Delhi: Memo to LG — Communal Tension

July 15, 2015

Press Note

CPI (M) meeting with the LG regarding the communally tense situation in Sriram Colony

July 15, 2015

A delegation led by Com Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI (M) met the Lt Governor of Delhi, Shri Najeeb Jung today 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.

We 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.

We 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.

We requested the LG to ensure that

· 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.

· the police pressure on minority community to enter into a compromise should stop.

· 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.

A copy of the memorandum submitted to the LG is attached.

JanabNajeeb Jung

Hon Lt Governor of Delhi

Rajniwas

Delhi

July 15, 2015

Sir,

This is to request your urgent intervention to prevent the development of any communal tension because of RSS actions in the Muslim dominated locality in Sriram Colony. Regretfully, the elected Member of Parliament from this area appears to be supporting these activities.

RSS shakhain the local park is the cause of communal tension in the area – they raise provocative slogans intimidating the local people. They have alsodeclared that they would hold a mahamanch on July 17-18-19 this year. This is a planned and deliberate attempt to create a situation of communal conflagration. It is not an accident that Eid this year would be on 18^th or the 19^th. This has led to fear among the minority community that Eid namaz might be disrupted again this year as it was last year on Bakrid. This might disrupt Eid celebration leading to more tension in the area.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Com Brinda Karat met CP in this regard. Earlier our party delegation had met the DCP (North-East Delhi). Surprisingly after reassurance from the highest office of the police, the police is now pressurising the residents to arrive at a so-called compromise – that the shakhashould be conducted upto 7 am and thereafter Eid namazbe 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.Last year, RSS with the help of local Ramlila committee built a platform in DDA park during Ramlila, which the police had promised would be removed after Ramlila. But to this day the platform has not been removed.

We request you to ensure that

· communal forces are dealt with firmly. It is essential to stop the RSSshakha meetings in this area particularly on July 17-18-19.

· the police pressure on minority community to enter into a compromise should stop.

Thanking you

With regards