Convention on terrorism demands Home Minister's resignation

New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) A national convention for countering fascist forces today demanded the resignation of Home Minister Shivraj Patil for his failure to prevent blasts in several cities in the country and prevent attacks on the minorities in Orissa, Karnataka and other parts.

The two-day convention on ''Countering fascist forces: Defending the Idea of India,'' also called for the dismissal of the National Security Advisor M K Narayanan for incompetence and all the intelligence lapses, leading to rise in terrorist and communal violence.

It also demanded prosecution of members of the BJP and ABVP ''who have links with Hindutva terrorist organisations such as the ones implicated in the Malegaon bomb blasts and called for a ban on the RSS, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad for terrorist and anti-national activities and provision of immediate relief and compensation to the victims of communal violence in Orissa and other states.

The convention also condemned the UPA government for falling prey to the Hindutva agenda while paying lip service to secularism and demanded the setting up of a time bound judicial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar encounter headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

Releasing the resolution at a press conference, which saw participation from thinkers and intellectuals like Achin Vanaik, Iftikhar Gilani, John Dayal, Justice A M Ahmadi, Kuldip Nayar, Prashant Bhushan, Prof Mushir ul Hasan, Prof Upendra Buxi, Suresh Khairnar and Swami Agnivesh, Ms Shabnam Hashmi, said the rise of communal fascism has emerged as a threat not only to its immediate victims but to the very long term survival of India as an unified nation of diverse religions, linguistic and ethnic groups.

''The mysterious and condemnable acts of terrorism that have shaken different parts of the country have engendered a climate of fear, insecurity and fuelled the politics of communal decision,'' Ms Hashmi said.

Noting that throughout the country, youth from the minority communities were being targetted, without any or little evidence, as responsible for the various bomb blasts in the country, the resolution said, ''there is a concerted attempt by the police, intelligence agencies and certain political parties to portray all members of the minority community as terrorists and extremists - to be arbitrarily arrested, tortured and killed in fake encounters.'' At the same time, it said hard evidence against Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Sangh outfits of their involvement in violent activities was not only being ignored but also being ''pushed under the carpet by the government.'' ''Groups like the Bajrang Dal are openly claiming responsibility for this communal violence against minorities community and yet are being allowed to go scot free,'' it said.

UNI AR KK AKJ BD1915