---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kavita Krishnan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 7:31 PM Subject: [humanrights-movement:832] AIPWA Statement on alleged torture of Sadhvi Pragya To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*ALL INDIA PROGRESSIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (AIPWA)* Phone: 22481067 Fax: 22481165 Mobile: 9868112252 and 9868034224 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * *AIPWA Condemns BJP's Double Standards * *Towards Custodial Torture and Violence against Women * New Delhi, 21.11.08 AIPWA demands investigation into Sadhvi Pragya's complaint of custodial torture and gendered abuse. If there is any truth to the allegations, it is a serious and condemnable matter, and those responsible must be punished. Custodial violence and violations – be it in the case of Sadhvi Pragya or be it Kauser Bi (who was raped and killed by Gujarat police after she witnessed the fake encounter of her husband Sohrabuddin) – ought to have no place in a democracy. At the same time, it is clear that the BJP, Shiv Sena and Sangh Parivar's approach to custodial violence and violence against women is marked by blatant double standards. The BJP, Shiv Sena and Sangh have a right to demand protection of the human rights of the Malegaon blast-accused. But why did these groups maintain approving silence when Kausar Bi was murdered by the Gujarat police? Or when the Orissa police refused to protect the Kandhamal nun from rape by Sangh goons? Or when the innocent Muslim men falsely accused in Mecca Masjid blasts were subjected to brutal torture and sexual abuse in police custody? AIPWA is opposed in principle to draconian POTA-model laws like MCOCA. But the BJP, which raised a clamour in favour of such laws, finds the taste of its own medicine quite bitter. The BJP has always defended the use of rape as a weapon by the Sangh brigades against women of the minorities. The BJP's position – that a Sadhvi deserves security and dignity because she is sacred while a Muslim or Christian woman can be raped by Sangh brigades to punish their religion – reeks of shameful double standards. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA National Secretary --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
