[The below petition has been endorsed by 150 eminent persons as on 29 January 2016 [ https://tinyurl.com/z657hfh ] and letters have been sent to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Prime Minister of India drawing their attention and seeking action against a Rajasthan MLA led mob attack on activists but to no avail. Members of the public and citizens from everywhere are invited to endorse the below petition to create public pressure against a culture of impunity in Rajasthan.]

STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON THE JAWABDEHI YATRA IN AKLERA, RAJASTHAN

News that the “JawabdehiYatra” was attacked on the evening of January 16 near Aklera police post in Jhalawar, Rajasthan has come as a great shock. This 100 day journey was being undertaken by over seventy social activists under the banner of the Soochana Evam Rozgaar Adhikar Abhiyan (SR Abhiyan)– a network of more than 100 citizens groups in Rajasthan.

We are extremely disturbed by the accounts of brutal assault faced by the participants; activists and volunteers of the MKSS and other citizens groups who were carrying out a state wide campaign focusing on issues of transparency, accountability, and the delivery of social sector entitlements. This attack appears to have been planned and pre meditated, carried out by lumpen goons under the leadership of the BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena. Video footage of the attack clearly shows the BJP MLA from Aklera, inciting his compatriots while mercilessly beating activists himself, as they were engaging with the public at a popular market place. Victims include noted theatre and social activist Shankar Singh. Women were also manhandled and beaten, cameras and vehicles were reportedly smashed, and onlookers terrorized. What makes the incident even more condemnable was that it took place in the home District of Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and the Lok Sabha Constituency of her son, Dushyant Singh.

According to news reports in local dailies, this ongoing 100-day accountability rally, flagged off in early December, has been met with unprecedented enthusiasm at the local level. Street corner meetings held in various districts of Rajasthan have drawn tremendous support for the demand for a comprehensive accountability law, and helped to raise awareness of social sector rights and entitlements. The volunteers with the Yatra have facilitated and expedited the registration of over 6000 grievances of various kinds, from those involving ration cards and old age pensions to caste atrocities and violence against women. We find it reprehensible in a democratic order that political leaders should seek to unleash violence in order to intimidate and silence such efforts, instead of addressing the genuine concerns being raised.

Urgent, and firm action is needed from the Rajasthan State government. Thus far 11 people have been arrested in connection with this attack. However, BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena is still at large. We demand…

• That those guilty of the attacks and the leaders behind them be brought to justice promptly.
• That proper compensation be paid for the medical treatment of those who were assaulted, and for the mental and physical trauma they have suffered. The damage done to their vehicles and infrastructure should be evaluated and recompensed.
• That the Rajasthan state government publicly condemn the incident, institute a proper inquiry into it and ensure that elected representatives involved in the attack be disciplined in an exemplary manner.

January 29th, 2016

Signed –

• Pamela Philipose
• Dr. Achin Vanaik
• Shailesh Gandhi
• Jayati Ghosh
• Rajni Bakshi
• TM Krishna