Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Mumbai :(hindustantimes.com) The group met opposite Dadar Plaza at 4pm and raised their voice against mob-lynchings, the violence in Kashmir and other incidents that have been choking minorities.More than 200 activists and citizens took part in the second phase of the hate crime protests, #NotInMyName, at Veer Kotwal Garden in Dadar (west) on Monday.

The group met opposite Dadar Plaza at 4pm and raised their voice against mob-lynchings, the violence in Kashmir and other incidents that have been choking minorities. The march was led by Prakash Reddy, the head of the Communist Party of India’s (CPI) Mumbai unit, Dr BR Ambedkar’s grandson and Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh chief Prakash Ambedkar, and filmmaker and activist Anand Patwardhan.

Reddy told HT, “Thirty-eight organisations and trade unions joined the march to put pressure on the government. Gaurakshaks should be banned. The protest will go on until lynchings stop.”

While addressing the protestors, Ambedkar said, “We need to show that we stand for humanity while the RSS stands for mob-lynchings. We need to make every citizen understand that cultural nationalism is wrong.”

Bernard D’Mello, a member of the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, one of the oldest civil rights organisation in the state, said, “The number of such incidents has increased since 2014. There is no doubt that the government is involved.”

About 20 members of the committee were present at the rally.

With placards and banners, protestors hollered, “Nafrat ke khilaaf insaniyat hum sab (we stand against hatred)” while marching to Chaitya Bhoomi, Dr BR Ambedkar’s memorial. The rally continued here with songs, speeches and poetry.

“We have been talking about this issue in class. We hope people realise that lynching is inhuman,” said one of the 12 children from Shree Geeta VIdyalaya, Govandi (W), who joined the rally at Dadar.

Unlike the protest on Carter Road, Bandra (W), last Wednesday, this was organised by political parties like CPI, CPI (Marxist), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Members of trade unions and social organisations like Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Indian Muslim for Secular Democracy and Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan also took part in the rally.