2 days ago
PUCL sends letter to CS on alleged communal boycott, no official action
Pune: A fact-finding committee of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has written a letter to the chief secretary regarding an alleged disturbing communal tension and illegal prohibition against the minority community in Paud, Pirangut and other villages in Mulshi taluka of Pune district.
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The letter talks about the problem of unemployment and migration arising out of these. The committee, comprising G D Parekh, a retired district judge, and the Association for Protection of Civil Liberties (APCR), of which former high court judge Abhay Thipsay is the state president, found that despite the situation prevailing for a long time, no due cognisance was taken by the administration or other authorities concerned.
"We sent a letter on June 30 to the chief secretary and all other officials, including the collector, divisional commissioner, MP Supriya Sule and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, but there has been no response yet," said Milind Champanerkar, general secretary, PUCL, Pune.
Signboards allegedly prohibiting Muslims from "outside" entering and praying in local mosques had come up in various villages in rural Pune after the Pahalgam attack.
The authorities removed these boards in Paud and Pirangut after PUCL and APCR made their case. But many problems remained unaddressed, said Champanerkar.
"Fear and ongoing threats with impunity prompt migration of minority communities. People who shifted two months ago are yet to return because of lack of protection. There is no effort from the administration to bring life to normal. Worse, this pattern is replicated in other villages," said Champanerkar.
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TOI's Calls and messages to the chief secretary, Pune district collector, divisional commissioner, Pune Zilla Parishad CEO, Baramati MP Supriya Sule and the Pune rural SP remained unanswered.
The PUCL letter stated that there was a call for a complete boycott of the minority community. According to it, residents of the area and outsiders have been threatening people not to allow any Muslims to work, stay as tenants in their houses or do business in places owned by them.
Some Hindus have been allegedly threatened with dire consequences if they help the Muslims.
The letter stated that four scrap shops and three bakeries of Muslims had been shut down. Muslims running salons and chicken shops were being allegedly asked to shut shops. The letter said Muslims had not been allowed to work for one-and-a-half months, triggering an acute problem of survival.
Last month, the Social Democratic Party of India also wrote to the authorities raising similar concerns. Azar Tamboli, state president of the party, in a press conference last month had said some villages went to the extent of forming Muslim Community Control Councils.
