Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, June 20: Activists of Communist Party of India (ML) on Tuesday held a protest demonstration against the killing of social activist and CPI-ML leader Zafar Khan who was beaten to death allegedly by staffers of municipality in Pratapgarh town in Rajasthan on Friday (16 June). The activists took out a march at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and demanded the Rajasthan government to ensure speedy justice in the case.
Zafar Khan, 55, was beaten to death allegedly by employees of municipality when he objected to them clicking pictures of women defecating in the open.
In the FIR lodged by Khan’s elder brother Noor Mohammed, civic employees called Kamal Harijan, Ritesh Harijan, Manish Harijan and municipal commissioner Ashok Jain were made accused.
Speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net, Ravi Rai, CPI (ML) Delhi secretary said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh should immediately take action in the case.
Ravi Rai, CPI (ML) Delhi secretary
“The killing of Zafar Khan is a part of mob culture being developed in the country. This incident has also exposed the politics of Modi Ji on Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. Rather than taking any action against the killers, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is trying to cover up the matter. She said it is unfortunate but denied accepting it as murder. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh should take immediate action against this culture of mob lynching,” Rai said.
Kawalpreet Kaur, AISA President of Delhi University said that mob lynching has become a trend now and is posing a threat to law & order in the country.
“What happened with Zafar Khan in Pratapgarh is not the first incident. Similar incidents-lynching of Pahlu Khan in Alwar, Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, and lynchings in Jharkhand of cattle traders — have occurred. It has become a trend now. After Modi became PM, we are seeing people delivering justice on road, they don’t need to go court, don’t need to care about law & order,” Kaur said while demonstrating at Jantar Mantar.
Kawalpreet Kaur, AISA President of Delhi University
Criticizing the Rajasthan chief minister, Kawalpreet said: “It is very shameful that CM Vasundhara Raje said that it was not a killing. Rather than looking into the case properly she is defending the officers of Municipality.”
Vasundhara Raje on Sunday termed Khan’s killing as ‘demise’ but assured that justice will prevail in the case.
“The demise of Zafar Khan ji in Pratapgarh is extremely unfortunate. Investigation is on – justice shall prevail,” Raje tweeted Sunday morning.
Since then she is facing much criticism.
Despite the police lodging named FIR against the assaulters with murder charges soon after the incident, no arrests have been made till date, nor has the victim family got any compensation from the district authorities or the state government.
“All the culprits should be arrested and the family of Zafar Khan should get compensation…In Rajasthan earlier, a dairy farmer Pahlu Khan was killed. These mobs indulged in such lynching cases have affiliation with BJP,” said Aslam Khan, CPI (ML) district secretary of Gautambudh Nagar (Noida).
Aslam Khan, CPI (ML) district secretary of Gautambudh Nagar (Noida)
The protest was jointly organised by CPI (ML), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and All India Coal Workers Federation (AICWF).
Eminent social activist Swami Agnivesh also participated in the protest demonstration.
