By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Dalits and Muslims have to suffer from systematic targeting by police officials, across country. Several innocent people are thus languishing in jails, said Choton Das, State Secretary of `Bandi Mukti (Prisoner relief) Committee’, during the book release of `Left to Right’ by TG Jacob at Hotel Park Inn in Kolkata on 11 April, 2013.
The program was organized by the publisher Empower Press of India, Delhi.
Abdur Razzak Molla, Ex-Minister of West Bengal and Veteran CPIM leader was also present in the programme.
Das cited the example of Mustak, Hasanuz Zaman and several such young boys, who are languishing in jails although police has so far failed to produce any evidence against them.
He pointed out that in Kanimozhi case, Supreme Court had observed that `Bail is rule, jail is expectation’. However, several Dalits and Muslims are denied this basic right.
He informed that his `Bandi Mukti (Prisoner relief) Committee’ has written to the Human Rights Commission on several occasion, but to no avail.
Bikram Sarkar, Ex MP of Tranamul Congress and IAS speaking during the program.
Mustak, Hasanuz Zaman, former members of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India, were arrested in 2008 from Murshidabad, along with another boy, on charges that they were in possession of and distributing leaflets in English, instigating them against state.
Das questioned that the Jangipur locality of Murshidabad is one of the most backward area, with low literacy, where most people cannot even read Bengali. He wondered why then leaflets were in English.
Das, who has met Hasanuz Zaman’s mother, said that she is widow and lives in a shanty hut and hence she has no means to move to the Apex Court.
Choton Das, State Secretary of `Bandi Mukti (Prisoner released) Committee speaking during a book launch in Kolkata.
Former Minister and veteran CPIM leader Abdur Razzak Molla said, power politics can change the situation of the Muslim, Dalits and schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, and backward classes people in the state.
He said, even in CPIM Brahmins are majority, though they are minority according to census. All the leading political party is based on Brahmins leader including CPIM, Trinamul Congress, and Congress.
From Jyoti Basu to present Mamata Banerjee all state chief ministers in the state were Brahmanis.
He said that only if the Muslims, Dalits and other backward communities join hands can they emerge as strong force and influence the policies of the state.
Audience during the book launch of `Left to Right' at Hotel Park Inn in Kolkata.
Two times Member of Parliament from Trinamul Congress and retired IAS, Bikram Sarkar alleged that as he comes from a Dalit family, like several others he did not get the opportunities he deserved, even within his own party.
He remined that if Muslims, comprising 30 % of population, and Dalit and other backward communtites join hands together they will comprise of about 90 % population.
Writer Swapan Kumar Biswas, Educationist Dr Samsul Alam, Journalist Joynul Abedin and many other renowned persons were also present at the book launch and spoke on the subject.
On behalf of the publishers `Empower Press of India’ of Delhi senior executive Md Ismail was also present on the dais. They described in brief the contents of the book Left to right: From Marxism to Gandhism, the politics of India as stated in the book.
Some of the speakers urged the publisher to bring the Bengali translation of the book too.