ASHOK NAIR
CHICAGO: Concerned NRIs from all walks of life in the Greater Chicagoland Area assembled to protest against mob lynching, increasing human rights abuses and harassment of innocent citizens in India. The protestors demanded justice for victims of wanton violence and their families, and also urged immediate action by the Indian government to stop and punish those responsible for the reprehensible violence and hate crimes.
The protesters expressed, as one voice, their distress and anguish and said that mob justice cannot be allowed to exist in a civilized society. It was noted that since 2014, anti-social fringe elements professing extremist ideologies have become emboldened and are criminally indulging in mob lynching and violence with frightening regularity.
“Other than the horrifying act of mob, lynching another worrying element is the role of police,” Anand, a public school teacher, said.
“Though there have been some instances of police helping victims and trying hard to maintain law and order, largely, the victims have been investigated or arrested unjustifiably after being beaten by mobs resulting in low conviction rate in courts.,” he said.
“We are not demanding justice, dignity and security of Muslims or Hindus or Dalits or Christians but of all Indian citizens irrespective of their religion, caste or gender.”
Many people expressed their worry over several politicians felicitating accused people, and glorifying them.
People of different faiths held posters and banners that expressed their distress, outrage and sorrow; they demanded that law and order must be upheld impartially and effectively to stop ‘mobocracy’.
A human chain was formed holding placards that read “Hey Ram, Save India”, “Voice of Collective Conscience”, “Has fear lynched my conscience”, and pictures of some of the victims of mob lynching.
Dr Rahul Deepankar, who is a champion against India’s oppressive caste system, was also present at the meet and among other things said that tribalism is growing and it is also a time of introspection.
Some patriotic songs were played at the event and several people took turns to voice out their anguish over increasing lawlessness and said that there can be no development in a country plagued with violence.
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