Having just finished a two-week Chambal padyatra to
mobilize the farmers against state and national
policies, I have come to learn that the situation in
Gujarat continues to remain grave and serious. We can
no longer avoid action.

Some people have suggested that Ekta Parishad should
respond to this situation, as many other organizations
have in recent days, and see how to make combating
communal violence a major agenda. We see the need to
create more public opinion throughout the country to
pressurize the central government to punish the
perpetrators of violence.

Recently Ekta Parishad in collaboration with Partner’s
Council of India organized a meeting on “Approaches to
Non-Violent Action” in Gwalior in which the Gujarat
situation was discussed. Fifty people from around the
country put together the Gwalior Declaration. It is in
light of this Gwalior declaration that it is time to
act using Gandhian methods.

It has been decided therefore, that a Hinsa roko
padyatra (Halt Violence march) should be called,
involving people from all parts of the country. The
padayatra symbolizes people’s demand for some
political parties to give up their intolerance and
ideology of violence. Although it is one of the most
painfully hot periods of the year, people feel that
their response cannot wait especially in light of the
human rights violations in Gujarat. We are deeply
concerned that the situation in India not decline to a
level as we had during the dark days of Emergency.

This Hinsa roko padyatra will begin in the last week
of May from Gwalior, and traverse to Delhi’s Gandhi
Darshan. It is scheduled to begin on Monday, the 29th
of May and continue until Wednesday, the 8th of June.
It will cover about 300 kilometers through five states
including MP, Rajasthan, UP, Haryana and Delhi.

Let us join hands to make this Hinsa Roko Padyatra a
success by putting a halt to all kinds of violence.

We will look forward to meeting you in Gwalior on the
29th May morning. Or you can join at any point along
the way. The route chart will be posted on
www.ekta-parishad.org

In solidarity,

P.V. Rajgopal