REPORT
Ex-servicemen
Demand Modi’s Arrest
The
AICC Ex-servicemen Cell organised its first meeting of Maharashtra
Ex-servicemen in Mumbai on April 11. Chairmen of all the
districts of Maharashtra Pradesh Ex-servicemen Cell attended
the meeting which was inaugurated by the MPCC President
Govindrao Adik who assured whole-hearted cooperation of
the PCC in furtherance of the objectives of the Ex-servicemen
Cell. The Secretary, AICC Ex-servicemen Cell, Capt. Praveen
Davar strongly condemned the inhuman and brutal murder of
Muslim community in Gujarat by the lumpen elements of BJP-VHP-RSS
combine. He stated that the Vajpayee government has tarnished
the image of the country as never before. Col. Sudhir Sawant,
ex-MP spelt out various schemes available for the employment
of ex-servicemen whose welfare will always remain a priority.
Amongst others who spoke were Shri Bhalchandra Kathale,
Chairman, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Ex-Servicemen
Cell, Commander O.P. Bakshi, Chairman, Mumbai Regional Congress
Committee Ex-Servicemen Cell and Major Sanjay
Shinde, Secretary, MPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell.
A
meeting of office-bearers and district chairmen of UPCC
Ex-Servicemen Cell belonging to Central and Eastern districts
of the State was held in Nehru Bhavan, Lucknow on April
15. Capt. Praveen Davar and the UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell
Chairman, Col. Bharat Singh briefed the district Chairmen
regarding the proposed future activities and expectations
of them. Capt. Davar emphasised on the need to organise
at least one "Narendra Modi Hatao" dharna in each
district in view of the enormity of crime against innocent
Muslims. He stressed the need to counter the communal propoganda
and anti-national philosophy of the sangh parivar.
Ex-Servicemen,
besides participating in the PCC/DCC led dharna/hunger strikes
against the Gujarat Chief Minister, organised separate ex-servicemen
rallies/dharnas in Mumbai, Jodhpur (April 16), Lucknow (April
15), Hardoi (May 29), Unnao (May 26) and Bareilly (May 28).
Leading the dharna in Hardoi, in which nearly 300 ex-servicemen
participated, Capt. Davar lashed out at the Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee for protecting "murderer Modi"
and for justifying crimes against the Muslims by his pro-’Hindutva’
speech at Goa in sharp contrast to his earlier remarks of
‘Rajdharma’ at Ahmedabad. Capt. Davar blamed the sangh parivar
for the Godhra incident which according to him occured due
to provocative slogans against Islam by ‘Ram Sewaks’ returning
from Ayodhya. He said Narendra Modi should not only be removed,
he should be arrested and tried for crimes against humanity.
The dharna was well organised by JWO Lala Ram Shukla, Chairman
of Hardoi District Ex-Servicemen Cell.
The
Chairman, Ex-Servicemen Cell, Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera visited
Dehradun on April 30 to have talks with the Uttaranchal
Chief Minister Shri N.D. Tiwari regarding implementation
of promises made to ex-servicemen in the Congress manifesto.
He also met Lt. Gen. T.P.S. Rawat, Minister for Tourism
and Sainik Welfare, Uttaranchal Government and discussed
various avenues of employment of ex-servicemen.
Legal
Cell Report
The
AICC Legal Cell organised a seminar on Gujarat tragedy and
relevance of Gandhian thought at 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi
on May 10, 2002. A large number of veteran lawyers attended
the seminar. Ms. Nirmala Deshpande, a veteran Gandhian and
freedom fighter, delivered the keynote address. She reminded
the nation the sacrifices made by Gandhiji and freedom fighters
for independence. Their basic weapon was non-violence and
satyagraha which Gandhiji used against the outrageous rule
of the British. She said she was shocked by the scenes in
Gujarat. Even animals are treated in a better way. This
act against fellow human beings is not only a shame for
India but for humanity. "It is one of the most painful
experiences in my life to see that the name of Lord Sri
Ram is taken by criminals", she said.
In
his presidential address, Shri Arjun Singh, member of Congress
Working Committee, compared the RSS-BJP outfit to the Nazi
regime. The systematic and dangerous way of spreading fascist
practices have adversely affected the secular fabric of
India. Shri Arjun Singh said the Prime Minister has lost
control over the administration and the Government and he
himself has changed colours like a chameleon. "It is
the journalists and various N.G.Os who are trying to bring
the situation to normal. The Congress president, Smt. Sonia
Gandhi, has urged for immediate steps to extend a helping
hand to the people and Gujarat to bring back normalcy"
he said. Mr. Ranji Thomas, Secretary Legal Cell, welcomed
the gathering while Mr. Hansraj Bhardwaj, Chairman, AICC
Legal Cell, delivered the introductory speech and Shri R.N.
Mittal co-chairman proposed a vote of thanks.
