Uphold Freedom of Speech and Protect Human Rights in Tamil Nadu, India
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State Government of Tamil Nadu, India
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To: State Government of Tamil Nadu
Copy To: Government of India
Hon. Shri M. Karunanidhi
Chief Minister
Government of Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
and
Hon. Shri Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi, India
Dear Sir,
We, the undersigned, want to bring to your attention to the atrocities committed by the Tamil Nadu Police against an exhibition of paintings organized by FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) in Chennai from the 3rd of March to 9th of March, 2008. The venue of the Exhibition was "Lalit Kala Academy" (National Academy of Art), Greams Road, Chennai.
On March 6th, Mr. Murali of Tamil Nadu police started abusing the volunteer-workers at the Exhibition. He rushed up to the hall with his full team of around dozen officers and started pulling down the exhibits with force despite the repeated plea of the volunteers to wait till the arrival of Mr. Francois (the FACT official) from the City Police commissioner's office. Even when the volunteers had pleaded that they would remove the paintings themselves, he did not bother to listen to them and abused them in unparliamentarily language. He had used worse & unprintable words against Mr. Francois and had termed him as 'terrorist'. Then he had forced the volunteers to close & lock the hall and arrested four organizer-volunteers (Mrs. Srarswathi, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi, Mrs.Malathi and Mr. B.R. Haran) and one senior citizen, Mr. S. Raman and took them to the local station (Thousand Lights-F4). At the police station Mr. Murali threatened to confiscate the passport of Mrs. Saraswathi's daughter Ms. Anupama.
We the undersigned want to point out that
1. As per Indian Law, women are not supposed to be arrested after 6 p.m
2. No arrest memo was given to the persons arrested
3. No lady police officer or lady constable was present at the time of
arrest
4. On orders from the Joint Commissioner of Police Mr. Balasubramaniam, AC
Murali was compelled to release the women but he did so only after forcing
them to write and sign a statement that they came to the police station only
for inquiry and that they were being 'let off' after inquiry
5. Mr. Murali besides using the foulest language against Francois
Gautier (vellakara naai, porukki, terrorist, associates of terrorist) was
also guilty of removing and causing damage to the paintings.
A police officer cannot interpret the law nor take the law
into his own hands. He must only enforce the law. Violating procedural guidelines with regard to arrest of persons, particularly elderly women, and the use of abusive and foul language, is in our view a very gross offence and merits the strictest disciplinary action by the police department against the police officer concerned. The officer concerned must tender an unqualified apology to all the three women either in writing to them. We are sure you will heed our legitimate demand and act in best interest of rule of law which is the defining feature of mature democracies.
We, the undersigned, demand that the concerned police officers be punished, and the FACT exhibition be allowed to be exhibited unhindered in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in India. Further, please ensure that freedom of speech and expression be held as enshrined in the constitution, to which you have sworn to uphold.
Thanking you.
The Undersigned.
Copy To: Government of India
Hon. Shri M. Karunanidhi
Chief Minister
Government of Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
and
Hon. Shri Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi, India
Dear Sir,
We, the undersigned, want to bring to your attention to the atrocities committed by the Tamil Nadu Police against an exhibition of paintings organized by FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) in Chennai from the 3rd of March to 9th of March, 2008. The venue of the Exhibition was "Lalit Kala Academy" (National Academy of Art), Greams Road, Chennai.
On March 6th, Mr. Murali of Tamil Nadu police started abusing the volunteer-workers at the Exhibition. He rushed up to the hall with his full team of around dozen officers and started pulling down the exhibits with force despite the repeated plea of the volunteers to wait till the arrival of Mr. Francois (the FACT official) from the City Police commissioner's office. Even when the volunteers had pleaded that they would remove the paintings themselves, he did not bother to listen to them and abused them in unparliamentarily language. He had used worse & unprintable words against Mr. Francois and had termed him as 'terrorist'. Then he had forced the volunteers to close & lock the hall and arrested four organizer-volunteers (Mrs. Srarswathi, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi, Mrs.Malathi and Mr. B.R. Haran) and one senior citizen, Mr. S. Raman and took them to the local station (Thousand Lights-F4). At the police station Mr. Murali threatened to confiscate the passport of Mrs. Saraswathi's daughter Ms. Anupama.
We the undersigned want to point out that
1. As per Indian Law, women are not supposed to be arrested after 6 p.m
2. No arrest memo was given to the persons arrested
3. No lady police officer or lady constable was present at the time of
arrest
4. On orders from the Joint Commissioner of Police Mr. Balasubramaniam, AC
Murali was compelled to release the women but he did so only after forcing
them to write and sign a statement that they came to the police station only
for inquiry and that they were being 'let off' after inquiry
5. Mr. Murali besides using the foulest language against Francois
Gautier (vellakara naai, porukki, terrorist, associates of terrorist) was
also guilty of removing and causing damage to the paintings.
A police officer cannot interpret the law nor take the law
into his own hands. He must only enforce the law. Violating procedural guidelines with regard to arrest of persons, particularly elderly women, and the use of abusive and foul language, is in our view a very gross offence and merits the strictest disciplinary action by the police department against the police officer concerned. The officer concerned must tender an unqualified apology to all the three women either in writing to them. We are sure you will heed our legitimate demand and act in best interest of rule of law which is the defining feature of mature democracies.
We, the undersigned, demand that the concerned police officers be punished, and the FACT exhibition be allowed to be exhibited unhindered in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in India. Further, please ensure that freedom of speech and expression be held as enshrined in the constitution, to which you have sworn to uphold.
Thanking you.
The Undersigned.
66 Signatures
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Rajesh Bhadauria
- Comments
- I hereby sign the petition
- City, State, Country
- Saharanpur, U.P., India
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Stephen Knapp
- Comments
- This is atrocious activity in a country that is supposed to honor women and freedom of speech. This shows that your secular government is not so secular at all but shows favor to whoever raises the biggest fuss. Where is your equal treatment and rights to all people?
- City, State, Country
- Detroit, USA
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Satyanarayana Dosapati
- Comments
- Hindus of the world need to unite and speak out against this police highhandedness. Who are they protecting?
- City, State, Country
- USA
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Venkat
- Comments
- History cannot be forgotten but forgiven
- City, State, Country
- Tamilnadu
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P.DEIVAMUTHU, EDITOR, HINDU VOICE
- Comments
- It is a violation of our fundamental rights
- City, State, Country
- Mumbai.
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Ravi Pillay
- Comments
- I strongly object to the closure of the exhibition of truth .....
- City, State, Country
- India
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Satish Oberoi
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Nityananda Agasti
- Comments
- Law abiding citizens are threatened in India
- City, State, Country
- New Delhi, India
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Ashok Chowgule
- City, State, Country
- Goa, India
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Yamuna Kachru
- City, State, Country
- Urbana, IL, USA
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VENKATAKRISHNAN
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JASWANT SONI
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Dr. M.N.Ambekar
- Comments
- I can not believe that Tamil Nadu Government is actively supporting an Islamization Indian Nation hood by using the Police force. It is shame for the Central Government that they can not take any action against the Leadership.
- City, State, Country
- LONDON UK
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anil bhanot
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Mr. Suraj Sehgal
- Comments
- Hindu council Uk servely condemn the attack by the state police on the exibition and object to the muslim minority appeasment.by stopping the true facts of Moghal rule in India
- City, State, Country
- London UK
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Sabarinath
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Ajay Sachdeva
- City, State, Country
- New Delhi
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Bhupendra Jamnadas
- Comments
- Please punish the guilty police officers. What they have done is nothing short of a criminal act.
- City, State, Country
- Canada
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Colonel SS Rajan
- Comments
- Ransacking of the exhibition and vandalising of the paintings by policemen led by ACP Murali is a despicable act, which ought to be condemned by all freedom loving citizens. Taking ladies into custody, dragging them to Police station and harassing them are the hall marks of Tamil Nadu police, who respect no law and consider it their Dharam to carry out the biddings of their polotical masters, be it the DMK or the AIADMK. What a shame. Stern action must be taken against such way ward Police officials who act beyond the provisions of the Law, which they in fact are supposed to uphold. Such people bring disrepute to the Uniform and tarnish the image of the Police force.
- City, State, Country
- Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Hari Kak
- City, State, Country
- Gurgaoa. 122017. Andia.
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Hasmukh Shah
- Comments
- Secularits and Islamic extremists have fear of truth. Auranzeb is one of the most cruel of all cruel islamic rulers, in fact he can be called the author of Killing Fields where the victims are Hindus
- City, State, Country
- Bradford, United Kingdom
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Deva deva das
- Comments
- The truth will set you free.
- City, State, Country
- Phoenix, AZ
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HINDU JOURNALISTS & HUMAN RIGHTS FEDERATION
- City, State, Country
- India
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abhaya
- City, State, Country
- new delhi
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NaranH
- Comments
- Agree with Petition
- City, State, Country
- London, UK
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Uthistaa B
- Comments
- В
- City, State, Country
- В
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Vikrant Shah
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Dhiru Shah
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Chandrasekaran J
- Comments
- Historical facts cannot be erased...
- City, State, Country
- Chennai, Tamilnadu,India
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sadanjan
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Ben Standard
-
vijay
- Comments
- Uphold Freedom of Speech of Facious Gauiter
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Narain Kataria
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Dr. Sadhak sen
- Comments
- Facts of History can not and must not be supressed. At least the arrangers of exhibition has right to express their views in a democratic society. I strongly support this petition. Jai Bharat.
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Bidyut Sarker
-
Girish Gandhi
- Comments
- Honorable Shri Karunanidhi, you should resign as a chief minister because you cannot protect the inocent Hindus and taking the side of Muslims who are benefited by Government like your and the Congress party. You should be ashemed of yourself.
- City, State, Country
- USA
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Atul C. Shah,MD, U.S.A
- Comments
- I support this petition whole-heartedly.
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Uthistaa
- Comments
- В
- City, State, Country
- В
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A.Sudhan
- Comments
- I agree with the petition.
- City, State, Country
- Chennai, India
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Professor Bal Ram SIngh
- Comments
- I am not sure if a petition would make any dent in hardened opportunists like Indian politicians, but we must nevertheless voice our comdenmation to such a reprehensible act of police brutality against historical exhibit.
- City, State, Country
- Dartmouth, USA
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Vidya Sagar Garg
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Rakesh
- Comments
- Fredom of free speech should be accorded to all
- City, State, Country
- Mumbai, India
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Rekha Tandon
- Comments
- I support the petition
- City, State, Country
- Boca Raton, FL, USA
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Sridhar Pichumani
- Comments
- Police in TN is known for such behaviours. Strict action should be taken against all those who mistreat women. Murali should be taught the consequences of his action.
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Sagar Chandratrey
- Comments
- Please take action against the barbarian
- City, State, Country
- Pune,Maharashtra
-
Anantha Narayanan
- Comments
- 64, bharatheeswarar colony,3 rd streeet
- City, State, Country
- tamilnadu ,chennai
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pirabakaran ponnampalam
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Vaneytha
- Comments
- This is ridicilious and unbelievable....tarnising Tamil Nadu's name..Is it safe for foriegners like us to travel to india??? Big question mark???? Womens becarefull!!!!
- City, State, Country
- Malaysia
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JohnPaulRaj
- Comments
- Accepted
- City, State, Country
- Chennai
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vidhu
- Comments
- All christians are murderers. Christian priests are the biggest terrorists. Christians, muslims, sikhs & jews are similar. Ref.: myspace.com/vidhu2
- City, State, Country
- Chennai
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66
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