Ahmedabad, July 1 (IANS) Leading citizens of Ahmedabad Tuesday paid rich tributes to Vasant and Rajab who sacrificed their lives for communal harmony 62 years ago.
A memorial programme, organised by the Movement for Democracy (MSD) and other organisations, was attended by mayor Kanaji Thakor, deputy mayor Kalpanaben Bhatt and civic officials. A number of activists from NGOs like Sanchetna, Aapnu Mandal, Rashtriya Seva Dal, Drishti Media, and St. Xaviers Social Centre also participated.
MSD convenor Prakash N. Shah recalled the supreme sacrifice of Vasantrao Hegishte and Rajab Ali Lakhani who on July 1, 1946 - a rath yatra day - were killed by a mob during communal skirmishes.
"These martyrs are to be remembered as icons of struggle for justice, equality and socialism. The responsibility of fulfilling their unfulfilled dreams is to be carried by us, the present generation," he said.
Shah recalled Ahmedabad was up in flames that day and Vasant and Rajab were engaged in saving Hindu and Muslim families and their houses and properties throughout that day.
They rescued a Muslim driver from a rioting Hindu mob and a Hindu owner of a washing company from a Muslim mob.
When they reached Khand-ni-Sheri in Jamalpur area to save a Dalit family, the mob threatened to kill them but they did not budge and lied down on the road to prevent the rioters from going ahead.
The fanatics killed Vasant and Rajab but spared the Dalit family.
The pair of a Hindu and a Muslim became martyrs and an icon of communal harmony, Shah said.
A street play on communal harmony, "Kem, kyan sudhi" (Why, to what extent), was also staged by activists of Drishti Media on the occasion.
Students seeks protection for Patan rape victim
Indo-Asian News Service
Ahmedabad, June 30 (IANS) Activists in the city Monday held demonstrations, demanding protection for a Dalit student of a college in Patan town who had been raped allegedly by six of her teachers for several months.
Members of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS) urged the Gujarat government to give adequate protection to the rape victim and her family members.
"We are also demanding an anti-sexual harassment policy in educational institutions too, similar to the one called for by the Supreme Court of India for women at work places," Meenakshi Joshi of AIMSS told IANS.
The victim had prepared a suicide note last week, following depression and fearing pressure from powerful elements trying to scuttle the investigations.
"We, on behalf of AIDSO and AIMSS, have sent a memorandum to Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma, seeking full protection for the victim," Joshi said.
Earlier this year, the girl studying at a Primary Teachers Training (PTC) College in Patan, 130 km from here, had alleged that her teachers Manish Parmar, Suresh Patel, Ashwin Parmar, Kiran Patel, Atul Patel and Narendra Patel had raped her on at least 14 occasion in preceding six months.
A fast-track court in Patan will Tuesday begin hearing in this case.
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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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