Greetings and Hope on Eid, Lohri, Bihu, Pongal and Sankranti

Today it is Eid, Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Pongal and Lohri. It seems that the whole country is celebrating. We think that today, we should not only celebrate these festivals but this joy and beauty of incredible diversity that we are blessed with. 

Wising you all...

ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀ ਵਧਾਯਾਨ , Happy মাঘ বিহু , இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் , عید مبارک , संक्रांति की हार्दिक शुब्कामनाएँ

An open letter to Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of U.P. (India)

Dear Sh. Akhilesh Yadav,

We are writing this letter to you as a common citizen of this country. Our country is famous for its values, for its belief in unity in diversity and harmonious bonds among people. It is widely held that we still value people to people bonds more than anything else.

As a member of society, we remember that how we become affected with the incidents in our neighborhood. We understand that we, in fact, live a social life as a major portion and individual life as a minor portion of our total time. We remember that how a death in our neighborhood involve us all in a deep pain. 

We also think that these sentiments of empathy and humanity may not be tied to a specific country or culture. We think they are universal ideals. But it seems that you who belong to a family that is deeply involved with grassroot politics and has a strong hold in Uttar Pradesh, you who has done politics in the name of ‘socialism’ that aims for the upliftment of the poor and the marginalised and so was expected to realise and uphold the similarity between you and an ordinary person does not feel so. 

This was why you laughed and danced at the time when your neighborhood was mourning in a deep pain. You were arranging five star rooms when your neighborhood was getting a bulldozer over its camp homes made of plastic. You were warm enough to ignore the cold trembling of poor children, women and men in open fields in your neighborhood. When you were trying to put your place in high beam of flash lights, you did not see how many in your neighborhood are forced to have a dark present and probably future. Sadly, when you welcomed celebrities and ministers and greeted them with a warm hug, you never thought about the tearful eyes of mothers in your neighborhood.

We condemn this apathetic and unacceptable behaviour by you and your party. We do not feel that it was really necessary and important to organize Saifai mahotsav this year and to spend crores of rupees over that. We do not feel that all your acts were justified and needed for a harmonious society. It was neither in favor of people at large, nor for a politics of ‘socialism’ and never for the victims of your neighborhood- victims of Muzaffarnagar riots.

We take the cognizance of your act. We, as a citizen, condemn this act of yours and your party. We believe that any person of any civilized society, a person with moral values and a person who considers everyone equal, who favors harmony and togetherness over hate and isolation, would have never behaved in this manner. 

Dear Akhilesh Yadav, you must review your acts and after realisation, you must come before people and apologize for your acts. You, as a citizen, must assure them that you are with them in all conditions. You, as a chief minister, must attend to their adequate facilities and rehabilitation in proper way. We believe that it will be in favor of humanity, equality and justice.

By:
Ravi Nitesh
on behalf of 
Mission Bhartiyam, an organization , working for Peace & Communal Harmony, Human Rights & Environment 

Mission Bhartiyam wrote letter to SP, Kanchipuram, to take action against child labour

PRESS STATEMENT 

MISSION BHARTIYAM WROTE LETTER TO SP, KANCHIPURAM, TAMIL NADU TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST CHILD LABOUR


Tamil Nadu coordinator of Mission Bhartiyam, Mr. Mithilesh Pande recently wrote a letter to the Superintendent of Police with a copy to Asst Labour Commissioner, kanchipuram district about child labor in Chowki Dhani restaurant at Thandlam village of Kanchipuram district.  

In his visit to this restaurant, which is well-known for its Rajasthani food and theme-based presentations, Mithilesh Pande found several things unethical and illegal. He inquired and found that the children who are working there are very young and are not going to school. These children are involved in almost all works. In his letter, he has requested the Superintendent of Police and the Asst. Labour Commissioner to inquire at their own level.

Mithlesh Pande in his appeal argued “The Government has introduced rules for citizens; people write the rules on boards for others not for themselves. This has been seen in a Famous restaurant named “Chowki Dhani" where you see children working in the entire premises starting from the welcome drinks to Rajasthani foods, from cart ride to playing on ropes etc. We assume that branded/big restaurants will follow all the rules to compile the conditions strictly but I inquired from one of the children about his education and was shocked to hear that he is not going to school. I discovered this was the case for all the children there. I felt terrible. These children are working there for survival and they don’t have an option to come out from this condition. This reputed restaurant has been visited by many eminent persons, officials as well but probably no one thought about them.”

He further requested to the general public who are visiting there to atleast fill the feedback form available with the remarks about children’s employment and to appeal them to stop it. 

Photo attached: A child on rope at Chowki Dhani Restaurant in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu