11 Days Hunger Strike to withdraw Orissa “Bandh”
The communal spat erupted in Orissa in 2008 was a big blow to the secular credentials of India. Rajeev Joseph, an advocate of world peace and disarmament from the very early ages hurt by the untoward developments in Orissa. To express the dissent over VHP’s call for a ‘Bandh’ on Christmas Day in Orissa, he started a ‘Hunger strike until success or death’ at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 10th December 2008, International Human Rights Day. During the strike period Rajeev Joseph and his associates sent faxes to the offices of President of India, Prime Minister of India, Home Minister, Opposition Leaders in Parliament, Chief Minister of Orissa and VHP Leaders every day demanding to persuade VHP and Bajrang Dal to withdraw “Bandh’ calling. Representatives of civil society organizations, human rights organizations, peace activists, academicians, Delhi Malayalee Association, Members of World Council of Arya Samaj founded by Swami Agnivesh, Political leaders and Parliamentarians visited the strike venue and offered their support. He successfully ended the hunger strike on 11th day on the withdrawal of ‘Bandh’ calling by VHP on 20th December 2008. Withdrawal of the ‘Bandh’ averted large scale human causalities and safe guarded nation’s secular credentials. After ending his hunger strike Rajeev Joseph applauded the VHP leaders for their broadminded attitude to sense the sentiments of the minorities in Orissa.
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