Help pours in from intellectuals, saffron brigade for Asansol victims

In two separate developments in Asansol violence, the imam whose son was been killed refused to partake in a peace rally where he was supposed to be felicitated next weel, and the members of the saffron brigade joined hands to help Hindu victims with food, clothes and medicine.

Intellectuals in Kolkata have organised a peace rally on Sunday, April 8 to protest against the violence in Asansol and Raniganj. Organisers of the rally, which has the support of intellectuals, including poet and literary critic Sankha Ghosh, writer Nabamita Deb Sen and poet Mandakranta Sen said they would like to invite Maulana Imdadul Rashidi, imam of Noorani Masjid at Sitla Dangal to participate in the rally. Ghosh, talking to DNA said he had signed the letter of protest against violence but would not be able to walk the rally because of his prior engagement. Deb Sen said she saluted the imam for his views and would try to attend the rally on a wheelchair. Sen had posted a poetry written applauding the imam's views, on Facebook. "What makes him stand out is that in spite of his loss he has urged people to maintain peace, exemplifying self-sacrifice. I will definitely be present at the rally," Sen said.

Imam Rashidi, talking to DNA, however, said that he would leave Asansol only after peace had been restored completely. "I appreciate the gesture of the intellectuals. I have received several phone calls requesting me to be present at the venue on April 8 but I feel that I should first complete the mission I have begun. I have urged people to maintain peace in the locality and unless total peace is restored here, I will not leave Asansol," he told DNA.

On the other hand, members of the saffron brigade along with locals have offered a helping hand to the 300-odd people of Asansol who had been displaced after their homes were razed. "Government had been choosy about whom they extend aid to. So we have decided to help these people who had put up at the New Colony BPL Building. With the help of VHP, ABVP and RSS activists, we have mobilised enough resources to keep them here for over three months and more help is pouring in," said Bipin Kumar Jha, assistant general secretary, RSS, Asansol Nagar.

The victims were being provided with food, shelter, clothes and medicines. A large area in the neighbourhood has been turned into a community kitchen where food is cooked for the homeless. Jha said they were also trying to make arrangements to rebuild the houses that the people had lost as they felt the state government would not extend any relief to them.