New Delhi: Former judges and IPS officers, jurists, scientists and businessmen – a list that includes Justice PB Sawant and Julio Ribeiro -- have in a fervent appeal to the Chief Justice and all other Judges of the Supreme Court of India urged suo motu constitutional action on the issue of alarming and threatening statements being made by persons currently in powerful constitutional positions within the Union government.
The letter was submitted to the Supreme Court of India on Friday. A similar appeal has also been made to the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
Quoting from the shocking and brazen speech made by Ram Shankar Katheriya, Union minister of state for human resources development (MHRD), in Agra as reported in the media on February 29, 2016, the representation also included references to other shocking instances of hate speech from minister and elected representatives of the present government at the Centre.
"These statements have caused fear and insecurity among India’s citizens, the marginalized sections, especially minorities, Dalits and Adivasis", they said in the letter.
Stating that India was being pushed to the brink by such statements, the signatories have urged that the Supreme Court set up a Permanent and Sitting Commission to monitor and oversee (video tape, record and document) all such meetings happening to prevent a situation of hate driven provocation and attacks on marginalised sections.
The signatories also annexed the news report titled “Muslims warned of ‘final battle", where in the presence of a minister of state in the central government and a member of parliament (MP) of the ruling party, Muslims were equated to “demons” and “descendants of Ravana”, and were warned of a “final battle”.
"The fundamental rights of the people under Article 14, 19, 21 and 25 of the Indian Constitution need to be protected", the said.
"It is hence we urge that the Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of the prevailing situation and issues strict directions that protect the fundamental rights of all Indians", they said.
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