Press Statement by Presidium, AIFRTE
All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE) unequivocally condemns the dastardly threats to the life and liberty of noted academic and former Professor of IIT Mumbai, and a leading figure in the movement for defence of civil liberties, Dr. Ram Puniyani.
The articles, lectures and books of Dr. Puniyani, who is also a member of the Advisory Board of the AIFRTE, are an important resource for all civil society groups and activists in the struggle for promoting rationalism and scientific temper and opposing the Hindutva forces and ideology that are communalizing India’s polity and social life, in blatant violation of the Constitution.
The cowards, who failed to identify themselves, telephoned his home on the night of 6th June 2019. They used highly abusive language and accused him of being ‘anti-Hindu’. Dr. Puniyani was threatened with dire consequences if he did not stop his activities and leave the city within 15 days. Dr. Puniyani has filed an FIR with the Powai police station in Mumbai and also written to the Police Commissioner. The National Human Rights Commission has also been approached.
However, it is essential
that all democratic organizations and civil society groups unite to demand protection for Dr. Puniyani and his family.
that the Govt. of Maharashtra take immediate action to identify and proceed against those persons who have threatened him and reveal the organizations which are behind their actions.
that the National Human Rights Commission respond and act urgently on this case.
AIFRTE demands immediate, stern and stringent action by the concerned authorities. The lives of a number of leading democratic rationalists and intellectuals, particularly in Maharashtra and neighbouring Karnataka, have already been lost at the hands of suspected adherents of a right-wing hindutva organization that is active in the region.
This politics and ideology of hatred and physical elimination cannot be allowed to function as if it has some form of ‘immunity’ under the current political dispensation.
It has to be put a stop to, and that must be done right away.
The ruling parties and governments at the level of the state and the centre must condemn these threats and provide credible assurance that the criminals behind such actions and these continuing threats will be identified and dealt with severely, as per law.
