Statement by Academics, Artists and Activists – condemning attack on Shabnam Hashmi

Uphold Democratic Values and Condemn Violence against Activists

Violence, hooliganism, and disruption of the democratic process is common to all fundamentalist elements in the political sphere. Last evening some goons (a.k.a party workers) from the muslim fundamentalist Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party attacked noted activist S.Q. Masood, who was working as an observer for the Aam Aadmi Party  at Golconda in the Karwan Assembly Constituency, Hyderabad.

Similarly, three days ago well known activist Shabnam Hashmi and Pratap Singh Negi were attacked by BJP workers in Rae Bareli, UP while distributing leaflets exposing the Gujarat development claims. The workers threatened to rape Ms. Hashmi if she did not relent. In both cases the police refused to register FIRs. These brazen acts of violence by both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalist parties, within the protective umbrella of the police, are horrifying and must be strongly condemned. These parties are breeding an inhumane culture of intolerance in the name of religion and corrupting the law and order system.These incidents provide a glimpse of the hatred, disorder and deteriorated law & order situation that will be the order of the day when these parties come into power.

In Solidarity

1. Achin Vanaik, Academic, Delhi
2. Ali Asghar, Hyderabad
3. Amalendu Upadhyaya, Editor, Hastakshep.com
4. Amar Kanwar, Fil maker, Delhi
5. Amit Sengupta, Senior Journalist
6. Amitabh Pandey, Delhi
7. Anu Chenoy, Academic, JNU, Delhi
8. Apoorvanand, Academic, Delhi University
9. Asad Ashraf, Jamia Student’s Solidarity Forum
10. Asad Zaidi, Writer & Publisher
11. Ashish Awasthi, Activist, Lucknow
12. Battini Rao,People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS)
13.  Bhawna Sharma, Activist, Delhi
14. Biju Mohan, Film maker, Kerala
15. Dinesh Mohan, IIT Delhi
16. Dr Neshat Quaiser, Academic, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
17. Father Cedric Prakash, Prashant, Ahmedabad
18. Harsh Kapoor (sacw.net)
19. Harshita Yalamarty, Student, JNU
20. Hasan Abdullah
21. Hozefa Ujjaini, Ahmadabad
22. Indu Prakash Singh, Rights Defender, NFHR & FACT
23. Irfan Engineer, Mumbai
24. Joe Athialy, Activist, Delhi
25. John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council
26. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Academic, JNU, Delhi
27. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, feminist and Human Rights Activist
28. Kiran Shaheen, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS)
29. Kumar Prashant
30. Kumar Sundaram, Anti Nuclear Activist, Delhi
31. Lesley Esteves, Activist, New Delhi
32. Madhuresh Kumar, NAPM
33. Manisha Sethi, Academic, Delhi
34. Mansi Sharma, Activist, Delhi
35. Mohammad Imran
36. Mukta Srivastava
37. Nalini Taneja, Teacher, Delhi
38. Navaid Hamid, Member, National Integration Council
39. Niloufer Bhagwat, Mumbai
40. Nirmalangshu Mukherji, Activist & Writer
41. Nishat Quaisar, Jamia Millia Islamia
42. NOMOre Campaign
43. Ovais Sultan Khan, Social Work Professional, Delhi
44. Persis Jinwala, Activist Ahmadabad
45. Prasad Chacko, Activist, Ahmedabad
46. Puneet Sharma, Director, Mumbai
47. Purwa Bhardwaj, Independent Writer/Researcher, Delhi
48. Rakesh Sharma, Film maker, Mumbai
49. Ram Puniyani, All India Secular Forum, Mumbai
50. Rituparna Borah, Delhi
51. Rohini Hensman, Writer
52. Runu Chakraborty Saheli Women’s Resource Centre, New Delhi
53. Sanjay Kapoor, Editor, Hardnews
54. Seema Mustafa, Editor, The Citizen
55. Sehba farooqui, AIDWA
56. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, Activist, Writer, Delhi
57. Shesh Narain Singh, Journalist
58. Shree Prakash, UDFI, Indore
59. Subhash Gatade, New Socialist Initiative
60. Sukla Sen, Mumbai
61. Sushovan Dhar
62. Tanweer Fazal, Academic, JNU, Delhi
63. Vani Subramanian, filmmaker