|
Washington D.C. (June 9, 2007). Madhu Kishwar, a leading Indian activist for human rights and women’s development, became a symbol last week of rampant corruption and judicial abuse in India. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) joined several human rights groups today in protesting what are widely considered fabricated allegations of attempted murder registered against Kishwar on May 30, 2008 in New Delhi.
Kishwar, the founder editor of Manushi, a leading journal on women studies, and Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, is working to create a model safe zone for otherwise socially disempowered street vendors in the Sewa Nagar locality of New Delhi. The dominant organized crime gang in the area, known as the Basoya brothers gang seriously injured Kishwar on December 31, 2007, as she met with vendors in the locality, but with the connivance of local precinct police personnel, allegations were recorded against Kishwar and not the notorious Basoya group.
“This has been a standard pattern,” said Manushi leaders in a press release. “Each time the Basoyas attacked Madhu Kishwar or other members of Manushi Sangathan, they instantly filed false counter cases against Prof. Kishwar with active connivance of the police.”
“Kishwar's organization has spearheaded an outstanding project that is part of a larger effort to reform the exploitative street vendor policy in India,” said Ishanaa Rambachan, member of the HAF Executive Council. “Professor Kishwar is an exemplar of Hindu values and faith. The violence and intimidation she faces is more than a tragedy- it is an affront to justice and activism worldwide."
The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. Contact HAF at 1-301-770-7835 or on the web at www.HAFsite.org.
|
