Cong urges NHRC to conduct inquiries into communal incidents

Congress today sought National Human Rights Commission's intervention to conduct inquiries into the incidents of communal violence and intolerance, which have taken place across the country in the last few months. A delegation of the AICC legal and human rights cell today met the NHRC Acting Chairperson Justice Cyriac Joseph and demanded that the conspirators behind such incidents, which have "increased" since 2014 Lok Sabha elections, must be booked. The NHRC Chairperson said that the delegation handed over a memorandum to him and will look into the matter. AICC Secretary and chairman of the legal and human rights cell KC Mittal, who led the delegation, also demanded constitution of separate NHRC teams to inquire into these incidents. "We would like to draw your attention to the growing intolerance and communal violence across the country. There is an urgent need to check and book the conspirators under penal laws," the delegation said in a memorandum. "We pray to you to take appropriate and required action to stop growing incidents of communal violence in the country," they further said. The memorandum said that more than 325 incidents of communal violence had taken place post 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which was an increase of 24 per cent in communal violence and 65 per cent rise in death related to the same in the first five months of 2015. They also mentioned a list of 27 such recent incidents that happened in the series across the country and demanded strict action against the accused. The AICC Legal and Human Rights department earlier held a meeting and resolved that it is shattered at the emerging scenario after Lok Sabha polls, as "the country was witnessing a systematic campaign, provocation and spreading of communal violence and hatred throughout the country by fringe elements to disrupt peace, harmony and secular fiber of India." It was further resolved that "the onslaught and indiscriminate attack on innocent people has created vulnerable conditions, an atmosphere of terror, uncertainty and fear, which no civil society can accept, allow or tolerate." Mittal said that the AICC cell also resolved to request NHRC Chairman to constitute special teams of senior officials to go to all states where such incidents have happened to conduct a thorough investigation, and identify and book the culprits and conspirators involved in such act of violence. They also urged him to constitute high-level independent teams to check communal hate material posted on social media and legal action be taken against all involved in posting of such material. "Nobody has a right to take law into his/her own hands," he said, adding that what is the fate of democracy when elected representative hold positions and bound by the constitutional oath to uphold sovereignty, integrity and unity of India and abide by the principles of secularism, socialism and democracy, if flout their solemn affirmations, provoke people and make inflammatory statements.