PUT AN END TO ‘MOBOCRACY’

ACTIVIST CITIZEN TAKE TO STREET IN ANDHERI DEMANDING RULE OF लव

ABOUT 650 people pledged a vote against mob violence or ‘mobocracy' demanding "enforcement of the rule of the law in our city and an end to rule by the mobs" at Andheri on Sunday.
They voiced their solidarity against the mob violence that had sent Action for Good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI) activist James John to the hospital in February. John was busy collecting photographic evidence against mobs pulling down shop shutters the day Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and the Samajwadi Party's Abu Azmi were arrested. Five people snatched John's camera and attacked him, breaking his ribs and causing a ruptured muscle. Two attackers were arrested but subsequently released on bail.
On Sunday, AGNI organised the peace march, demanding that John's attackers be arrested and mob violence be put to an end. Activists and citizens gathered at the Holy Family School and after an hour-long session, citizens, in rows of three, marched to the MIDC police station holding placards demanding an end to ‘mobocracy'.
John urged citizens to come out and stop mob violence. "If you do not stop them now, they will be in your house tomorrow," said John.
Citizens and activists filed a petition of demand that will be sent to Com missioner of Police Hasan Gafoor and Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil. They said that mobs should not be allowed to prevent movie screenings or disrupt art exhibitions. A new law needs to be passed where people caught in vio lence acts should be sent to jail for 10 years, they said. They demanded special officers to look into activists' complaints.
The meeting was presided by former state chief secretary D.M. Sukhtankar, adman and theatre personality Alyque Padamsee, activist Shailesh Gandhi, corporator Adolf D'Souza, AWAZ Foun dation member Sumeria Abdulali and Rita D'sa of the Bombay Catholic Sabha.
Padamsee recalled how after he had once said that Mumbai would always be Bombay, a mob of 250 had gathered outside his house. After condemning mob violence, Padamsee borrowed American civil rights' activist Martin Luther King's words and said: "I have a dream and in that dream youngsters from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh walk hand in hand."
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CITIZEN`S MARCH – PEACE RALLY AGAINST MOB-OCRACY

NEARLY 1,000 people will hold a silent peace march ‘against mob-ocracy' from Andheri's Holy Family School up to Andheri police station on April 6.
Action for Good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI) members, wearing white shirts and carrying black umbrellas and placards, feel that the police have not taken enough action against the miscreants re sponsible for the molestation of two women outside a Juhu hotel on New Year's night or against alleged Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists who attacked taxi drivers or against those who attacked AGNI co-ordinator James John.
"We are demanding a strict law against mob violence," said AGNI Trustee Gerson Da'Cunha, who will chair a meeting at the school before the march. "In many cases, the police are ineffective or slow-moving."
A memorandum will be chalked out at the meeting that would be handed over to the Andheri police to be forwarded to Commissioner Hassan Gafoor. The memorandum will report the mob attacks and make demands, including that action be taken against people teeming up, losing inhibitions and causing undeclared bandhs.
"In many cases, police do not intervene as the local slumlords, matka groups, encroachers, even politicians collude with the police. We want this to stop," said Da'Cunha.
They will also ask the police to set up cells to protect those who want to help establish evidence against the attackers. "In cases like John's, who was trying to click pictures of mobs forcing shops to close for evidence, he was attacked. Of the five attackers, only two were arrested and let off on bail," said Ravi Nair, march organiser and AGNI volunteer.
sayli.mankikar@hindustantimes.com WANT TO JOIN? ¦ What: AGNI Peace rally and meeting against mob attacks and lawlessness ¦ When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 ¦ Where: Holy Family School, Andheri (East) ¦ Dress Code: White shirt/top and black उम्ब्रेल्ला -- सय्ली UDAS

March against mobs

March against mobs
Posted On Sunday, March 30, 2008
WSP Correspondent
On April 6, a unique peace march will rally from Holy Family School Hall, Chakala till Andheri Police station to protest against mob violence. Points out activist Ravi Nair, an Action for Good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI) member, “We only put up our hands and blame the mobs, when they disrupt our normal life. We decided to raise our voice and make it count. Errant mobsters rule our lives and law-abiding citizens bear the brunt. They walk away scot-free, and even administration does not bring to book such elements, because politicians and powerbrokers are also involved. Joining this march will be elected representatives, former members of the administration and police, representatives of citizen groups and activists such as like Navleen Kumar, S Ganesan, Sumaira Abdulali, Suryakant Panchal, H S D’Lima and Vaishali Patil. This peace march will also highlight the inefficiency of the police authorities, when recently, AGNI activist James John was assaulted at J B Nagar, and had to be hospitalised during the Raj Thackeray arrest drama. The police acted only after a few days.When: Sunday, April 6Where: Holy Family School Hall, Andheri EastAt: 4:00 p m to 6:30 p mCall: 9821295960 (Ravi Nair) / 9223298694 (Ashok Pai)

CITIZEN PEACE MARCH AGAINST MOB VIOLENCE

Hi all,The day is not far when you will have to take permission even to breath. Situation is such that there are chances where violence will broke out in just matter of seconds. Today's politician fancy themselves igniting violence just for trivial issues. You never know when you will be in the midst of mindless mob violence. The administration is just mute spectator. Your fundamental rights of peaceful living is blown to pieces. Mob-o-cracy has taken over and the victim is Democracy. There should be some end to it. Be prepare for a revolution again.
& THE REVOLUTION STARTS FROM 6TH APRIL…….. PLS JOIN US FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING & SILENT PEACE MARCH AT HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL HALL AT 4 PM ON 6TH APRIL
DRESS CODE :- WHITE TOP & BLACK UMBRELLA

COME JOIN US & STAND UNITED AGAINST MOB-OCRACY

Dear Friend,

Enforce Rule of Law! Fight Mob-ocracy!

Your presence will add meaning and value to a Citizen’s Meeting and Peace March on Sunday. April 6, 2008, 4.00 pm onwards. Please join citizen groups listed below at Holy Family School hall, (Nelco bus stop, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri East). Then walk with them silently to Andheri Police Station to hand over an agreed memorandum.

The city is suffering lawlessness of a scale and frequency never known before. Issues are settled on the streets, mobs close down trade, attack citizens and spread fear. Police are often inactive or slow moving, collusion with wrongdoers is alleged. Politicians and power brokers are frequently involved – and rarely brought to book.

Despite the odds against them, a breed of fearless citizens stands up for the law of the land. Names like Navleen Kumar, S. Ganesan, Sumaira Abdulali, Suryakant Panchal, H.S. D’Lima and Vaishali Patil come to mind.

Most recently, James John, a senior and valued member of AGNI in Andheri East, had three ribs broken by persons forcibly closing shops the day Raj Thackeray was arrested. He was photographing the activity for evidence.

Citizens are stronger than mobs. On Sunday, April 6, join elected representatives, former members of the administration and police, representatives of citizen groups and the public to demand an end to the politically motivated and other lawlessness sweeping Mumbai.

Do be there on Sunday, April 6 and pass this message on to all with whom you are in touch. Mobs should not rule Mumbai. Citizens must.


D. M. Sukthankar
Vice Chairman & Managing Trustee, AGNI
Former Chief Secretary, Maharashtra / Municipal Commissioner, Mumbai

On behalf of
AGNI, Awaaz Foundation, Bombay Catholic Sabha, CitiSpace, Dignity Foundation, F- North Ward Citizens’ Forum, H-West Federation, Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group, Khar Residents’ Association, MITRA (Movement against Intimidation, Threat and Violence against Activists), NAGAR, Oval Cooperage Residents’ Association, PRAJA and Public Concern for Governance Trust