A powerful citizen’s movement in Varanasi has come to the streets demanding justice to Bilkis Bano, a rape survivor of the 2002 communal riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
The Sajha Sanskriti Manch (SSM, United Forum for Cultural Diversity), network of various social and human rights organization, has organized a series of public protests, rallies and signature campaign in various parts of the northern Indian holy city to demand repeal of the mercy given by the Gujarat High Court to the 11 rapists and murderers.
SSM, in collaboration with Joint Action Council, an organization of the Students of Ba-naras Hindu University and Dakhal (Initiative), a young women’s organization for the rights of women and transgenders through cultural and political interventions, organized its third public meeting August 26 at Sarnath, 10 km northeast of Varanasi.
SSM convenor Father Ana-nd Mathew of the Indian Missionary Society, while addressing the gathering said: “We are standing in front of the Sarnath museum where the Ashoka pillar, symbol of peace and dharma is preserved. The place is significant because it is here Buddha preached his first sermon, denoting the four noble truths of dharma. And from here we appeal to the judiciary not to perpetuate in-justice.”
He condemned the court verdict which he says certi-fies the exploi-tation of wo-men and mino-rity communities. He indicated the communal angle and appeasement of the majority community in the unjust court verdict and expressed the hope that the Supreme Court will give justice to Bilkis Bano and other suffering women and minority communities.
He also appealed for justice to Teesta Setalvad, Himanshu Kumar, Sanjeev Bhat and R.B. Sree Kumar who are jailed for their voice of dissent and standing for truth. Jagriti Rahi, a prominent woman activist of Varanasi, explained in detail the repercussions of this cruel verdict in favor of people who gang raped Bilkis Bano, murdered her three year daughter and seven members of her family in front of her eyes during the Gujarat riots.