104 former IAS officers wrote a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath against the recently passed anti-conversion ordinance. The letter is undersigned by the officers including former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and former Adviser to the Prime Minister TKA Nair.
The letter was released on Tuesday. “Anti-conversion ordinance has transformed the state into the epicentre of politics of hate, division and bigotry” the letter reads, further “illegal ordinance be withdrawn forthwith.” The signatories also said all politicians, including the Chief Minister, need to “re-educate yourselves about the Constitution which you… have sworn to uphold”.
The letter states that “… UP, once known as the cradle of the Ganga-Jamuna civilisation, has become the epicentre of the politics of hate, division and bigotry, and institutions of governance are now steeped in communal poison.”
“… a series of heinous atrocities committed by your administration against young Indians across Uttar Pradesh… Indians who are simply seeking to live their lives as free citizens of a free country.”
The letter pointed out about many incidents in which minorites were targeted in the state.
“What is inexcusable is the police remained mute as vigilantes harassed and interrogated the innocent couple. (The woman) suffered a miscarriage, possibly as a result of harassment,” the letter said.
“These atrocities, regardless of indignation of Indians devoted to rule of law, continue unabated. The anti-conversion ordinance… is being used as a stick to victimise especially those Indian men who are Muslim and women who dare to exercise their freedom of choice,” they claimed.
“…various High Courts, including the Allahabad High Court, have ruled unequivocally that choosing one’s life partner is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, the state of UP is blithely undermining that very Constitution,” the signatories asserted.
