Maitree is a women’s network, working in West Bengal, comprising NGOs, women’s organisations and individual activists. We would like to register our anguish over the harassment faced by Ila Pandey, activists of Vanangana, and other women’s activists regarding a cas of child sexual abuse filed by Ila Pandey against her husband, Jagdish Pandey, an employee of the Uttar Pradesh dairy department.

Ila Pandey and activists of Vanangana, as well as other activists who are working in solidarity with them, have been attacked and harassed in Karvi, Uttar Pradesh. We have received reports that the district administration, too, is taking a stand against Vanangana, and supporting the attackers. We feel that this is a travesty of justice and an insult to democracy.

We request you to ensure that Ila Pandey and activists of Vanangana are able to get justice for the young girl who has been so cruelly abused by her father. A country like India, which prides itself on its democratic traditions, should be able to assure that those seeking justice are not persecuted.

We have also received reports saying that some other human rights and women’s organisations that have supported Ila Pandey and activists of Vanangana are being intimidated by government departments. We urge you to immediately put a stop to such undesirable activities.

Honourable Minister, we, the members of Maitree, urge you to protect Ila Pandey and activists of Vanangana from further harassment and attacks, ensure that the rights of Ila Pandey and activists of Vanangana to protest against injustice and seek justice are not infringed upon, see that other organisations in the country can fearlessly work in solidarity with Ila Pandey and Vanangana without interference from the state .

We hope you will act swiftly to uphold the democratic tradition of India.

Maitree is a women’s network, working in West Bengal, comprising NGOs, women’s organisations and individual activists. We strongly protest the showcause notice served to human rights and women’s rights organisations. We feel that such a notice is an attempt at silencing dissent and curbing the right of freedom of expression in a democracy.

We are also concerned that this showcause has been issued immediately after a press campaign against communalism conducted by these organisations.We demand an explanation why a campaign against communalism should be dubbed communal and anti–national.

We are appalled that the sangh parivar is endorsing values and cruel practices that human rights and women’s rights organisations are struggling to destroy. We refer to the recent remarks by representatives of the sangh parivar glorifying sati and justifying dowry and wife–beating in the name of Indian tradition and culture. Rape has also been used as a systematic political strategy to humiliate women in times of communal disharmony. We demand:

Ø immediate withdrawal of the showcause notices served to the NGOs

Ø a public apology for maligning and spreading false accusations about organisations who don’t endorse the ‘patriotism’ sponsored by the Sanghcombine

We would like to conclude by saying that the right to dissent is an inalienable right in a democracy and guaranteed by the IndianConstitution.

Copy to : 1. Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India, 7, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi 110001.

2. Shri L.K. Advani, Home Minister of India, Ministry of Home Affairs,Govt of India, Gruh Mantralaya, New Delhi 110001;