#NotInMyName – City Protests In Solidarity Against Violence

June 30, 2017

Amidst light showers and heavy traffic, Pune saw students, journalists, professors and many more people gather at the Ambedkar Statue at Maldhakka Chowk to silently march against the recent mob lynching incidents against Muslims and Dalits in the country. #NotInMyName is a nationwide protest that took place in many cities around India. The rally in Pune was attended by notable names like Amol Palekar, Anu Aga, Baba Adhav, Atul Pethe, Sandhya Gokhale and Jayu Patwardhan. It was organised by Lokayat, a social activist group in the city.

Holding her banner high, Sakina Sheikh says that India is not a country of religion. “All people stay in this country united. The protest is important because only the minorities have been targeted in the recent attacks over things which aren’t important. It is wrong to target people just because of what they are eating or wearing.”

Sunita Shetty walks silently as the protest goes on. She has children who are around the same age as Junaid Khan, the 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in a train after being accused of carrying beef in his bag by a mob. “It isn’t about religion. Lives were lost and that to me is unacceptable that the state can’t protect young life. Human beings stood by and watched while the lynching happened. It isn’t even about Congress or BJP, whoever is in power is in power. Such incidents make a statement about the direction we’re heading. It really needs to be addressed.”

Ibrahim Khan from Swaraj Abhiyan speaking at the protest.

After the rally reached its last stop, the Gandhi statue at Pune Railway Station, speeches were given and slogans were chanted. Anjum Inamdar, member of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) loudly chanted ‘Hum sab ek hai!’. He says that this protest is highly significant for the minorities, especially Muslims. “Ever since the government has come to power there is an atmosphere of fear. We are very much a part of this country and we cannot be treated like second-class citizens. Muslims have also voted for the present government because we believe that they will bring development and prosperity to us also. But now, we don’t feel safe here at all.”

Just yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence conducted in the name of cow protection. He invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings to reinstate that India is a country of non-violence. His statement came a day after the #NotInMyName protest took place in various cities.