New Delhi: Prominent civil society members, academics and legal experts on Thursday voiced concern over rising attacks on minority communities and weakening constitutional protections. They urged citizens and institutions to defend the rule of law and uphold India’s plural character.
The appeal came at a public meeting titled “Attack on Minorities, Targeting the Rule of Law,” organised by Jan Hastakshep at the Press Club of India. Speakers highlighted anxieties over freedoms of speech, religion, culture, education and livelihood. They said these rights face steady dilution.
Participants alleged that minorities face increased targeting in states such as Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Some speakers criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over remarks and actions they termed inflammatory. Concerns were also raised about due process in Uttar Pradesh, with references to encounters and demolitions.
Former IAS officer Harsh Mander said the politics of hate has intensified over the past 12 years. He linked current tensions to campaign speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warned that divisive rhetoric influences governance. Mander compared present trends to dangerous moments in history and cautioned that pluralism stands under strain.
Former Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam traced the ideological roots of the RSS to early leaders such as K B Hedgewar, V D Savarkar and M S Golwalkar. He argued that their worldview conflicts with constitutional values.
Supreme Court advocate Shahrukh Alam proposed district level committees to offer legal aid and assist citizens facing police or court action. She called for dialogue across communities. Professor Apoorvanand cited incidents of lynching and demolitions over the past decade and stressed the need to protect judicial independence.
Senior advocate Ashok Panda highlighted Hindu Muslim unity and joint struggles of workers and farmers as pathways to solidarity. Convenor Vikas Bajpai closed the meeting with a call for vigilance, dialogue and grassroots mobilisation to safeguard democracy.
By Abdul Bari Masoud
