Resolution
THE FASCIST STATE:
Setting the agenda to counter
We, the participants of the Seminar on ‘The Fascist State: Setting the agenda
to counter’ held at the Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, on Sunday, 23rd November
2008, are extremely concerned at the increasingly fascist nature of the Indian
State, as illustrated by several instances in the recent past.
Gujarat 2002 certainly heralded the fascist era in Indian politics; but it is
getting deeply entrenched in Indian politics as a whole, without exception of
the party in power. The genocide of Muslims in Gujarat, the subversion of the
criminal justice system in order to achieve this, the application of POTA on
Muslims in Godhra and other cases, the refusal to acknowledge the large numbers
of Internally Displaced Muslims, the persecution of Christian and Muslim
Adivasis and the holding of the Shabri Kumbh in the Dangs – all these did
expose the fascist characteristics of the State in Gujarat. Encounter killings
of Muslims under the pretext of a conspiracy to kill the CM, the appointment of
Sanghis in the universities and the saffronization of the campuses, the recent
massive drive against Muslim youth following the Ahmedabad blasts also
reiterate this.
The brutal and blatant attacks on Christians and their institutions in Orissa
and Karnataka, with total connivance of the State Governments has exposed the
massive fascist project that is underway. The misrepresentation of the
constitutionally granted right to practice and propagate one’s religion as
“forced conversions”, in order to threaten the marginalized communities into
submission and acceptance of the dominant Hindutva discourse which finally
culminates in draconian anti-conversion laws, seems to be passively accepted by
the political parties and civil society across the board.
We express deep anguish at the increasing fascist mobilization in society,
rising State terror and a circumvention of the rule of law by the law enforcing
agencies, and the large scale violation of civil and political liberties.
We condemn these acts of repression in no uncertain terms. We call upon the
Central and State Governments to act immediately : uphold and protect the
sanctity of the Constitution, to guarantee the rights and freedom of all
citizens and to contain the fascist forces which are inimical to the pluralism
and diversity of the country.
We invite civil society and all citizens of India, to raise their voice
against these fascist forces and make our country in the real sense of the
word, one which is ‘by the people, for the people and of the people’.
Organizers:
Action Aid * Aman Biradari * Aman Samuday * Antarik Visthapit Haq Rakshak
Samiti * Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan * Centre for Development *
Documentation and Study Centre for Action * Himmat * INSAF * JanVikas * Lok
Kala Manch * Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan * Movement for Secular Democracy * National
Alliance for Women * Niswa * PRASHANT * PUCL * Safar * SAHR WARU * Women’s
Action and Resource Unit * Samarpan * Samerth * Samvedan Cultural Program *
Sanchetna * Saurashtra Dalit Sangathan * St. Xavier’s Social Service Society *
Swabhimaan Andolan * URJAGHAR
Ahmedabad
23rd November 2008
