The Huge Crime in Hathras: Victims and Protestors as "Plotters": The Shape of Things to Come!

[Sukla Sen]

"Conspiracy" and How to Manufacture It!

It made its appearance with the Bhima-Koregaon case: conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister, and no less: <https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/plot-to-kill-pm-modi-waging-war-in-draft-charges-in-elgar-case-koregaon-bhima-case/articleshow/72896032.cms>.

It crystalised with the Delhi riot - the victims were made accused, the net was spread far and wide to entangle all sorts of dissenting voices - even the highly eminent and seemingly most unlikely ones: <https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/delhi-riots-rahul-roy-saba-dewan-summoned-for-questioning-887338.html>.

Now, there'll be a rerun in Hathras!???
To be inaugurated with narco test on Manisha Valmiki's family members???
(Ref.: <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/hathras-case-up-govt-threatening-family-with-narco-test-alleges-priyanka-gandhi/article32757555.ece>.)

This'll be the new normal in New India!!!

I/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/hathras-case-up-govt-threatening-family-with-narco-test-alleges-priyanka-gandhi/article32757555.ece.
<<The Uttar Pradesh Police claimed they have uncovered an “international plot” to instigate riots along caste lines and defame the Yogi Adityanath government over the brutal assault and alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras. On Sunday, an FIR was registered  against unidentified persons at the Chandpa Police Station in Hathras under several stringent sections of the IPC, including sedition.

According to sources, a website, justiceforhathrasvictim.carrd.co, which had information on how to protest safely and avoid the police, has been linked to the conspiracy. The site has been taken down and is currently unavailable. It also listed dos and don’ts on how to stay safe during riots and in situations when police fire tear gas, sources said. Most of the content has been lifted from literature being shared online by Black Lives Matters protesters in the United States of America, they added.

Chandpa police station in-charge confirmed to The Indian Express that an FIR has been lodged, but refused to talk more about the case. ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar could not be reached for a comment on the matter.

The FIR was registered under sections 109 (abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 124A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and four of its sub-sections, 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the IPC.>>

(Ref.: <https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hathras-gangrape-case-fir-yogi-adityanath-6703740/>.)

II/V.
<<The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday claimed to have busted an “international conspiracy” to foment caste conflagration in the state to defame the Yogi Adityanath government over the Hathras gang-rape and murder case. Police have registered 19 FIRs across the state in connection with spreading rumours and trying to vitiate the atmosphere.

At least six persons, including two in Lucknow, have been arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy.

The police sources claimed that intelligence agencies have indicated alleged involvement of the organisations such as Amnesty International, PFI, and SDPI along with workers and leaders of a number of mainstream political parties in the conspiracy to tarnish the state government’s image in the garb of seeking justice for Hathras victim. Moreover, the evidence of international funding has also come to the fore in this regard.

Interacting with media persons, UP Additional Director General of Police (Law & order) Prashant Kumar claimed on Monday that ‘conspiracy’ was hatched to push the state into caste conflagration and turmoil which was unearthed by the cops.>>

(Ref.: <https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/05/hathras-case-international-plot-to-incite-caste-violence-defame-yogi-govt-busted-2206213.html>.)

III/V.
<<After the Bhim Army leader's visit, the UP police filed a case against Chandrashekhar Azad and 400 others, accusing them of violating a ban on large gatherings in the area. But no action has been taken against some 500 men who gathered in support of the gang rape accused; some among them openly warn Mr Azad in videos that are viral online.>>

(Ref.: <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/thakur-men-threats-on-camera-as-they-defend-accused-in-hathras-horror-2305341?amp=1&fbclid=IwAR2wqKSqsFN1RXFSyZ9iWnHyURKlW5fHUrX9Xo4CJryZlcQ37IAuAbtfECE>.)

IV/V.
UP Police rains lathis on Jayant Chaudhary - the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the grandson of Charan Singh, former Chief Minister of UP and Dy. Prime Minister of India: <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3300199656764239&id=100003227127421>.

V.
<<Around 2 o'clock at night, police bring the dead body of the victim in Hathras district.
And she does the funeral rites without the permission of the family members,
While under Hindu customs, there is no burning rituals after sunset.
The villagers tried to stop,
But the police and the administration didn't agree and told the family that customs change with time, and you believe you have made a mistake too.
Don't know what is happening, now the report has also been changed.
Well I don't already expect justice,
Because these are the people whose king asks Muslim women to rape them from their grave,
Hindus are only at the time of elections for these leaders,
The rest of the time they become untouchable again.>>

(Ref.: <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3286455904805281&id=100003227127421V>.
Includes 3 video clips.)

--

Peace Is Doable

[Sukla Sen]

Further development: <https://www.facebook.com/727861034010710/posts/2008905669239567/>.

Sukla 

[Sukla Sen]

Here're two of my clarificatory comments on two groups, in course of exchanges.

One'd, hopefully, find these relevant in the subject context - against the backdrop of the unfolding events.

I/II. Based on the preceding exchanges, a suo moto clarification from my side:

To my understanding, we're on our way to the dreaded "Hindu Rashtra".

There's still quite some distance to cover. 

In fact, the situation today - seen as an isolated slice, is yet not nearly as bad as the Emergency days - its latter half, defined by the sonrise, in particular. 

But, the situation is dynamic.

We're in a moving train.

And it promises to turn out to be far worse.

And, very much unlike the Emergency, no return to status quo ante, on its own.

Once the NPR/NRC process starts, all hell will be let lose.

The moves these days are also, to a significant measure, in anticipation of that.

These are advance measures.

But, the fact that we're yet to be there provides us with a, narrow and steadily closing, window of opportunity. 

We must try to use that to the best of our capabilities.

False complacency or premature surrender to fate, both are utterly pernicious.

II. Q: What would be the way forward that you suggest ?

My answer:

Had I known it, definitely, it won't have been a secret.

And we'd have already been marching forward instead of, apparently, being shepherded towards our dismal end.

On  a more serious note, almost all the watchdog institutions turning into lapdogs, if not outright attack dogs, the only hope lies in massive mobilisations on the streets.

That may even trigger at least some change in some of the watchdog institutions - the media in particular, and thereby help to initiate an alteration in the balance of forces.

Of course, the pandemic came to the regime as a gift from the heaven.

But, the Black Lives Matter, in the US, the ongoing turmoil in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, and even the farmers' protests and the public expression of outrage over Hathras - right in this country, clearly indicates that though it's pretty difficult, it's not outright impossible.

The issues are there - in fact, very many.

More would come up in due course.

The NPR/NRC is the most obvious.

But, again, it involves too many players - both political outfits and civil society organisations.

I don't think they're going to unite or that's even absolutely necessary.

But, there must be earnest efforts - even if uncoordinated, to begin with, from a good number of players - not excluding individuals.

On top of that, there're "events", laden with some magical chemistry.

Of course, these do not happen too often.

Nor can these be predicted in advance.

The "players", however, must do their utmost to make things happen and when it happens be ready for that.

That's all I, for one, can think of.

Thanks for raising the issue.

Others also may like to contribute.

Sukla 

On Tue, 6 Oct 2020, 14:07 Sukla Sen <sukl...@gmail.com wrote: