India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Prominent individuals and activists from several countries, including India, have condemned the violence against Hindus on the occasion of Durga Puja and Vijaydashmi.
Here goes the full text of the letter:
“As South Asians, we are deeply distressed and saddened by the spate of violence and killings in Bangladesh on the occasion of Durga Puja and Vijayadashmi.
Attacks on minorities are a sign of injustice and a matter of shame for any society and bring a bad name to the Government.
Our heartfelt empathy and solidarity with all those killed, injured, and affected in any way by this inhuman and mindless violence.
Even as we were feeling some relief at the Government of Bangladesh reigning in fanatic groups and controlling communalism in the country, the current outbreak of mayhem and violence against the minorities comes as a big shock, and seems a setback to the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to curb communalism and promote communal amity and peaceful co-existence.
This also shows those fanatic elements bent on spreading hate and violence in any society are always on the prowl to damage social fabric and we have to be on constant vigil against them.
In the time of social media, it is easy to identify, try and punish all those who are involved in the recent violence. We understand that the Government of Bangladesh has started action against those involved and we welcome it and urge that quick and exemplary punishment should be given to deter others and ensure such obnoxious incidences are not repeated again.
Finally, we urge the Government of Bangladesh to immediately reconstruct and repair all places of worship, houses, and any other assets that are damaged and provide generous compensation to those injured and to the families of all those killed and government jobs to the next of kin.
We find that divisive forces in different countries of South Asia are spreading hate and violence, especially against minorities. This is a matter of grave concern and calls for immediate attention and decisive actions by all the governments of the region to ensure amity, peace, and pave way for the development and prosperity of the people.
All countries of the region are already lagging behind on all development indicators and any further divisions in society and violence can push our people into more poverty and greater misery.
We urge all South Asians to speak out against any violence in any form and prevail upon their governments to secure peace and ensure the prosperity of the people.”
Signatories are:
India
Syeda Hameed- Khwaja Ahmed Abbas Trust
Shabana Azmi- Film Actor- Activist
Tapan Bose- Peace Activist
P.V. Rajagopal- Sarvodaya Samaj
Fr, Cedric Prakash- Peace Activist
Purushottam Aggarwal- Writer and Peace Activist
Rajeev Bhargava- Academic
Tani Bhargava – Academic
Mazher Hussain- COVA Peace Network
Pakistan
Pervez Hoodbhoy- Physicist – Activist
Karamat Ali- PILER
Sheema Kermani- Tehrik- e- Niswan
Peter Jacob- Peoples Commission for Minority Rights
Mohammed Tahseen- SAP
Mehnaz Rehman – Aurat Foundation
Comrade Nasir Mansoor, National Trade Union Federation ( NTUF)
Bangladesh
Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik-
Shahriar Kabir- Forum for Secular Bangladesh
Monoranjan Ghosal- Interreligious Harmony Society
Sri Lanka
Nalini Ratnarajah- Women Development Innovators
Mohammed Mahuruf- PEaCE
Afghanistan
Sima Samar- Former Minister for Womens’ Affairs
Fidel Rehmati- Academic
Maldives
Mohammed Latheef – Peace Activist
