citizen Rights Forum) spoke about the present conflict situation in Assam and the massive ethnic program which has been going on. in 1987, demand for seperate Bodoland for BODO community was raised mainly in the northern part of Brahmaputra valley. central and state governments failed to deal with the violent situation.

Commission under the leadership of Bhupinder Singh refused their demands. Government of India never took notice of the Bhupinder Singh Commission report which led to the rise of BODO autonomous council.

2008 and 2012 witnessed incidents of violence and ethnic cleansing in different districts. In the recent yesterday attack, they have targeted the Adivasi Santhals and mainly women and children are killed belonging to christian minority group.

He brought into light, the BTAD (Bodoland Autonomous Council) is runned by ex-military group. it is said, that the agencies of central government is providing them support. General Amnesty is provided to the militants group which is encouraging the militancy.

He demands the deployment of permanent security forces and para-military forces in all conflict areas which has been attacked since 1989-2014. And that the ’sixth schedule to the constituent amendment act’ to be reviewed.

Since the situation is worsening at a fast pace, SJOM demands support from the central government for effectively dealing with the situation.

He informed about the incident of killing common people in police firing, who were agitating against their inaction.

He exposed the controversial win of the BJP candidate Ram Prasad Sharma from Tejpur District with open support from NDFB-S militant group.

9th August 2014, a meeting with Rajnath Singh (Present Home Minister) was held and a 444 page memorandum was put forward. But Government’s negligience is causing continued attacks.

2- Mr. NAVAID HAMID blamed the NDA regime for series of violent attacks and the ongoing support from the BJP to the militant groups. He mentioned the previous attacks on the muslim community which lead to the displacement of nearly 4 lakh people, who were forced to become refugees in their own land. He accused the BJP government for reaping political benefits which is evident in recent trends.

3- Mr.ABDUL AZIZ (President, ASOM SANKHYA LUGHU SANGRAM PARISHAD) raised his demand of reviewing the BTC Accord. The immediate need to seize illegal arms and their availability in every household.

Muslims, Adivasis, Bengali Hindus and Hindi speaking people are widely attacked in various districts. He said it is a strategy of expanding the BTAD area through terror activities.

ORGANISATIONS:

Sanmilito Janagosthiyo Oikya Mancha, Assam (An United Platform of 23 Organisations)
BTAD CITIZEN RIGHTS FORUM
ASOM SANKHYA LUGHU SANGRAM PARISHAD
ALL BTC BENGALI YOUTH STUDENTS FEDERATION
ALL BTC MINORITY STUDENTS UNION
ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy)
AIDWA (Delhi)
JTSA
People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism
JSSF
Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians
Nagrik Ekta Manch

Hung verdict puts NC, PDP in quandary

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Omar Abdullah Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: The fractured mandate in Jammu and Kashmir has left both NC and arch-rivals PDP caught in a cleft stick — with second-placed BJP appearing to be their sole saviour.

With 15 seats, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) is out of power, but it has an option of supporting the BJP and thereby keeping its arch-rival the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) out of power for the next six years.

The PDP’s dilemma is even bigger. With 28 seats it has fallen short of its estimated projection of getting closer to 44, the simple majority needed to form the government.

The PDP’s problem is also compounded by the fact that its most likely future ally, the Congress, has got just 12 seats. The two together have only 40 seats — still short of the vaunted mark by four.

The vote count of the staggered five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir took place Tuesday.

There are seven independents who have won. Two of these are with Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference whose proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is well known.

Barring the PDP, Sajad’s party will support anyone.

Saeed Mohammed Bakir Rizvi, the lone independent candidate from Zanskar constituency of Ladakh region, has won with NC support and cannot support the PDP.

Pawan Kumar Gupta, the lone independent candidate from Udhampur, is a BJP dissident and is likely to return to the party.

Then there is Yusuf Tarigami of the CPM against whom the NC had not fielded a candidate.

This leaves Hakim Yaseen and Engineer Rashid, the other independent candidates who would support any dispensation that provides power to them. Many, however, believe Engineer Rashid might support no alliance.

This leaves just two possibilities, the PDP aligning with the BJP or the NC aligning with the BJP.

The PDP would have to compromise if it is forced to align with the BJP and the most difficult of such a compromise would be the BJP’s push for a Hindu chief minister for at least half the term if the alliance is worked out on a three-year rotational basis.

On the other hand, the NC can keep the PDP out by supporting the BJP, but Omar Abdullah would be the biggest opponent of such a move even if his father, the NC president, Farooq Abdullah advised him to be more friendly to the BJP now that the hype raised against each other by the NC and the BJP during election campaign was over.

It is a catch-22 situation for the NC and the PDP and gives the controlling handle to the BJP that has 25 seats.

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary, is arriving here Thursday to spell out his party’s terms to both the NC and the PDP — if either of them is willing to cobble up a ruling alliance with the BJP.

Madhav will first meet Omar Abdullah and later call on Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the PDP patron.

Omar has left for winter capital Jammu to submit his resignation to Governor N.N. Vohra before he flies back to Srinagar for his meeting with Ram Madhav.

(IANS)

Sangh Parivar activist arrested for desecrating temples to create riot

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Muzaffarnagar police have arrested a Hindutva activist for a number of incidents of temple desecration, which had led to tensions in Budhana.

Muzaffarnagar police have arrested a Hindutva activist for a number of incidents of temple desecration, which had led to tensions in Budhana.

Muzaffarnagar: A 35-year-old Sangh Parivar activist has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for desecrating two temples last week near Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh with the intention of creating communal riots.

The riot monger has been identified as Deshraj Singh. His aim, he told police, was to ensure that “koi masjid na rahe, sirf mandir rahe (no mosques should remain, only temples should remain)”.

The miscreant had confessed to have desecrated two temples at Parsauli village in communally sensitive Budhana near Muzaffarnagar by leaving buffalo carcasses inside and writing hate messages on the wall.

Parsauli had remained tense last week after a few temple desecration incidents came to light. In one instance on the 15th of December, animal skin was found outside a newly constructed temple, while on the night of 20th an idol went missing from another temple.

Following the incidents BJP leaders including Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan had visited the village.

There was a string of two or three incidents. A person had placed heads and other parts of buffaloes at two temples. The idols had also been stolen. An attempt had also been made to place an idol at a different spot. Following our efforts, we have arrested Deshraj Singh, who has confessed to committing these acts,” said HN Singh, SSP, Muzaffarnagar.

“We are in the process of ascertaining in what state he had committed these acts. We cannot yet say for certain why he had committed these acts. We have also sent a team to his house in Delhi. Because of this incident, there was tension in the village. Communal tension also prevailed in nearby villages,” he added.

Police said that Deshraj also revealed he stole some items from a mosque earlier as well.

Deshraj is a native of Parsauli but had been working in Noida. He had returned to Parsauli about two months back.

Budhana had been one of the areas affected by the riots in Muzaffarnagar last year.

Vajpayee, Malaviya to get Bharat Ratna

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (file photos)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malviya (file photos)

New Delhi: A day ahead of their birth anniversaries, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late freedom fighter-educationist and the initial leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, Madan Mohan Malaviya were named for India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.

“The president has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthmously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

Incidentally, both Vajpayee and Malaviya were born Dec 25 — the former in 1924 and the latter in 1861. Their birthday has also been declared as “Good Governance Day” by the government.

The honour for Gwalior-born Vajpayee, who was the country’s prime minister first in 1996 and then again from 1998 to 2004, came after years of demands from people across party affiliations and the public at large.

The 90-year-old veteran politician had re-started the Bharatiya Jan Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 and was the first head of government from outside the Congress party to serve a full five-year term.

He served the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, for 10 terms that began in 1957 and concluded in 2009.

An orator par excellence, Vajpayee had earned much fame as India’s external affairs minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai government during which tenure he delivered a widely acclaimed speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.

Allahabad-born Malaviya was the president of the Indian National Congress for two terms and was also among the first leaders of the right-wing Hindu Mahasabha. Besides being a freedom fighter and politician, he was also an eminent educationist.

The Banaras Hindu University was founded by him in 1916. He died a year before India’s independence Aug 15, 1947.

Congress welcomes decision

The Congress Wednesday welcomed the decision to confer the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and late freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken tweeted a congratulatory message after the announcement was made.

“We welcome the conferring of Bharat Ratna on Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We congratulate,” Maken said.

(IANS)

40 killed in Bodo terrorist attacks in Assam

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Assam-bodoland

Guwahati: At least 40 people were killed when Bodo militants fired indiscriminately at villagers in Assam’s Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts, police said.

An Assam Police spokesman confirmed that 40 people, including four women, were killed in four incidents of firing by cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) faction opposed to peace talks.

The attacks began around 6.15 p.m. Tuesday, almost simultaneously.

The first attack took place at Pakhiriguri in Kokrajhar district of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), where the militants killed four people and injured four.

In another attack at Ultapani, in the same district, they killed three people.

Police said 27 people were killed in Maitalubosti in Sonitpur district. The rebels also attacked Jungle Bosti village in the same district, killing six people.

“The toll is likely to increase as there are reports of more bodies being recovered from all the violence-affected areas,” a senior police official said.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) S.N. Singh said the NDFB faction opposed to peace talks was behind the incident.

The militants attacked the villages as a response to the intensified operation by the security forces, he said.

A joint team of Assam Police commandos and the army had Sunday killed two Bodo militants in neighbouring Chirang district, close to the Bhutan border.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Tuesday said termed the attack a cowardly act of the militants and said his government will not bow down to any militant threat.

Killings condemnable

The killing of unarmed civilians by Bodo militants in Assam “is highly condemnable and shows contempt for human lives”, Amnesty International India said Wednesday.

“The men, women and children killed and injured in these attacks were mostly members of the adivasi community who traditionally work in the tea gardens of the region,” it said.

“It is the fundamental right of every person to live free from violence and discrimination. Authorities in Assam must take action to protect the rights of all communities and bring those responsible for the attacks to justice,” Amnesty said.

The CPI-M on Wednesday urged the government to take “firm action” and dismantle Bodo militants after they massacred over 40 tribals, including women and children.

“Firm action should be taken to curb and dismantle the NDFB extremist group,” the Communist Party of India-Marxist said, referring to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

“It is the responsibility of the Assam government and the (central government) to ensure the safety and protection of non-Bodo communities in the BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District) area.”

(IANS)

Exclusion and untouchability remain widespread and only 5% marry out of their caste: Survey

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caste

by International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN)

Report findings recently released from the India Human Development Survey, the India Exclusion Report and the Nepal Multidimensional Social Inclusion Index, document that caste discrimination is very far from being history. In almost all aspects of every-day life statistics indicate that caste discrimination is deep-rooted and widespread.

Merely five percent of Indians said they had married a person from a different caste, and 27 percent of households self-reported engaging in untouchability practices, according to the pre-released findings of The India Human Development Survey, conducted by the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Maryland University. When Brahmins (dominant caste) were asked, 52% self-reported to not allow a Dalit to use their kitchen utensils, a common practice of untouchability.

The survey also found that only 5% marry outside their caste, which is a clear indicator of the perseverance of caste segregation. The survey found that there had been no increase in this number since the survey was last conducted 10 years ago. In Madhya Pradesh state less than 1% reported marrying outside their caste.

The survey findings on untouchability were particularly stark in some states where untouchability across castes was found to be almost 50% in Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Bihar and just over 40% in Uttar Pradesh. As the survey only documents self-declared practices of untouchability, the true figures are thought to be even higher.

These findings will not come as a surprise to the authors of the comprehensive and highly collaborative India Exclusion Report 2013-2014, by the Centre for Equity Studies. The report analyses discrimination across labour, education and housing in India. Within all these areas Dalits, and particularly Dalit women, come out at the bottom of the tables.

“India is inherently prone to exclusion practices that make large quantities of people extremely vulnerable to a sliding path towards destitution. The excluded almost exclusively belong to the suppressed castes, religious minorities and tribal groups. Within these categories, women are perhaps the worst off.”

In relation to discrimination in the labour market the report states,

“Caste remains a key determinant of a person’s future. This is perfectly reflected in India’s labour market, which is more governed by laws of social origin than by statutory legislation. Moreover, violation of caste rules by Dalits seeking to break caste-related employment barriers is prone to severe punishment from dominant castes, including economic boycotts and even physical violence.”

Findings on bonded labour also echo clear links to the caste system,

“Traditional caste rules mandate forced labour from certain communities. Caste is one of the foundations of the bonded labour system and remains a key feature of bondage even in non-agricultural industries today. The lack of access to their own land, combined with this expectation to perform free labour and the threat of violence and economic boycott against those who challenge their expected social roles, keeps many Dalit families in bondage and a perpetual state of poverty.”

According to the India Exclusion report the Musahar Dalits are among one of the most vulnerable groups with less than 10% of Musahar Dalit children studying, a female literacy rate of just 2% and a school drop-out rate of nearly 100%.

Across the border in Nepal, Dalits also reign at the bottom of all tables in the recently published Nepal Multidimensional Social Inclusion Index, by Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The Index attempts to encompass all aspects of life and is a composite derived from six other indices: social, economic, political, cultural, gender, and social cohesion.

Across all counts Dalits are faring very poorly in Nepal and gender discrimination is also high across castes. There is a glaring gap between especially Tarai Dalits, and their dominant caste countrymen from the same region when it comes to all dimensions of the index. Muslims and other ethnic minorities are also represented at the bottom of the ranks.

The findings of these three recent reports counter popular assertions that caste discrimination is a thing of the past, or on the retreat, and beckon that all those with an interest in equality and inclusion take the caste dimension very seriously when engaging with caste-affected countries.

More information

Read caste-related selected extracts from the India Exclusion Report or download the full report

Read about the pre-released statistics from the India Human Development Survey

See the Nepal Multidimensional Social Inclusion Index and an article on the Index

Protests over conversions set back reform agenda

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india-parliament

New Delhi/Reuters: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reform agenda suffered a setback on Monday as protests erupted in parliament and in the streets over a campaign by Hindu hardliners linked to his party to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.

Opposition members threw papers and swarmed to the centre of the upper house of parliament, forcing the suspension of the session and effectively preventing the government from tabling a bill to increase foreign participation in the insurance sector.

The long-pending insurance legislation to raise the cap on foreign investment to 49 percent from 26 percent, and another bill to replace a decree to overhaul the coal sector, were considered low-hanging fruits that Modi hoped to push through parliament’s winter session, which ends on Tuesday.

But comments by the head of the right-wing Hindu group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, that India was a “Hindu nation” provoked a storm of criticism, snuffing out any chance of opposition support for government business in the upper house of parliament, where Modi lacks a majority.

“This is an attempt to divide the society,” Nitish Kumar, an opposition leader from the state of Bihar told hundreds of people at a protest in New Delhi, referring to religious conversions.

“The government is not capable of resolving the core issues of our country, so they want to divide the society and distract people.”

Modi is facing a backlash for not doing enough to rein in hardline affiliate groups that have become emboldened in their pursuit of a Hindu-dominant agenda, threatening India’s secular foundations, critics say.

Trouble erupted this month after a group of Muslims complained they had been tricked into attending a conversion ceremony by Hindu groups. A Hindu priest-turned-lawmaker of Modi’s party had planned a mass conversion ceremony on Christmas Day, but that has been put off.

About a fifth of India’s 1.2 billion people identify themselves as belonging to faiths other than Hinduism. Conversion is a sensitive issue with Hindu groups saying many poor Hindus were forced over the ages to give up their faith, or lured into Christianity and Islam.

On Monday, opposition Congress party leader Anand Sharma urged Modi to make clear where he stood on conversions.

Modi actively communicates via social media and addresses the nation every month on radio, but has not commented on conversions, letting colleagues tackle the criticism.

"Not getting any reservation benefits, hence converted to Hinduism"

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home-coming-Hinduism

Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala Police began a probe into reports of 35 people in two districts converting to Hinduism, two families Monday said they did it on their own and not under any pressure.

The families of Babu and Joy, siblings from Cheppad in Alappuzha district, told the media that in official records they were classified as Christian Cheremars, but they had been practising Hinduism right from childhood.

They said that despite being classified as Christian Cheremars, they were not getting any reservation benefits.

Hence, they decided on their own to convert to Hinduism to enjoy the benefits.

They also said they had approached the local leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and it was they who made arrangements for their conversion rituals.

A total of 35 people from Alappuzha and Kollam districts had Sunday converted to Hinduism, following which state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered a probe.

Additional Director General of Police A. Hemachandran has been asked to conduct a detailed probe and submit a report, Chennithala’s office told IANS.

“He has constituted a team of officials and they are trying to find if there was any forced conversion. The report is awaited,” the office said.

The VHP leadership Monday continued to maintain that there was no attempt on their part to woo people to convert to Hinduism.

Fr. Paul Thelekkat, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, told IANS that there exists a problem in Kerala where reservation benefits are there for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Hindus and not for SC/ST Christians.

What happened Sunday was probably to enjoy those benefits, he said.

“Moreover, the Bharatiya Janata Party, through this could look to polarisation of Hindu votes,” Thelekkat said.

(IANS)

Jammu & Kashmir heading for hung assembly; BJP to form Govt in Jharkhand

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BJP

Srinagar/Ranchi: Jammu and Kashmir today appeared headed for a hung assembly with BJP making gains in Jammu region while the party is all set to form government in Jharkhand, the trends coming from both the states in assembly elections show.

The PDP, headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the BJP were leading in 25 seats each. The ruling National Conference was ahead in 16 seats and the Congress in 14 of the 87 seats for which the trends were available.

JKPC led by Sajjad Lone was ahead in two seats while JKPDF and CPI-M were leading in one seat each while Independents were leading in three seats.

The BJP’s spectacular performance, the best in the state so far, was however limited to the Jammu region where 37 seats are up for grabs. The party has not bee able to make any dent in the Valley which has 46 seats in all.

Going by the trends, unless any two of the four major parties–BJP, PDP, NC and Congress–come together government formation would not be possible.

In the last elections, National Conference had won 28, PDP 21, Congress 17 and BJP 11 seats.

In Jharkhand, the BJP was well on the road to forming a government of its own by leading in 38 seats including four of ally AJSU in the 81-member assembly. Ruling JMM is leading in 20 constituencies, Congress 4, JVM (P) 8, RJD 5 and others 5, the trends show.

(PTI)

Janata Parivar targets Modi government on black money, conversions

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The leaders of the Samajwadi Janata Dal, a bloc of six parties, in Delhi on Monday. Photo: PTI

The leaders of the Samajwadi Janata Dal, a bloc of six parties, in Delhi on Monday. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Leaders of the Janata Parivar raised the issue of black money both inside and outside parliament Monday, hitting out at the NDA government for failing to fulfil its promise of bringing back illegal cash stashed abroad. They also accused it of fomenting communal tensions.

Political heavyweights from the Janata Parivar, comprising the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) gathered in the Jantar Mantar area in the heart of the capital to address a rally denouncing the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

“Why has the NDA government failed to fulfil its promises made before the (Lok Sabha) election?” asked JD-U leader Nitish Kumar.

“Where is the black money it promised to bring back (from abroad)?”

“The prime minister has campaigned across the nation. He had said that he would bring back black money; what happened to the promises he made? They are spending money on religious conversions, they made false promises during poll campaign, and now they are diverting people’s attention,” said the former Bihar chief minister.

He accused Modi of not acting tough against right-wing Hindu groups charged with religious conversion of Christians and Muslims and said the country should not be divided on religious grounds.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad were equally critical.

Mulayam Singh said: “They promised jobs to all the youth and Rs.15 lakh to everyone (from the black money they would bring back). They even asked people to open bank accounts. But where is the money?”

“The BJP’s conspiracy is to engineer riots so that attention is shifted away from the government’s failures,” said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

“The Agra incident was just a beginning. They will do such things across the country,” Mulayam Singh said, referring to the conversion of 300 Muslims families in his state.

Lalu Prasad alleged that Modi was attempting to cause religious divide in the country by tacitly encouraging religious conversions.

“The minorities have also fought for India’s independence and the Modi government engages in ‘ghar vapsi’ (home-coming),” he said.

JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said: “Janata Parivar is protesting at the venue (Jantar Mantar) against the government over black money. You promised good days, employment”.

The issue was raised again in both houses by members of these parties. In the Lok Sabha, they also staged a walkout over the issue. Members of the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress also held protests in the parliament premises.

In the lower house, Mulayam Singh accused the government and Prime Minister Modi of not fulfilling the promises made to people who voted him to power.

Members of the RJD and the JD-U also demanded a statement from the prime minister over the issue.

The SP chief said promises were made that farmers would get money in their accounts and that land encroached by China and Pakistan would be taken back. But “these promises have not been fulfilled”.

Both houses of parliament have debated the issue of black money during the winter session.

(IANS)

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