Spotlight on Dr. Sandeep Pandey: Indian Activist Organizes March from Jammu to Srinagar
Dr. Sandeep Pandey is a veteran Indian human rights activist, education reformer, and Magsaysay Award (Asian Nobel Prize) recipient.
Dr. Pandey was placed under house arrest at his home in Lucknow in August when he had planned a protest against the August 5th lockdown of Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370. He was barred from entering Kashmir along with US Senator Chris Van Hollen in October.
Undeterred by these and other obstructions to his freedom and rights, Dr. Pandey is about to embark on a march from Jammu to Srinagar. We share below recent articles by Dr. Pandey about Kashmir, and also the details of the upcoming march.
We invite our friends in India to support Dr. Pandey’s efforts in any way possible. Stay tuned to HfHR’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates on Dr. Pandey’s efforts in the weeks to come.
Recent Articles by Sandeep Pandey:
In Countercurrents:
In Fair Observer:
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RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY:
MARCH FROM JAMMU TO SRINAGAR, 26 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER, 2019
A march (part by vehicle and part by feet) has been planned from Jammu to Srinagar from 26 November to 1 December, 2019 to demand restoration of democracy in Jammu & Kashmir. We believe that the decision taken by central government in August regarding J&K is undemocratic and if the government thinks what it has done is in the interest of J&K then it must get it endorsed by the people of J&K. But the manner in which curbs have been imposed on fundamental rights of people of freedom of expression and others, it is analogous to giving a bitter pill to a child saying that it is in the interest of the child while not even allowing the child to cry after that. This is not how decisions are taken in any democracy. While the central government is engaged in a process of dialogue with Nagas and Bodos to resolve their political issues in accordance with their wishes it did not consider it worth to consult even a single Kashmiri before taking a decision which will significantly impact the lives of citizens of J&K adversely. The entire state of J&K cannot be punished in the name of separatists or terrorists whose number is not more than a few hundreds. Worse, even political parties, local or national, are not being allowed to function. It is ironical that the courts when allowing opposing political leaders’ entry in J&K are making it a condition that they should not indulge in political activities when Bhartiya Janata Party’s act has been a part of the political agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh for a long time. Will BJP be the only party allowed to carry on with its political agenda of dividing the society on communal grounds, curbing civil liberties and disrupting peace, and activities of all other organizations be banned? Is its narrative of one nation, one constitution, one language, etc. moving towards a one party rule in the country?
We are accepting this challenge of BJP to finish democracy from this country and declaring this march with the objective of bringing back democratic norms and culture in this country. We request the individuals and organizations that stand for maintaining communal harmony, defending civil liberties and preserving peace to support us in this endeavor.
To participate in the march please contact any of the following and reach Jammu latest by 26 November, 2019 morning. Also, please help us raise resources for this march by contributing or organizing donations. We expect an expenditure of about Rs. 60,000 for this endeavour with Rs. 40,000 for the bus alone. Please make your financial contribution using the account details of J.A. Kazmi, General Secretary of J&K Forum for Peace and Territorial Integrity, given at the end.
I.D. Khajuria, J&K Forum for Peace and Territorial Integrity, 9419152093, idkhajuria@gmail.com
Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Bangladesh Bharat Pakistan People’s Forum, 9419148654
Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar, 9999746196, faisalkj2002@yahoo.co.in
Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People’s Movements, 7337478993, meeraengages@gmail.com
Feroze Mithiborwala, Bharat Bachao Andolan, 9029277751, feroze.moses777@gmail.com
Dr. Sunilam, Samajwadi Samagam, 9425109770, samajwadisunilam@gmail.com
Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party (India), 0522 2355978, ashaashram@yahoo.com
Account Details for making Financial Contribution:
Name: J.A. Kazmi
Bank: Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd.
Branch: High Court Comlpex, Jammu
A/c No.: 0406040100002092
IFSC: JAKA0HCCJAM (fifth character is ‘zero’)
Mobile No.: 9419182133, 9797600786