ROHTAK, HARYANA - POLICE LATHICHARGES PROTESTORS NEAR CM’S CAMP OFFICE

ON May 21, protest demonstrators belonging to various mass organisations, including many women activists, were lathicharged by the Haryana police near the residence of the state’s chief minister, Bhupender Singh Hooda, in Rohtak. Led by Dr Jagmati Sangwan, an AIDWA leader and other office bearers of various unions, they wanted to submit a memorandum to the CM’s camp office which was shifted to the CM’s residence recently. The lathi blows injured some of the women and other protesters, compelling the agitating persons to stage a sit-in on the spot and thus to a road block. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat too joined the protest and asked the senior police officers to take action against those policemen responsible for this unprovoked lathi charge. The officiating SP, Dhankhar, expressed apology and assured action against the erring cops.

The scandal and the irregularities related to exploitation and torture of poor and helpless children and women by “Apna Ghar” and “Suparna ka Angan” are well known by now. This has shocked all the sensitive and justice loving democratic sections of the society. In order to express their anger against such criminal acts and practices, a huge state level procession was organised on May 21 under the aegis of “Jan Sangathan Manch” at the local Chottu Ram Park, in which hundreds of women, men and children from all over the state participated and registered their strong protest. They included participants from the All India Democratic Women’s Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Kisan Sabha, Democratic Youth, Students Federation of India and several other organisations.

They were addressed, among others, by Ms Brinda Karat, a former MP and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, who strongly criticised the Haryana government for showing utter insensitivity towards  the alleged crimes against those who most needed the protection in government aided shelter homes. She stated that though some NGOs were doing better social work, many were indulging in making money by corrupt means. She wondered how a woman charged with grave criminal offences was still not dropped from government committees and the awards conferred upon her had not been taken back.

CPI(M) state secretary Inderjit Singh also condemned the use of police force in order to prevent the peaceful protesters from approaching the CM’s camp office.

Later the ADC gave in writing that the administration was recommending the withdrawal of awards given to Mrs Yashwanti and her removal from government panels as demanded by the protestors. Following this assurance, the latter ended the dharna and the traffic was restored.

The AIDWA-affiliated Janwadi Mahila Samiti’s unit in Rohtak has constantly been protesting against it through protest dharnas, processions, street-corner meetings and other means. Since May 14, it has been constantly striving to make the people aware about how public and government money is being misused in the name of social service. Not only this, the inhuman treatment meted out in shelter houses, that includes sexual exploitation and sale of girls/children, is a matter of grave concern. It is believed that some government officials have been constantly visiting these shelter houses. The Janwadi Mahila Samiti has many a time lodged protest against this state of affairs and met the administration officials. Recently, on May 8, 2012, an AIDWA delegation under the leadership of Jagmati Sangwan met the inspector general of police, Alok Mittal, and appraised him of irregularities in the “Apna Ghar.”

Later on, Brinda Karat and Jagmati Sangwan also addressed a protest meeting in Gohana, organised against the gang rape of a dalit girl student at Khanpur Mahila University. They also met the vice chancellor and demanded justice to the victim and adequate security for girl students.