Singhu Border, 11 May (Sangrami Lehar Bureao)- All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) National Working Group reviewed the incidents at Tikri border relating to the sexual assault on a young activist, her illness and death and matters relating to it. AIKSCC reiterates its strong condemnation of the entire and expresses its deepest commitment to ensure safety of all women protesters participating in the movement with zero tolerance on sexual harassment.
AIKSCC expresses its satisfaction that an FIR has been registered in the matter on the basis of the complaint filed by grieving father of the victim from which it appears that she was forcefully confined, kidnapped, blackmailed, threatened and repressed, apart from being raped. AIKSCC demands that based on the FIR, all aspects should be enquired into by the concerned authority and those found guilty should be given the strictest punishment.
AlKSCC has set up a Mahila Suraksha Committee to look into all gender related crimes and to protect the rights of women in all its functioning and gatherings including the ongoing farmers’ movement and the incident at Tikri. The Committee shall further take steps to prevent any such incident in future and look into all complaints and enforce all steps to ensure safety, security and dignity of women participants at the dharna sites and all recommendations of the Committee shall be implemented immediately. The Committee shall work in close coordination and collaboration with any such forum formed by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
Members of the Mahila Suraksha Committee are:
(1) Medha Patkar – President
(2) Pratibha Shinde
(3) Brinda Karat
(4) Amarjeet Kaur
(5) Kavita Krishnan
(6) Ritu Kaushik
(7) Poonam Kaushik
(8) Annie Raja
AIKSCC stands for all-out efforts being put in by Samyukt Kisan Morcha in fully investigating all the details pertaining to this case. Steps shall also be taken by AIKSCC to address all the health issues, including Covid health issues of the participants, particularly for women.
Lacs of women have been participating in our Delhi farmers’ protests now on for last 6 months. They have played a heroic role and shall continue to be the most important pillar in its success to achieve repeal of 3 laws and a legal guarantee for MSP of all crops. They have braved state repression, media defamation and patriarchal hurdles to assert their right to protest. For AIKSCC, full and prompt justice in the present instance, and setting up of systems that will prevent recurrences is of utmost importance.
AIKSCC realises with all humility that such misconducts towards women and gender violence are present in our society and they can continue to find space within movements. Hence AIKSCC commits itself to build systems for sustained gender sensitization against patriarchal bias and put an end to sexual harassment within organizations and movements. Women have to be able to participate and lead the farmers in large numbers and it is AIKSCC’s duty to ensure this.
AIKSCC shall remain vigilant against all forces which may try to utilize this incident to bring dishonour to the ongoing farmers movement, the AIKSCC and the SKM.
AIKSCC deeply mourns the passing away of a committed, passionate and enthusiastic young woman supporter of the farmers’ movement, after suffering great injustice and trauma and stands strongly with the family of the young girl.
AIKSCC urges the Govt of Haryana to step up the pace of investigation and prosecution.