01-12-2020 The Asian Independent

www.theasianindependent.co.uk
NEWS
01-12-2020 to 15-12-2020
21
OUTRAGE AGAINST CASTE /
RACISM HATRED IN THE UK
Joint Statement from Dalit organisations
in the UK, in response to Caste /
Racist comments made by Mr
Gurvinder Singh Luthra from
Hounslow, London.
Mr Gurvinder Singh Luthra on his
TikTok account (singhluthra) recently
produced and shared a video where he
proceeded to abuse Guru Ravidass, who
is the spiritual figure head for millions
of his followers across the world,
including over 200,000 here in the UK.
Guru Ravidass’ teachings are enshrined
within the Sikh Scriptures – the Guru
Granth Sahib.
During his rant, Mr Luthra made a
number of highly objectionable and
offending comments, including the following:
– Whilst referring to an
unnamed person, he repeatedly refers to
him as the “testicles of Guru Ravidass”.
– He threatens to rape female family
members of the unnamed person
– He makes a homophobic slur in
reference to Guru Ravidass and the
unnamed person.
It has been brought to our notice that
this isn’t the first time that Mr Luthra
has made caste / racist hatred comments
on social media. A number of videos
have surfaced recently exposing him
using caste and offensive language that
has hurt the Ravidassia
community.
Hate speech laws in the
UK are designed to protect
communities from such
abuse. The fact that Mr
Luthra has been able to act
with impunity on social
media – is another sign that
the UK Government needs
to bring into effect legislation
designed to protect
victims of caste hatred.
In recent years – social media giants
including Facebook, Twitter and
YouTube have all recognised caste hate
speech as unacceptable and say so openly
in their guidance. It is time for
TikTok to follow suit.
Members of the Anti-Caste
Discrimination Alliance (ACDA) have
been campaigning for legal protection
for victims of Caste-based discrimination
(CBD) for nearly two decades,
working closely with grassroots organisations
comprised of, and representing
Dalits, here in the UK. Following extensive
community campaigning on behalf
of victims, legislation outlawed caste
discrimination in the UK in 2013, however
the law is yet to be implemented.
The legislation has received the full
support of the Equality and Human
Rights Commission and the United
Nations, however the Government
decided in 2018 not to implement it following
opposition from powerful
groups.
The ACDA recently wrote to the
Minister for Equalities, Ms Liz Truss
and called on her to take action and outlaw
CBD in the UK. The need for
implementation of the law remains relevant
in light of the caste / racist videos
that are being shared on some social
media outlets and other recent legal
cases of CBD in the UK.
This incident has been reported to the
police. We call on the Dalit community
here in the UK to remain calm, tolerant
and to allow the police to conduct their
enquiries on this hate crime. Members
may wish to contact the
police & the EHRC and to
report this incident as a hate
/ caste crime. Let the statutory
authorities take action
against Mr Luthra.
Mr Ravi Kumar, General
Secretary of ACDA said:
“The caste hate rants and
threats of rape by Mr Luthra
are very upsetting and disturbing.
For him to believe
he can make such hate attacks and
threats of rape and share this on social
media tells me the Conservative
Government has failed when it comes to
Caste-based discrimination here in the
UK.”
Mr Dalawer Bagha, from the Guru
Ravidass Sabha UK said: “We call on
the Government to listen to the Equality
and Human Rights Commission’s calls
for Caste discrimination to be outlawed
in the UK”.
Mr Sam Kalyan, from the Bhagwan
Valmik Organisations said: “This
Government is not listening to common
sense, it is watering down human rights
provisions that protect the most marginalised
communities and victims in the
United Kingdom”. Mr Arun Kumar,
from The Federation of Ambedkarite
and Buddhist Organisations UK
(FABOUK) said: “If Caste legislation is
not enforced, then Caste discrimination
cases will carry on occurring here in this
country”. Mr Navdeep Singh, from the
Asian Rationalist Society Great Britain
said: ““Equality laws aren’t just about
legal justice. They help change behaviours
and help deter discrimination”.
Mr Bhagwant Singh, from the Indian
Workers Association Great Britain said:
“It’s shameful that the Government has
failed sufferers and victims of Caste discrimination
in the UK. We need the law
to be implemented”
Mr Sat Paul, from the British
Ravidassia Heritage Research Group
said: “Guru Ravidass is a shining example
of equality for India, he fought
tyranny and stood for equality. For a socalled
baptised Sikh to insult Guru
Ravidass in this way is appalling and an
insult to both followers of Guru
Ravidass and Sikhs”.
Mr Hansraj Banga, from Kanshi TV
said: “These remarks are totally unacceptable,
and they are another example
of caste discrimination here in the UK.
We call on Government to act now to
stop this type of hate and to provide protection
to victims of caste discrimination.”
Celebrate protection of
'Freedom of Expression'
Two judgments are 'celebrated' for
'protecting' liberty. One was Supreme
Court Judgement on Arnab Goswami
where the Judges actually criticised
Bombay High Court order of not being
able to 'protect' the rights of an individual
which is so important. The second
judgement is from Bombay High Court
quashing proceedings of BMMC
against Kangana Ranaut's illegal structure.
In both the judgments written beautifully,
the court emphase that 'freedom
of expression' is so important in a
'healthy' democracy and the courts are
there to protect. The Supreme Court
felt that high courts are not doing
enough in giving bails to the people
and the Supreme Court would do
everything.
The judgement is really
wonderful and extraordinary
as far as protection of
the rights of two individuals, who have
been most toxic and poisonous.
Ofcourse, the state of Maharashtra is
vilified in both the cases as if it is the
worst governed state or is not allowing
political freedom or freedom to criticise
it. We are still waiting for the
Supreme Court to define and design the
draft regulatory guidelines for electronic
media. In the meanwhile, 85 years
old Varavara Rao continues to incarcerate
in the jail though as per high court's
order, he has been shifted to Nanawati
Hospital. but the government wanted
their family to pay for the medical bills
of him. So, the clear agenda is, we don't
care if somebody is not well.
The other man of high repute and
complete dedication whom the nation
should be proud off, is Father Stan
Swamy, suffering from Parkinson disease
the NIA court has not showed any
sign of urgency to listen to his case as
NIA has asked for time to respond to
his request to have a straw to sip his tea
and drinks as he cant hold the cup in his
hand. There are other respectable
scholars kept behind the bar without
even a formal charge sheet as the state
has found mechanisms under the law to
keep people in jail without
formally charging them.
They languish for years and
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
social and human rights activist
when after many years they
get released or found innocent,
their prime time is gone. who
should be held accountable. If the
supreme Court is so concern about
bails then why cant it ask the lawmakers
not to make laws which give the
state authority to keep people in jail
without bail for years. The courts are
dealing with the issues individually and
then making louder statements of high
constitutional values but they can form
a commission or ask the high courts
about the state of such arbitrary arrests
in each state and how NSA and UAPA
are being used against political opponents
or dissenters.
It is a fact that political parties in
power misuse their state power and file
false cases against their opponents but
who are those people and states where
it is being done at the highest level.
Which states have scant respect for
high courts that after the high court
declares a law bad the state reiterates it.
Which is the state where the high court
releases a person and he is again arrested
in some other charges. The court
knows it but then the moral preaching
is higher against non BJP states very
much like the cases of civil liberties
and 'freedom of expression'
where an Arnab Goswami
or Kangana Ranaut become
heroes of these freedom while
Anand Teltumbde, Gautam
Navlakha, Varavara Rao or Stan
Swami continue to languish in
jail. It is the very same logic
which allows huge crowds at festival
times or elections in Bihar but can't
allow the farmers to march to Delhi to
lodge their protests against the draconian
farm bills.
We can only remember Justice
Krishna Iyer and Justice H R Khanna
on the occasion when things get
depressed and hope some day it will
wake up the consciousness of those sitting
on the institutions to protect our
rights.
Continue Page 20
Law against ‘Love Jihad’ or controlling...
Important that marriages are between two individuals who are mature
enough to know about their rights and when it is not possible to live together
then any of the partners or both have right to legally dissociate amicably unlike
thousands of those cases under the personal laws where a woman is left without
legal framework and suffer in humiliation. That way modern laws have
helped women and their individuality which has been denied by the ‘cultural’
practices or ‘religious laws’. Whether it is love Jihad or Prem Yuddh, these fake
narratives are only meant to keep people confined to their ‘castes’ and religious
identities so that status quo is maintained in the name of ‘social harmony’.
That way, it is extremely relieving news that a two judge bench of Allahabad
High Court Justice Vivek Aggarwal and Justice Pankaj Naqvi have upheld the
rights of two individuals to marry as per their choice. It has actually overturned
a single bench judgement in 2014 which was becoming the basis for the law
against ‘love jehad’. That judgement had suggested that conversion for the sake
of ‘marriage’ is not acceptable. Now the two judges have overturned that
judgement and called it a bad law. They said,” To disregard the choice of a person
who is of the age of majority would not only be antithetic to the freedom
of choice of a grown-up individual but would also be a threat to the concept of
unity in diversity”, a bench of Justices Pankaj Naqvi and Vivek Agarwal said.
The Right to live with a person of his/her choice irrespective of religion professed
by them, is intrinsic to the right to life and personal liberty.
One is hopeful that given the nature that politicians will not strengthen the
Special Marriage Act, it is time they frame some guidelines so that the law is
not misused and young couples get ample protection from this law. If things are
not made easier, the couples will find their own way and that is ‘religious marriages’
which is easier for them.
Most of the time conversion happens for these purposes. Arya Samaj marriages
have become popular these days as young couples who do not want to
be harassed through Special marriage act opt for that. Rule of law and constitutionalism
alone will protect life and liberty of individuals and we must build
better narrative for common people and ensure that they understand that many
of these conspiracy theories which are being floated against the decision of two
individuals who happen from different communities is nothing but maintain
India’s divisive caste system and gain ‘strength’ from it. All Indians who
believe that unity and integrity of India is important and that we should encourage
our young to have faith in the constitution and make their outreach beyond
the narrow confines of caste, religion and regions. A strong India will be possible
when our youth make their life decisions based on their choice, respect
the individuality of their partners and respect her or his right to be religious or
non-religious so that there is no conflict in their lives based on their birth-based
identity. Meanwhile, the politicians are better advised to focus on other important
issues and protect the citizens who seek protection and not encourage
lumpen crowed to go for mob lynching in the name of ‘religion is endangered’.