New Delhi: Hundreds of concerned citizens, on Tuesday, made a ‘last appeal’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the eve of his visit to Ayodhya to attend the publicised bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple, to not act upon this ‘political decision to cater to his constituency of fundamentalists.’
Over 200 members of the National Federation of Indian Women, and a hundred other representatives of women’s movements, political leaders, academics, journalists and concerned citizens of the country have signed the appeal which requests the prime minister “to desist from participating in a public function that will have long term negative ramifications for the democratic, secular fabric of the country.”
Also read: Narendra Modi the Citizen Can Attend Ayodhya ‘Bhoomi Pujan’, But Prime Minister Shouldn’t
The statement of the appeal, signed by NFIW president Aruna Roy and NFIW general secretary Annie Raja, notes that the prime minister’s decision to participate in this function comes amidst the economic collapse and the coronavirus pandemic that quickened it.
“Unfortunately, it is the Prime Minister, who took an oath on the constitution of the country, who will be leading the proceedings. Not only will he be violating the protocol of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he will also be violating the constitution by being an office bearer and endorsing a religious proceeding. The PM of the country leads a secular, democratic and non-partisan people,” the statement notes.
The appeal is as followed:
APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER
The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), which was founded by prominent women freedom fighters like Aruna Asaf Ali, expresses its deep disappointment and disapproval at the reported participation of Shri Narendra Modi, the PRIME MINISTER of India, in laying the foundation of the temple at Ayodhya.
The matter of faith and freedom of religion is a personal choice and a fundamental freedom of every citizen. This principles enshrined in the fundamental rights of the Constitution applies to Mr. Narendra Modi as well.
The Constitution of India makes it clear that the government and Prime Minister should remain neutral to, and above all religions, thus upholding the values of secular India. The Prime Minister going to Ayodhya to lay the foundation of the temple undermines our secular framework, and clearly endorses the majoritarian Hindutva agenda, despite his claims of building an inclusive India. It implies the negation of the Constitutional values.
Mr. Modi is not just an individual citizen. As the Prime Minister and head of the government today, he should take special care to make sure that he is not seen as partisan towards with one faith or religion. This is especially as, notwithstanding the court verdict, Ayodhya continues to be a disputed issue.
The official Unlock 3.0 guidelines state that “Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will not be permitted.”
The Prime Minister’s participation in a ceremony of this kind is bound to send a message of double standards practiced by the highest public functionaries of India.
The priorities of the government today should be to confront the economic and health crisis.
NFIW, together with the undersigned representatives of women’s movements, political leaders, academics, journalists and concerned citizens of the country appeal to the Prime Minister to NOT PARTICIPATE, either physically or virtually, in the foundation laying function at Ayodhya.
Thanking you.
The list of signatories is as follows:
List of signatories
Aruna Roy, President, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) Annie Raja, Gen. Sec., National Federation of Indian Women Mariam Dhawale, General Secretary, All India Democratic Women’s Association Chhabi Mohanty, General Secretary, All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan(AIMSS) Nisha Biswas, Women against Sexual Violence and State repression (WSS) Pamela Philipose, Independent journalist
Binoy Viswam, Member of Parliament, Secretary, National Council, CPI Lissy Joseph, Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India Vineet, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Shobha Nandwana, Former Prof. Human Development And Family Studies, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT)Udaipur. Brinelle D’souza, Faculty Member, TISS Tata Institute of Social Sciences Dr. T. Jayakumar, Associate Professor of English, Periyar EVR College Jessica Richard, Feminist, Theologian, Editor and Gender Consultant, Church of South India.
Swati Narayan, Visiting Fellow, Institute for Human Development Joseph Mattam, Emeritus Professor, Gujarat Vidya Deep Sheelu, Women’s Collective Mamta Jaitly, Secretary Vividha Kamayani Swami, Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan Charul joshi, COMMUNIST Party of India. Kazi Sangramoon Uddin, CPIML Liberation Vijaya Lakshmi Joshi, Human Rights Activist, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Sutapa Bhattacharya Chakraborty, CPI Amutha Jayadeep, Former Joint Secretary JNUSU, AISF
Ila Dalwai, President, Hamid Dalwai Muslim Research Institute Shalini Gera, Advocate, High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur Dilip D’Souza, Independent writer Sanjeev Chandan, Editor Streekaal, Streekaal Cedric Prakash , Human Rights Activist, PRASHANT Aysha, Right to Food Campaign Narendran Kandasamy , PARE Foundation Indira Unninayar, Advocate Supreme Court and Delhi High Court Maimoona Mollah, President, AIDWA Delhi Shambhu Ghatak, Senior Associate Fellow, Inclusive Media for Change, Common Cause
Viveka, Professor, Mumbai, JCoR Maharashtra Rosaline, Project manager, Sahayini Social Development Society सीमा राजोरिया, अशोकनगर,NFIW सुसंस्कृति परिहार, दमोह, NFIW A.B.Thameem Ansari, Nagore Sharing Haj Service Abonti Handique, Assam Mohila Songha, NIFW Adv. P. Vasantham, Thiruvantapuram, Kerala Mahila Sangham Advocate Kranti Deshmukh, State Vice President, Amravati, NFIW Advocate Madhuri Kshirsagar, State Executive Member, Parbhani, NFIW Akhileshwari Ramagoud, Independent Journalist and Academic
Alfiya K Jose, Indian Institute of Technology Madras Amita, Advocate Amrit Joga, Bathinda, N.F.I.W Anbarasi, Nurse Presentation Appamma, Guntur District, NFIW, Aruna Gnanadason, Indian Christian Women’s Movement Aruna, Anantapur District, NFIW. ArunaSinha, NCR, NFIW Arvind Peter, Christian Institute for the study of Religion (CISRS), Delhi Asha Sharma, Gen Secretary, AIDWA Delhi Ashvini Pagare, Nashik, NFIW Asomi Gogoi, Secretary, Asom Mahila Songha, NFIW
Avtar Kaur, Ludhiana, N.F.I.W सारिका श्रीवास्तव राज्य सचिव, इंदौर, NFIW सिस्टर सुचिता, NFIW चेतना, NFIW B.Bimalamma, Vishaka District, NFIW B.Parameswari, Vishaka District, NFIW Badiuzzaman , Citizen of India Baljinder Kaur, Ludhiana, N.F.I.W Balwinder Kaur, Amritsar Rural, N.F.I.W. Balwinder Kaur, Gurdaspur, Social Activist Basanti Lakrs, Teacher Bhagyalakshmi, Kadapa District, NFIW, Bharathi, Guntur District, NFIW Bharati Kachari, Asom Mahila Sanga Jorhat, NFIW
Bharati Kachari, Asom Mahila Sanga Jorhat Bharti Dhakwal, Raigad, NFIW Bharti Nyalpalli, Ahmednagar ,NFIW रेखा पालिया, गुना, NFIW ललिता कुमारी, जिला begusarai-NFIW लाड़कुँवर, उज्जैन, NFIW सन्तोषी देवी, जबलपुर, NFIW Caroline Flora, Sec. Grade, St. Kevin’s Anglo Indian Higher secondary school Ch.Krishnaveni, Kadapa District, NFIW Chakri Bai, Hyderabad, NFIW Chandana Jha,Katihar, NFIW Chitra Vanjari, Amravati, NFIW D. Krishnakumari, Hyderabad, NFIW D.Ramanamma, Krishna District, NFIW
D.Sitaravamma Kumari.NFIW. Darshna, Jallandhr, N.F.I.W Deepti Bharti , G.S, NFIW Delhi Unit Dev Desai, ANHAD Dr M Ismaeel Khan, Private job Dr Manasi Baheti, Aurangabad, NFIW Dr. Kochurani Abraham, Feminist Theologian, Indian Christian Women’s Movement Dr.Anuradha Reddi, Mumbai, NFIW राधा देबनाथ, जमना कालरी, अनूपपुर जिला, NFIW रामदुलारीजी, अशोकनगर, NFIW रामवती यादव (अनूपपुर),NFIW रिंकू कुमारी , पटना, NFIW रीना पात्रे, कोतमा, शहडोल जिला,NFIW E.Ramadevi, Kothagudam, NFIW
Elfinarod, Social coordinator, Pushpanjali Faimida, Rangareddy, NFIW Flory Menezes, JcoR G. Varamma, Medchal,NFIW G.Pavitra, Anantapur District, NFIW. निशा मिश्रा, उपाध्यक्ष (जमना कालरी, अनूपपुर जिला), NFIW प्रीति झा, कटिहार, NFIW प्रेमा, वैशाली, NFIW राजश्री किरण, मधुबनी, बिहार, NFIW Gayatri, Prakasam District, NFIW, Geeta Katagi, Dharwad, Hubli Dist,NFIW Giddamma, Karnool District, NFIW, N Girija, Medchal, NFIW Gudem Laxmi, Karimnagar, NFIW Gulzar Bhat, Journalist, Freelancer
Gurbax Kaur, Jallandhr, N.F.I.W Harjit Kaur, Fazlika, N.F.I.W Harjit Kaur, Taran Taran, N.F.I.W Harsharanjit , Patiala, N.F.I.W Indira, West Godavary District, NFIW करुणा सोनी(अनूपपुर), NFIW किरन प्रकाश बोर्डे(सिवनी), NFIW कृष्णा दुबे, राज्य अध्यक्ष (गुना),NFIW ज्योति गोरे, राजपुर, बड़वानी जिला, NFIW दीपा भट्ट, सागर, NFIW J. Laxmi, Medchal, NFIW Jacob, Development Consultant, Dharma Bharati Service Society JAMES G, Independent Researcher Jangamma, Yadadri, NFIW
Jaspal Bhatia, Supporter NFIW Javid Hussain, Civil engineer, Psna Jayalakshmi, Anantapur District, NFIW. Jayalakshmi, Chitoor District, NFIW Jeet Kumari, Ludhiana, N.F.I.W Jeevasundari, Writer, Freelancer Joginder, Fazlika, N.F.I.W Jyothi Natrajan, State Executive Member, Nashik, NFIW Jyotsna Mali, Pune, National Federation of Indian Women K.Baby, West Godavary District, NFIW K.Shantha, Jagityal, NFIW K.Shobha Rani, Karimnagar, NFIW K.Sitamahalakshmi, West Godavary District, NFIW
K.Suguna, Bupalpally, NFIW Kajal Verma, None Kamya, Social worker, No Affiliation Kanika , Student Karen Gabriel, St Stephen’s College Karuna, Prakasam District, NFIW Kavin Malar, Writer/Journalist, Independent Kiran Prakash, Gaya, NFIW Kiranbir Valtoha, Taran Taran, N.F.I.W Kotamma, Suryapet,NFIW Krishna bai Zunjur, Thane District, NFIW Kulwant Kaur, Ludhiana, N.F.I.W Kulwant Kaur, Amritsar Rural, N.F.I.W. Kurshida, Anantapur District, NFIW. Kushal Bhaura, Bathinda, N.F.I.W.
Leila Passah, Feminist Activist Lad Kumari Jain, Prof (retd) & Social Activist, Rajasthan University Women’s Association Lakshmi Devi, NFIW Lanci Rodrigues , Premanjali Lata Bhise Sonawane, State Secretary and National Executive Member, Maharashtra NFIW Lata Bhise Sonawane, state secretary, Pune, NFIW Lathadevi, Khammam, NFIW Laxmi, Suryapet, NFIW Lisa Pires, Private Citizen Lova Ratnam, East Godavary District, NFIW M. Gonsalves, इंडियन कॅथलिक nun M. Sadalaxmi, Central Committee, NFIW
M. Vijaya, Prakasam District, NFIW,NFIW M.Nalindi, Adilabad, NFIW M.Swarooparani, Nizamabad, NFIW Madhuri Honagekar, Karwar dist, NFIW Malleshwari, Suryapet, NFIW Manjit Kaur, Sangrur, N.F.I.W. Manjit Kaur, Faridkot, N.F.I.W Manjit Kaur, Mansa, N.F.I.W Manjula, Chitoor District, NFIW Manjula, NFIW Margaret Gonsalves, Social activist Mariazinha, Teacher Manager Minakshi Bombarde, Bhandara, NFIW Mohd Abuzar, ANHAD Ms. V. Saldanha, Coordinator, ICWM Mumbai, Indian Christian Women’s Movement
Munnalaxmi Kumara, Kothagudam, NFIW N. Jyothi, Central Committee, NFIW N. Rao Potturi, Society for Environment and Education N.Bramaramba, East Godavary District, NFIW N.Jagadamba, West Godavary District, NFIW N.Ramasubbayamma, Guntur District, NFIW Nadiya, Chitoor District, NFIW Nagalakshmi, West Godavary District, NFIW Nageswaramma, Karnool District, NFIW Nanda Jadhav, Mumbai, NFIW Narinder Pal, Taran Taran, N.FI.W Narinder Sohal, Moga, N.F.I.W Neha Pathania, Pathankot, N.F.I.W
Nirmala Alfonso, Karwar District, NFIW Nirmala Pawar, Thane Samiti, NFIW Nisha Sidhu, Secretary, National Federation of Indian Women Nivedita Jha,Patna, NFIW Nusrat Parveen, South Delhi, NFIW P. Padmavati, Chennai, India Matar Desiya Sammelanam P.Kalavati, Khammam, NFIW P.Sugunamma, Jangoan, NFIW Padma, Manchirial, NFIW Paramita Dasgupta, West Bengal State Asst. Secretary. NFIW Parmarprezy, Teacher, Pushpanjali Parvathi Prasad, Anantapur District, NFIW.
Parveen Kaur, Amritsar City, N.F.I.W Parveen Sharma, Amritsar city, N.F.I.W. Persis Ginwalla, Individual Philomena John, West Delhi, NFIW Pooja, Chandigarh, N.F.I.W Prabhavathi, Srikakulam District, NFIW Prabhavati Das, Bhubhaneshwar, Utkal Mahila Samiti Pramiladevi, Peddapally, NFIW Pramoda Hazare, Madhuri Nevagiri, Nisha Mohan Patil, Belgaum Dist, NFIW Pravin Mastud, AISF Prema, Presentation Sister Purnima, Manchirial, NFIW Purti Lakhode, Amravati, NFIW
Pushpa Saini , Social Worker, Mahila Punarvas Samuh Samiti, Jaipur R. S. Ismail, Executive Trustee, We Can Women’s Coalition Trust R.Srividya, Warangal (urban), NFIW Radha, Jagityal GB, NFIW Raja Kumari, Adilabad, NFIW Rajamani, KamaReddy, NFIW Rajamani, Yadadri, NFIW Rajani , NFIW Rajinderpal Kaur, Taran Taran Rajni Bakshi, Author, Freelance writer Ramanamma, Kadapa District, NFIW, NFIW Ranjan Solomon, Badayl Ratnamma, Chitoor District, NFIW Ravi Kanta Ludhiana, N.F.I.W
Ravinderjit, Patiala, N.F.I.W Rebin Vincent Gralan, Bar Association Reetha, Social Worker, Sarvodaya Social centre Regi, Presentation Sisters Rehana Begam, West Delhi, NFIW Rekha Sharma, Mansa, N.F.I.W Rekha, Gurdaspur, N.F.I.W Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, Presbyter, Christ Church Roja, West Godavary District, NFIW, Ronak, Law Student, PUCL, Jaipur Rupinder Kaur, Taran Taran, N.F.I.W S. Chayadevi, Hyderabad, NFIW S.Pushpakumari, West Godavary District, NFIW
S.Ravamma, Prakasam District, NFIW,NFIW S.Vijaya, Warangal (Rural), NFIW Saguna Shrimal, Ahmednagar, NFIW Sambalaxmi, Mahabubabad, NFIW Sameer Pathan , Independent Samima Ansari, Nagore Shariff Haj Service Sanklpana Karhade, State Treasurer, Thane District, NFIW Santosh Brar, Jallandhr, N.F.I.W Saraswathi, Srikakulam District, NFIW Saroj Murtijapurkar, Akole, NFIW Saroja, Anantapur District, NFIW. Savitri, Siddipet, NFIW Secretary, Forum of Religious, FORUM
Seema Sohal Taran Taran N.F.I.W Shakuntala Kour, North West, NFIW Shamim Ahmad, Independent Shamim Bano Khan, Bhandara, NFIW Sharnjit Kaur, Amritsar Rural, N.F.I.W Shayama Sreee Das, Kolkata, Pachim Banga Mahila Samiti Shehnaz Qadri, North Delhi, NFIW Shinder Kaur, Moga, N.F.I.W Shivani, Hyderabad, NFIW Shweta Azad, Student Simerjit Kaur, Moga, N.F.I.W SK. Chanbibi, Vijayanagaram District, NFIW Sk. Haseena, Karnool District, NFIW SK. Maddi Manikyam, Vijayanagaram District, NFIW
Sk.Ashabi, Anantapur District, NFIW. SK.Begam, Vishaka District, NFIW Sk.Lalbi, West Godavary District, NFIW Sk.Munni, Kadapa District, NFIW, NFIW Smita Pansare, State President, Ahmednagar, NFIW Snehal Kamble, Kolhapur, N.F.I.W Snehal Kumari, Partner in a travel agency, Supporter NFIW Sonali Biswas, Committee Member, NFIW, Paschi Banga Mahila Samity Subbalakshmi, Vishaka District, NFIW NFIW Sufi, Pune, NFIW Sukhraj Kaur, Taran Taran, N.F.I.W Sulatai Patil, Thane Samiti, NFIW
Sumitra Sinha, East Delhi, NFIW Sumitra, Fazlika, N.F.I.W Sunita Amrutsagar, State Joint Secretary, Kolhapur NFIW Surjit Kalra, Chandigarh, N.F.I.W Sushila Sahay,Patna, NFIW Swastika Sanghmitra, NFIW Jharkhand Swati Kshirsagar, Kolhapur, NFIW Swati Nayan Gaikwa , Akole, NFIW T.Nirmaladevi, Khammam, NFIW T.Rahela, Warangal (urban),NFIW U. Srujana- Central Committee, NFIW Usha Devi, Noida, NFIW Usha Waghmare, Raigad, NFIW Utpal Das Advocate, Individual V Ponnuraj, Retired Professor
V. B. Ganesan, Pensioner, Freelance Translator V.Syamala, West Godavary District, NFIW Vandana Kulkarni, Individual Varalakshmi, Anantapur District, NFIW. Varsha Chavan, Parbhani, NFIW Vasantha, Convent, Independent Vasudha Kalyankar, State Joint Secretary, Aurangabad, NFIW Vazritasma, St. Mary’s Convent School Vidya Kore, State Vice President, Thane Smiti Vijayalaxmi Pandit, Vikarabad, NFIW Vijayalaxmi, Medchal, NFIW Vijita, Sanga Reddy, NFIW Yadamma, Rangareddy, NFIW
Yadla Laksmi, East Godavary District, NFIW Zaid Shaikh, BA.LLB, ZIN P., Teacher, Manager Zoha Mahdi, Civil society member अर्चना प्रसाद (अशोकनगर), NFIW Gargi Chakravartty, Executive Council Member, National Federation of Indian Women Koninika Ray, Executive Council Member, National Federation of Indian Women Supriya Chotani, Executive Council Member, National Federation of Indian Women Nisar, NAS Silvia PBVM, Individual