'Elgar Parishad 2021' organizers extend solidarity to student leader Sharjeel Usmani
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Mumbai: Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerna Abhiyan, an organizing body of 'Elgar Parishad 2021' on Saturday released a statement, extending solidarity to former AMU student leader Sharjeel Usmani. On 2nd February, Pune police had booked Usmani for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups in a speech at Elgar Parishad conclave.
Later, on Thursday, Lucknow police also registered a case against Usmani under sedition charges for the same cause. The second edition of Elgar Parishad was held on January 30 at Pune's Ganesh Kala Krida Manch with strict policy security.
Following registration of FIR against him, one of the main organizers of the event comes forward to extend their support to him. Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerna Abhiyan urged people "to see the entire speech of Sharjeel". They claimed that the action was taken against him only because of his 'Muslim' identity.
In the statement, organizers mentioned about "what exactly he says" during the 26-minute-long speech. Organizers also alleged that false charges of inciting violence have charged against him during NRC-CAA-NPR protests.
They said that the "brahminical organizations cherry-picked a tiny bit which is not even 10 seconds from Sharjeel's speech to spread hatred. By highlighting that, they have systematically hidden the "truths and facts" that he addressed during his speech."
Organizers claimed that Hindu groups have intentionally diverted the core meaning of the ideas he shared. In the statement, they have also pointed out how social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, B R Ambedkar criticized the "structure of Hindu religion".
To understand why Sharjeel said "Hindu society is rotten", it is important to examine what he said before and after making the statement and the entire context of his speech", the solidarity statement reads.
They also alleged that Sharjeel's statement referred to such collective apathy towards lynching of the minorities and those who instigate it.