Citizens for Justice and Peace
The Curious Case of Milind Ekbote Prime accused in the attack on Dalits in Bhima Koregaon has a history of inciting violence
29-Aug-2018
The name of Milind Ramakant Ekbote surfaced once again after a period of relative silence—17 years to be precise– on January 1, 2018 when the violence unleashed against peaceful Dalits assembled at Bhima Koregaon to commemorate 200 years of the battle, was reportedly provoked by the machinations of extremists of the Hindutva brigade. An FIR…
Bengali Hindu labeled “Bangladeshi”, found dead in Assam Detention Camp 39 year old dies under mysterious circumstances after being remanded to Goalpara camp
29-May-2018
A Bengali Hindu, mysteriously breathed his last at a Detention Camp at Goalpara in Assam. 39 year old Subrata Dey was found dead at the camp where he was lodged after being declared an illegal Bangladeshi intruder by a Foreigners’ Tribunal. The incident has come to light at a time when the ruling BJP Government,…
Babasaheb Ambedkar: A Man Far Ahead of His Times Human Rights Defender Profile
14-Apr-2018
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 127 years ago. Here is a brief look at the life and work of the man who grew up to be an eminent jurist, economist, social reformer, and is widely considered to be the Father of India’s Constitution. Early life Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891…
दलितों की दशा और देश की दिशा भीम आर्मी के विनय रतन से तीस्ता सेतलवाड की बातचीत
09-Apr-2018
देश के कोने कोने में आज भी दलितों पर अत्याचार हो रहा है. उनकी आवाज़ को दबाए रखने की कोशिश में उनके नेताओं को जेल में कैद किया जा रहा है. उत्तर प्रदेश में युवा दलित नेता चंद्रशेखर आज़ाद उर्फ़ रावण को जून २०१७ में सहारनपुर में दंगे भड़काने के जुर्म में गिरफ़्तार किया गया…
Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ on Hunger Strike in Prison Protesting false cases on Dalits after Bharat Bandh
09-Apr-2018
Dalit Rights Activist Chandrashekhar Azaad “Ravan” has started a staggered hunger strike at Saharanpur District Jail demanding amnesty for those facing cases for participating in Bharat Bandh, an all India strike of Dalit and progressive groups on April 2, 2018. Azad, who has been incarcerated since June 2017 on seemingly fabricated criminal cases as well as under…
Who was Periyar? Human Rights Defender Profile
06-Mar-2018
Erode Venkata Ramasamy, popularly known as ‘Periyar’, was a social reformer who advocated equal rights for people of all castes, economic backgrounds and genders. He is best known for starting the Self Respect movement and founding the Dravidar Kazhagam. Born in Erode village in Coimbatore district on September 17, 1879, he spoke Tamil, Telugu…
Will not compromise on principles, will prefer death: Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ Human Rights Defender Profile
16-Feb-2018
Chandrashekhar Azad is a prominent Dalit rights activist who has been wrongfully incarcerated since June 2017. He took on the popular moniker ‘Ravan’ as an act of defiance against accepted social order that rewards upper caste Hindu god-fearing men over all others. Over the last few years he has become a force to reckon with…
Investigate Inciteful Social Media Posts about ‘Forced Conversions’ of Dalits CJP moves NHRC over tensions brewing in Gautam Nagar, Amroha UP
08-Feb-2018
Posts on social media and local newspaper reports allege a conspiracy to change the name of the area from Gautam Nagar to Islam Nagar, stoking and provoking a Dalit-Muslim divide. This has a potential to flame up intra community passions. The truth behind these allegations needs to be addressed dispassionately and CJP has approached the…
CJP Stands with Dalits Join our campaign to stop the unlawful targeting of Dalits
21-Jan-2018
Citizens for Justice and Peace stands with the Dalits of Maharashtra. CJP has met the Commissioner of Police along with other groups to demand an immediate halt to combing operations all over Maharashtra. We are also preparing a legal intervention in the Bombay High Court against this crackdown. Join us in our campaign.
Hostile State Machinery Targets Dalits in Maharashtra People Fight Back as Combing Operations and Illegal Detentions intensify
20-Jan-2018
Following the attack on Dalits gathered at Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018 and the subsequent statewide ‘bandh’, there has been a spurt in combing operations where police raid Dalit bastis, search homes and round up men, often youngsters. Activists say thousands of people have been illegally detained in this manner and are currently languishing in…
I will not rest until Rohith gets justice: Radhika Vemula An emerging leader and inspirational human rights defender
17-Jan-2018
((This piece was first published on January 17, 2018 on the second death anniversary of Rohith Vemula. It is being republished today on his birth anniversary.)) It has been two years since Radhika Vemula’s son Rohith, a PhD student of Hyderabad University, committed suicide… an act that has been called an ‘institutional murder’ because of…
The Battle of Bhima Koregaon – An Unending Journey
04-Jan-2018
Somnath Waghmare’s celebrated film Bhima Koregaon, the Unending Journey, tells the many stories around the legend of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. Its relevance can be gauged by the fact that even 200 years after the battle, right wing forces are violently protesting the celebrations. Special thanks to Somnath Waghmare and Pedestrian Pictures.
Day of Reckoning Jignesh Mevani's historic win
21-Dec-2017
Only a few moments in Indian history have had the power to unite voices across the spectrum of class, caste, religion, language and more. Some individuals become the manifestation of these moments and spread their exuberance around like star-dust. Today is a day of mixed emotions. Today is the day when Jignesh Mevani has won from the Vadgam constituency in Gujarat…
The Elephant in the Room Caste in Law Schools
20-Dec-2017
This article, published in Sabrang India is being reproduced here today, the day Justice Karnan has been released after serving a six month jail term in Kolkata. The Supreme Court first delivered the judgement dishing our serious contempt of court charges against a fellow judge in May 2017. This judgement may be read here. Before that,…