Convenor of a youth organisation in Jharkhand denounces the CWG as a 'shameful act' and plans to register his protest by drowning the Games' symbol
Convenor of a youth organisation in Jharkhand denounces the CWG as a 'shameful act' and plans to register his protest by drowning the Games' symbol
While the administration in the Capital is digging deep to make the Commonwealth Games a success, an
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| Heads up: Binay Singh has always courted contoversy |
unexpected threat has emerged. A group of protestors in Jharkhand have decided to express their disapproval of the 'shameful' event by hijacking the Queen's Baton.
The Baton had travelled nearly 177,000 km, covering about 70 Commonwealth countries, before it arrived from Pakistan to India (through the Wagah border) on June 25 for the Games scheduled for Oct 3-14 in Delhi.u00a0 As part of the 100-day national circuit, the Baton, weighing 1,900 gram, is now on tour across all states and union territories of India to connect with the maximum number of sportspersons and people.
On August 4 the Baton will begin its journey from Asansol in West Bengal towards Dhanbad in Jharkhand and preparations are on to give it a thorough welcome. But on Sunday a group of student leaders and social activists held public meetings and gatherings to protest the presence of the Queen's Baton in the country.
The protestors who are being led by Binay Singh, convenor of Yuva Dal, a youth organisation, are also planning to capture the Baton before it reaches Dhanbad. "This is a shameful event which shows that we still have not come out of our colonial mindset. By agreeing to organise the Games in our country we have again accepted our slave mentality towards the British government," Binay said while speaking to MiD DAY over the phone.
Binay Singh who is associated with the newly formed outfit of Babulal Marandi - the former Jharkhand Chief Minister - is known for his innovative methods of protests. Two years ago he had gathered headlines in national dailies after he denounced the paintings of M F Hussein in Delhi while protesting against the latter's nude portrayals of Hindu gods and goddesses. Soon after, he broke into the Delhi office of then Samjawadi Party leader Amar Singh while protesting against his remarks on Inspector M C Sharma who died during the Batla House encounter in the Capital.
But his 'crowning glory' remains the incident when he spit on professor S A R Geelani - who was accused and later acquitted in the Parliament attack case - in full public glare. He was protesting against Geelani's public meetings which questioned the anti-terrorist operations in Delhi. He also organised a public auction of the slipper which was thrown at writer and activist Arundhati Roy by a student of the Delhi University (DU).
Binay is planning to mobilise school and college students including 'professionals from all spheres' to organise a successful protest under the banner of Yuva Dal headed by him. "Earlier people had intended to welcome the Baton but after we told them the reality of the Commonwealth Games and how they reflect the colonial identity of the member nations, people are becoming hostile. As a citizen of this country which had heroes like Bhagat Singh and Ashfaqullah I am duty bound to inform the youngsters about the murky reality of word 'Commonwealth' and I am doing that," he said.
Promising a protest with at least 500 people on the route of the Queen's Baton Relay between Asansol and Dhanbad, Binay is planning for all eventualities. "I am preparing to seize the Baton and throw it into the Damodar river. I want my message to reach Queen Elizabeth II so that she gets to know that we are independent, forever," he emphasised.
But how is he planning to deal with the massive security to be deployed by the state government? "Even if Queen Elizabeth II sends her British troops we would still go ahead with our demonstration. I have never been against clinical violence and we are prepared for all eventualities," said the 30-year-old who was once associated with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
He also reacted sharply to the fact that the Queen herself is giving the events in Delhi a miss by citing her age. "By deciding not to attend the Games here in India the Queen has further made it clear how seriously she and her government treat India. She has decided to send one of her servants but now we want to make one thing very evident to the British that India is an independent nation and we know how to protect our independent identity," he said while terming the word 'Commonwealth' a slang invented by the British to use as an abuse for the nations once ruled by it.
He also expressed surprise at the way all political parties have welcomed the Baton and CWG. "It's a matter of great shame and surprise that the Left parties which slam imperialism and the Rightists who promise nationalism have accepted colonialism and the imperialistic symbol of the British by welcoming the Baton and the Commonwealth Games," he concluded.
| SPITTING IMAGE |
| A group of ABVP activists went on a rampage at Delhi University on November 6, 2008, vandalising the venue of a seminar in protest against presence of S A R Geelani, acquitted in the Parliament attack case, and spat on him. Around 50 youths damaged property and hurled abuses on Geelani at the seminar on 'Communalism, Fascism and Democracy Rhetoric and Reality' which affected the programme briefly. Shouting slogans, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram', the student activists indulged in violence at the venue for about an hour even as over a dozen policemen present there remained mute spectators. Trouble started just after Geelani reached the venue. Binay Singh went up to the dais and spat on Geelani's face twice, saying 'shame, shame'. The ABVP activists then went on damaging the windows, doors, chairs and the microphone to disrupt the meeting. However, the meeting continued despite the disturbance created at the venue. |
