The Gossip fundraiser party for Queer Azaadi
Mumbai 2012 held at Oshiwara was interrupted by local police despite valid
party permissions today at 12.15 am. This was done by the local police post a
complaint
by a certain individual by the name of Haji Ahmed Sahab Bawa, who claims to be a
member of the NCP. Bawa claimed that this was an illegal gay party without
necessary permissions.
About 270 people were present at the fundraiser party
for the upcoming Queer Azaadi Mumbai March on 28th January 2012.
The complainant walked in to the
venue as a regular guest to the party and came back with uniformed policemen as
well as one plain clothed cop. They began talking to the venue staff and sealed
the exit saying that no guest will be allowed to leave premises. The venue
manager produced the permissions and the lounge was inspected by the police for
illegal activities.
Haji Ahmed tried creating panic amongst the venue staff by
talking on the phone saying “Media ko bulao”, constantly stating that
homosexuality
is illegal and the party must be stopped immediately. The cops maintained that
though
the permissions were in place, something must be done about the complaint. By
then the organisers shut the music and made announced to the party guests about
the disruption. The complainant Haji Ahmed Sahab Bawa threatened to file a case
under section 377. He also claimed that the political party which he belongs to
had acquired a stay order on Section 377 hearing. In the midst of this, he
claimed to call media attention to the event. Both his claims were dismissed by
the organisers. At this point he entered
the party area and along with venue owners asked the guests to leave.
Amongst the guests for the
evening were Vivek Anand (CEO, the Humsafar
Trust) Pallav Patankar (Director, HIV Programs – The Humsafar Trust) who
tried to have a word with Ahmed Bawa, but in vain. Bawa clearly had the
intention
of busting the event. He ignored all the attempts to clarify the correct legal
stand on Section 377 and about permissions for the party. On being addressed
about his intention/motive behind the police complaint about this party, he
rushed
to his car. Since he was seen escaping after
creating a scene at a clearly legitimate gathering, a group of 40 guests who
had stayed back refused to budge and let his car pass by.
Police asked the crowd to move to
Oshiwara Police station where both the sides would be heard. Upon reaching
there after a delay and waiting
period of 2 hours for no reason, Vivek, Pallav and the organisers were asked to
come back the next day while Haji insisted his statement be recorded first and
claimed he needs protection from the mob gathered outside. When the media
arrived, all 40 guests were
not allowed to speak to police, but a select few were explained that Police
station has acted only to verify the matter and agreed that there was nothing
wrong in the party, its permissions were in place and the police had no problems
with the Queer community either.
The Queer community is outraged
at the fact that fundamentalists such as Haji Ahmed Sahab Bawa have such strong
vendetta against it, in the midst of the Pride Month. Is Mumbai really
queer-friendly? Aren’t gay people in India worthy of their constitutional
rights as well?
