New Delhi
The second day sessions of two-day National Conference on Human Rights organized by National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO) were opened in the Gauri Lankesh Hall, at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi. Prof. Apoorvanad, Delhi University (DU) chaired the first session “Universities and Academic Freedom”. Ms. Padmashree, Joint Secretary of NCHRO, Karnataka Chapter welcomed the gathering.
Prof. Nivedita Menon, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in her keynote address said that the RSS is trying to change the social and cultural ambience of the universities. The new chancellors appointed by the NDA government try to introduce the culture of Rashtravaad through means fair or fouls with the help of the ministers concerned. Umer Khalid,the eminent student leader from JNU Delhi underlined the need for new student politics different from the traditional left. Syed Zubair Ahmed, Editor, the Editor of Muslim Mirror narrated the problems of putting across facts about the changes being imposed on educational institutions.
The chairperson of the NCHRO Prof. A. Marx presided over the second session “Victims of Rights Violations and Activist Meet”. It was inaugurated by eminent journalist, editor of Dalit Voice V.T. Rajashekar. “We are meeting here today in a very dangerous of political climate. Brahmanism is the enemy of the country. Muslims are not foreigners. Dalit-Muslim unity is need of the hour. Muslim leadership should initiate this task” he said. Adv. Shakeel Ahmed, National Exco Member, NCHRO also spoke.
The victims of rights violations, Vasantha Saibaba, the wife of Dr G.N. Saibaba who is currently in Nagpur Central Jail, Amanullah Ansari, Kota, Rajasthan, Zakir Thyagi, Muzaffarnagar, U.P, Dr. Kusum Megwal, Udaipur Rajasthan, Irshad Ali, Delhi, Mohamed Elyas, Baran, Rajasthan, Shadaf Mushraf. (Sister of Najeeb), Delhi shared their pain with the participants.
The activists’ session under the banner “Rights in the Modern World and the Problems of Appropriation” focused on the need for better legal and political coordination among different rights bodies.
The documentary on Dr. Hadia issue (Kerala) produced by noted film maker Gopal Menon was released on the second day of the conference.
Adv. K.P. Mohamed Shareef, Vice Chairperson of NCHRO chaired the valedictory session. Adv. Amit Srivastav, State Vice-President, NCHRO, Delhi Chapter delivered welcome address. M. Mohamed Ali Jinnah, General Secretary, Popular Front of India, Prof. A. Marx, Chairperson of NCHRO, Prof. P. Koya, General Secretary, NCHRO spoke.
The fifteen resolutions in different issues viz., Enact Law against Torture, Repeal UAPA, Withdraw Citizenship Amendment Bill, Rohingyan Refugees, Stop the Harassment of Human Rights Defenders, Murder of Gauri Lankesh, Fake Encounter Killings, Crackdown on Academic Dissent, Go for Political Solution in Kashmir, Release Dr. G.N. Saibaba immediately, Resist the Centralization of Powers, Fight Neo-Liberal Economic Policies, Draconian Provisions in Anti-Conversion Laws, Arrest of Human Rights Lawyer in Tamil Nadu and Accused in terrorist cases with Hindutva connections were passed in the conference. Ansar Indori, State General Secretary, NCHRO, Delhi chapter delivered vote of thanks.
The activists from 18 states viz., Kerala, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telanagna, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam participated in the conference.
