Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK/SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 15: "We do not need Gujarat model. We want only the model of B R Ambedkar's constitution, and we want food, clothing, and house. The reservation facility should be in existence as along as caste system remains. Towards fighting against communal forces, fascism, etc, we will be forming district level Samvidhana Suraksha Samitis (SSS)," said noted social worker, Jignesh Mewani.
He was addressing a student awareness rally and convention organized under the aegis of Campus Front of India at Town Hall here on Tuesday February 14.
Former chairman of Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, C S Dwarakanath, who participated as the chief guest of the programme, felt that the people should build the society on the basis of principles taught by Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, and Tipu Sultan. "Tipu Sultan was a great patriot. In the original copy of the constitution, we can find pictures of Jhansi Laxmi Bai and Tipu Sultan, in recognition of the fact of them being great patriots. Not only Dr Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabh Bhai Patel, but even the founder of Jan Sangh, Shyamprasad Mukherjee, too had signed this copy," he stated. He however lamented the fact that the followers of Mukherjee are reluctant to accept this fact.
In his address, CFI national general secretary T Abdul Naseer said, "The country is witnessing atrocities every now and then due to which mothers have lost their children. This is due to the negligence of lawkeeping forces and improper investigation along with a corrupt system. There are several instance where justice is not being done. Today, protection of human rights is lacking. Now it is up to the students to come forward and fight for justice justice for parents who lost their children, be it Rohit Vemula or Najeeb.
"At present, Radhika Vemula and Nafeesa are seeking justice and fighting hard. We too need to extend our full-fledged support. It is our duty to support a fight for justice.
"Today, the system is such that if we raise our voice, automatically we get labeled as traitors or get killed. Govind Pansare, Dabholkar and Kalburgi were killed but the culprits are still roaming freely without any fear of law," he said.
National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations general secretary, Prof P Koya, inaugurated the awareness convention. Writer, Yogesh Master, social worker, Sunkanna Velpula, national secretary of National Women's Front, Lubna Minaz, Muhammed Tufail, Mustafa, Sajit, Shabana P and others were present.
The students took out a mega rally to the venue of the programme from Ambedkar Circle in the city before the beginning of the convention.