By Pervez Bari
Bhopal, July 2: A coalition of social activists, intellectuals, and former judges has appealed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to take suo moto notice of the alarming increase in hate speeches and violent crimes against minority communities. They urge the Supreme Court to issue immediate orders directing the Central and State Governments, as well as law enforcement agencies, to fulfill their constitutional duties in protecting minority citizens.
The appeal emphasizes the need for the Supreme Court to mandate urgent police action to safeguard minorities and prosecute individuals engaging in hate speeches and hate crimes. “The Supreme Court must expressly order the police to act urgently and provide protection to minority communities and prosecute hatemongers and those indulging in hate crimes. The SC must remind the police that they serve the Constitution and not political bosses,” the appeal states.
Furthermore, the activists call upon the Modi Government to honor its constitutional commitments by publicly condemning hate crimes and directing state governments to implement protective measures for minorities. They remind the ruling NDA that their oath of office binds them to protect all citizens impartially.
Among those making the appeal are prominent figures such as Dr. G.G. Parikh, Medha Patkar, Tushar Gandhi, Fr. Frazier, Prof. Ram Puniyani, Dr. Sunilam, Shyamdada Gaikwad, Teesta Setalvad, Shabnam Hashmi, Justice Kolse Patil (Retd.), Irfan Engineer, Feroze Mithiborwala, and Guddi. They collectively condemn the post-election surge in hate crimes, attributing the increase to divisive rhetoric from political leaders.
“The electorate’s clear verdict against polarization and divisive campaigns has been ignored by the ruling NDA,” the statement claims. The BJP, it alleges, has targeted the minority community for its electoral setbacks, with leaders at all levels promoting hate and inciting violence. “This is a worrying trend, and we strongly condemn it,” the statement asserts.
The group also appeals to the Leader of the Opposition and the INDIA bloc to raise this issue in Parliament and publicly denounce the rising violence. They urge Opposition leaders to mobilize their cadres and citizens to defend minorities by addressing these issues in legislative assemblies and public forums. “We must all unitedly defeat this divisive conspiracy,” the statement emphasizes.
The activists accuse the Prime Minister of continuing to make provocative and unfounded allegations against minorities, thereby encouraging hate crimes and aiming to polarize the nation along religious lines. “We stand united to defeat their nefarious conspiracy to divide our nation irrevocably along communal and caste lines,” they declare.
Reassuring minorities, the activists state, “As citizens of India, we assure our sisters and brothers of the Minorities that we stand with them in this hour of peril. The majority of the people of our nation stand with the minorities, and they need not feel isolated or abandoned in any way. We are morally bound to protect them and to provide them with security and wellbeing. We will always remain committed to the principles of fraternity, inclusiveness, and national unity as guaranteed by our Constitution. This we swear.”
