This is the text of a press release by AIDWA Maharashtra unit, released by Kiran Moghe (State President) and Sonya Gill (State Secretary).
The Maharashtra unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana expresses its deep shock and anger at the cold-blooded murder of Asha Shinde by her own father two days ago. Asha, a 25 year trained social worker working in a local hospital at Pune was a trained social worker. She was killed by her father apparently for defying his mandate to marry within their caste, and for having taken a decision to enter into a marriage of their own choice.
This is one more in a long list of crimes that are being committed against young women and men in the name of “honour”. It is unfortunate that the district of Satara, which happens to be the birth-place of the revolutionary social reformer Savitibai Phule, and which is known for its progressive traditions of women’s education, is fast becoming a centre for such caste related atrocities. Only recently a Dalit woman was severely beaten up because her son eloped with a girl from the upper caste community.
JMS demands the strictest of punishments to the father and any family members who might have colluded in this heinous crime. Given the increasing number of such crimes it is high time that the Government formulates a separate law to address killings and crimes being committed in the name of “honour” in our country.
This is one more in a long list of crimes that are being committed against young women and men in the name of “honour”. It is unfortunate that the district of Satara, which happens to be the birth-place of the revolutionary social reformer Savitibai Phule, and which is known for its progressive traditions of women’s education, is fast becoming a centre for such caste related atrocities. Only recently a Dalit woman was severely beaten up because her son eloped with a girl from the upper caste community.
JMS demands the strictest of punishments to the father and any family members who might have colluded in this heinous crime. Given the increasing number of such crimes it is high time that the Government formulates a separate law to address killings and crimes being committed in the name of “honour” in our country.
However, it is a matter of concern that a law on such a crucial matter is being delayed, despite an assurance having been given on the floor of Parliament as far back as July 2009, when this issue was raised by AIDWA Patron Brinda Karat in the Rajya Sabha. At that time, MPs cutting across party lines had underscored the gravity of the situation. The then Home Minister, Shri Chidambaram, had given an assurance that appropriate action would be taken.
Unfortunately, this has not happened. The Ministerial committee set up in this regard has not come forth with any concrete proposals. AIDWA has also submitted a draft Bill titled “The Prevention of Crimes in the Name of ‘Honour’ & Tradition Bill” to the Law Minister in August 2010, but no action has been taken. Meanwhile, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of “honour” related killings and crimes. A variety of accompanying violations of democratic rights have led to distress and humiliation for the affected families. Even where courts have ordered protection for couples and their families, in several cases, the police themselves do not take such crimes seriously. Thus, the multiple dimensions of the crime need to be addressed comprehensively in a separate law. We appeal to the government to take up this matter with the utmost urgency and legislate without any further delay.
AIDWA is conducting a signature campaign across the country including in different parts of Maharashtra to press for the law. We appeal to all citizens to support this democratic demand.
AIDWA is conducting a signature campaign across the country including in different parts of Maharashtra to press for the law. We appeal to all citizens to support this democratic demand.
(Contact Kiran Moghe at 94223-17212 and Sonya Gill at 98692-50126.)
जसे जसे आपण "आधुनिकतेकडे"? वाटचाल करत आहोत तसे तसे अधिकच जातीला आणि धर्माला जास्त महत्व येत चालले आहे .
ReplyDeleteटीव्हीवर सुद्धा याच विषयांच्या मालिका दाखविण्यात येत आहेत. मालीकनमध्ये धर्म,जात याच गोष्टी ठळकपणे दाखविल्या जात आहेत.
या मालिकांमधून स्त्रियांची व्यक्तिरेखा संस्कृतीच्या,धर्माच्या नावाखाली चुकीच्या पद्धतीने दाखवली जाते; धर्मांध लोक याला भारतीय संकृतीचे नाव देतात.
ज्या वेगाने भारतीय समाजात "Honour killing" घटना घडत आहेत त्यावरून आपण कोणत्या आधुनिकतेकडे वाटचाल करत आहोत ते लक्षात येते.
आज ही भारतीय समाजावर पुरुषप्रधान संस्कृतीचा पगडा आहे व तो दिवसेन दिवस अधिकच बळकट होत चालला आहे.
जरी महिलांना ५० टक्के आरक्षणाच्या गप्पा होत असल्या तरी पुरुषप्रधान संस्कृतीचा प्रभाव कमी होताना दिसत नाही.
जोपर्यंत धर्माचा आणि जातीचा पगडा भारतीय समाजावर आहे तोपर्यंत अशा घटना या होताच राहणार.शासन जोपर्यंत या घटनां विरुद्ध कठोर पाऊल उचलत नाही तो पर्यंत भारतात स्त्रियांची कुचंबणा ही होत राहणार.हे भारताचे दुर्देव म्हणावे लागेल.