MANS activists launch nationwide campaign in Delhi

Pune: The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti on Wednesday launched a nationwide campaign — ‘Against Violence, Towards Humanity' — in New Delhi to draw the government's attention towards the delay in probing the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi.
"It's almost three years since Dabholkar's murder. Govind Pansare and Kalburgi were killed in a similar manner, but there is no major breakthrough in any of the cases," said Hamid Dabholkar while speaking to TOI from Jantar Mantar, where the campaign was launched.
Hamid said, "The campaign will be held in 10 states. It is being organised with like-minded organisations like Indian rationalists' association. We will spread the message that violence is not an answer to any problem." Protests have also been planned in various cities in Maharashtra till August 30.
"Even after so much time, investigations in the three cases have not reached any where," said Avinash Patil of the Samiti. MANS activists have requested leaders of various political parties to raise the issue in Parliament.
In Pune, the campaign was led by Mukta Dabholkar and noted film director Nagraj Manjule. MANS members and other activists gathered at the spot on Balgandharva bridge where Dabholkar was shot dead in 2013.
"We have been protesting within the framework of Indian Constitution and we demand immediate arrest of those who are behind the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi," said Mukta.
While Dabholkar was murdered in Pune on August 20, 2013, Pansare was shot at in Kolhapur on February 16, 2015. He died on February 20. Kalburgi was killed in Dharwad on August 30, 2015.
Eom/rj