Blog 31 | HEaL Institute & IJME | April 26, 2022
Condemning the increasing communalism and casteism in Karnataka under the BJP regime
We, the undersigned, write this open letter with tremendous concern about the growing state -led and state- sponsored targeted violence and discrimination against Muslim, Christian and Dalit communities in Karnataka that can have several long lasting and adverse consequences, particularly on the most marginalised and vulnerable. The judiciary, media, police and bureaucracy are complicit in this violence and discrimination.
Thousands of bright, young Muslim women have been subjected to daily harassment on the pretext of the hijab that has become a tool to deny education by not allowing them into educational institutions, refusing permission to attend exams and not even offering online classes. Indeed, other than Muslim students, Muslim teachers too have been sacked from their jobs in complete misapplication of the Karnataka High Court’s questionable judgment that awaits a Supreme Court imprimatur.
This concocted hijab issue has now spiralled from the colleges onto the street making any hijab- wearing Muslim woman vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, public humiliation and denial of access into public spaces.
Karnataka has also witnessed vicious public campaigns to boycott Muslim businesses, instigated by sitting ministers and led by Hindutva groups, with blanket impunity from the authorities. Muslim traders have had their stalls attacked at fairs and festivals. There is a call to boycott Muslim drivers and tour operators. There is also a call for what has been called “fruit jihad” – boycotting Muslim fruit sellers as well as halal meat and seeking a ban on the Azaan. This, with regressive laws like cattle slaughter ban is pushing Muslim and Dalit communities into economic destitution. Targeting livelihood through the age -old casteist methods of social and economic boycott is in conflict with the Constitutional principles as embodied in Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution and is also violative of Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution for being arbitrary and discriminatory.
As part of the steep rise in attacks against Muslims, the Ram Navami festival offered another opportunity to launch militant marches by Hindutva groups in several areas, with swords and trishuls, blaring provocative music and slogans outside mosques and in Muslim dominated areas, during the holy month of Ramzan and at the time of breaking of the daily fast, often in the presence of the local police. This had an all-India character and Karnataka was one of the states chosen for this display of toxic machismo. It is not surprising that riots erupted in so many states – as they were indeed meant to. In a completely illegal and unprecedented move, the Madhya Pradesh government has egregiously demolished the residences of the alleged rioters, predominantly Muslim households.
The Muslim community across the country has been targeted by the state machinery and there has been very little recourse to police support, honest media reporting or judicial oversight. This in effect, makes the community extremely vulnerable, visible in the everyday humiliation and efforts to subjugate the community. Even seemingly innocuous activities or cultural practices are being given dangerous tints that lead to ‘othering’. Othering a community has devastating consequences and is a concerning step towards genocide. We have terrible examples from history to prove this .
The community was not even spared during the Covid pandemic and the targeting that they were subjected to led them to real life consequences in terms of their mental health, livelihood, income, access to healthcare etc. A textbook that attributed the Covid pandemic to Muslim community had to be withdrawn following public outrage.
As part of the anti-minority agenda of the fascist Hindu agenda, even the Christian community in Karnataka has been targeted by the state machinery. The anti-conversion law that was planned and is being considered to be brought in as an ordinance attempts to criminalise people’s choice of religion which is protected under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. The expected consequence of this is that Christians praying peacefully in their private spaces have been subjected to threats and physical violence. Pastors have been attacked and Christian prayer areas have been vandalised. This law, which has been brought in or amended to make it more rigorous in multiple states, also seeks to criminalise inter-faith marriages of choice by adult citizens, especially where the husband is Muslim. Even as constitutional challenges to the law are pending before various High Courts, the law has given impetus to local goons to intimidate, attack and separate couples marrying outside their community and has also resulted in the filing of several false and fabricated cases by the police.
While communalism is escalating in the state, age old caste practices continue to be maintained and aggravated under the current regime. One the one hand, caste atrocities in the state are on the rise and on the other hand, basic entitlements such as the Post-matric scholarship are being delayed.
Karnataka has also seen a sharp rise in the number of atrocities against the communities belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled TribesIn Dec 2021, a group of Dalits were beaten up by caste Hindus for entering a temple in KR Pete. Mr Chandru and his son Mr. Nitin were attacked for operating a sugar cane stall in February 2022. In March 2022, a Dalit woman ,Daneshwar,i was fatally burnt by her dominant caste boyfriend, while Mr. Sunil Kumar a Dalit youth was beatenup for the ‘crime’ of ‘staring’ at caste Hindus in April 2022 in the capital ‘smart-city’ Bengaluru.
These are some of the incidents that have made their entry into the public domain, but most cases are largely unreported or pushed off the radar by a combination of threat, coercion and allurement. Between March 2020 and March 2021, there were 2327 cases registered, which is a spike of 54% over the previous year. In fact , Karnataka’s conviction rate is also very low. In 2017, it was reported that the conviction rate was 2.7 per cent, in 2020 it was reported that is a mere 0.4 per cent.
While the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes) Act 1989 was enacted to punish caste discrimination and atrocities against members of the Dalit and Adivasi communities, this is not available to most affected members of the Dalit community. At the very least, following complaints of a caste atrocity, FIRs would need to be filed and criminal proceedings initiated. Justice has to be ensured for targeted individuals.
The Post-matric scholarship scheme for Dalit students, started in 1944-45 by the then British Government on the insistence of Dr. B R Ambedkar and available to Dalit students pursuing post-matric courses and whose parents/guardians annual income does not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakhs, is a centrally sponsored scheme. The disbursement of scholarship amount has been plagued by serious delays in Karnataka causing extreme financial burden on the students and may even force them to drop out, thus undermining the primary purpose of the scheme.
The post matric scholarship for Dalit students needs to be urgently streamlined and monitored to ensure that students do no fall through the social safety net. The state government has to take proactive measures to ensure that no student eligible for the scholarship is left out for bureaucratic reasons. This information should be put out in the public domain and be open to public scrutiny.
While all these incidents, events and behaviours can be seen as isolated events and ‘not really a major problem” the fact is that this culture of discrimination along with impunity offered to the offenders leads to exclusion, ghettoization, denial of essential services etc. Individuals, especially those who are more vulnerable and from oppressed communities face the brunt of this, leading to adverse effects on their mental health. The Covid-19 pandemic and aggressive lockdown has already had a serious mental health impact which the state hasn’t even considered documenting, leave alone addressing. This is over and above the other communicable, non-communicable and reproductive health issues that were not addressed during the pandemic. Instead the state is finding new and creative ways to further subjugate vulnerable communities.
The government of Karnataka is primary responsible to prevent and address these forms of untouchability, targeted harassment and discrimination against vulnerable communities in the state. If the government itself has become an enabler of these social vices, then the country is hurtling towards disaster. The police need to be pulled up for failing to file FIRs, offer protection to the victims and witnesses and instead becoming middle men of the right wing aggression. The media needs to be held accountable for making already vulnerable communities even more likely to face attacks on their livelihood, dignity, homes and lives.
The government of Karnataka is an elected representative of the state and needs to take cognisance of multiple needs of the people of the state. As a group of concerned individuals and progressive organisations, we demand that the social determinants of health such as employment, education, food, water, sanitation, nutrition be addressed on priority. The state has to act against hate speeches and the vicious calls for violence as well as social and economic boycotts. The courts in the state have to take suo moto cognisance of the misinformation and false stories against communities that aggravate their risk of being subjected to violence and discrimination. This includes social media and other media platforms.
We condemn this growing communal and caste violence in Karnataka and call upon all concerned individuals and organisations with a conscience not to keep silent. There needs to be resolute condemnation by larger national and international groups from the mental health/public health and social justice movements. Communalism and casteism are as much a public health crisis as the Covid pandemic and can spread just as virulently. They need as serious an intervention as any other public health crisis.
The Kannada version by Bahutva Karnataka can be found here
List of Endorsers:
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- Zubera Tahseen– Concerned citizen
- Zoya N Fatehally Retired Engineer
- Zohra– Concerned citizen
- Zoheb Khan, Islamic Information Centre
- Yogender Tyagi– Concerned citizen
- Yezdani – Private Company
- Yasmin Iqbal – Home maker
- Yaseen– Concerned citizen
- William Stanley-Orissa Development Action Forum
- Wasiq Rafeeq– Concerned citizen
- Vivek D’souza Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)
- Vishwanath Nagarajarao – Concerned citizen
- Vishal Onkar- Swaraj India
- Virginia Saldanha – Concerned citizen
- Vinay Sreenivasa – Advocate
- Vijay Kumar – Retired visiting professor, IIM, Bangalore
- Vijay– Concerned citizen
- Vidya Dinker – Indian Social Action Forum
- Victor Fernandes- Headstreams
- Venkat Srinivasan- Consultant
- Venita Kaul– Concerned citizen
- Veena Shatrugna-Independent Medical Scientist (Rtd)
- Veena Lobo-Deepalaya Social Service Centre Indi.
- Vasant Ramaswamy- CareCentra
- Varsha S- Independent scientist
- Vandana Prasad- Public Health Resource Network
- Valentine-Holy cross Home for the aged
- Uma – Private practice
- Tiba Kouser- New Oxford English school
- Thasneem- Public sector
- Thaseen Fathima- Teacher
- Teyol Machado Center for Non Formal Education (CNFE), Bijapur
- Teesta Setalvad – Citizens for Justice and Peace
- Tasneem Farzana – Jamaath islami hind
- Tara M Rai-Democracy Collective
- Tanzeem Naqvi- Student
- Tanvi- Campaign Against Racism
- Talib Sadikali Tinwala – Concerned citizen
- Talha Ansri- IIT Bombay
- Tajamul Hussain Shaikh– Concerned citizen
- Tabrez pasha – No Broker org
- Syeda Hajeera Iqbal- Forward Trust
- Syeda Asma – Concerned citizen
- Syed Zahirulla- Social worker
- Syed Tousif Masood- Bahutva Karnataka
- Syed Salman- Masjid One Movement
- Syed Haseeb– Concerned citizen
- Sweta Dash – Concerned citizen
- Swatija FAOW
- Swati Narayan – Academic and Social Activist, Bengaluru
- Swathi Shivanand- Independent researcher
- Swarna Bhat- Social Activist
- Sushmita – Soliya
- Susan Joseph- Navachaitanya
- Suresh S – Concerned citizen
- Suresh A– Concerned citizen
- Surabhi – Self employed
- Supratik Chakraborty– Concerned citizen
- Supraja – St. Joseph’s College of Law
- Sunita Sheel – Forum for Medical Ethics Society
- Sunidhi – Concerned citizen
- Sumithra S– Concerned citizen
- Sulakshana Nandi – Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Chhattisgarh
- Sulaika – Concerned citizen
- Sujit Patwardhan- Parisar
- Sujata Jena – National Lawyers’ Forum
- Sufi Roshan– Concerned citizen
- S – Concerned citizen
- Sudha N Researcher & Activist
- Stanley Samuel- Self employed
- Srinivasan G – AID india
- Shanthi- Roshni Trust
- Helen-Congregation of our Lady of the missions
- Francina-Nava Jeevana Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled
- Amrita -Ekka
- Spoorthi- Cotha –
- Soni A– Concerned citizen
- Somnath Seal – HPE
- Somak Adhikari- Times Group
- Siddiqui Heena – Teacher
- Siddhartha K S S – Azim Premji University
- Siddhartha Das – Health activist
- Siddharth Narrain-PhD candidate , UNSW, Sydney
- Siddharth K J – Independent Researcher, Bengaluru
- Shrabonti Bagchi-Journalist
- Shobha Rani-Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
- Shobha- Seva Sadan
- Shiva Shankar – IIT Bombay
- Shiraz Iqbal– Concerned citizen
- Sherry Mukkada – Elak estate
- Shashank SR – People’s Union for Civil Liberties
- Shama Angelina Chatterjee- Indian Christian Women Movement (ICWM)
- Shalom Gauri, Collective
- Shakun Doundiyakhed – Concerned Individual
- Shah Nawaz– Concerned citizen
- SG Vasudev, artist
- Sevrin Desa Teacher
- Senthil- AC3
- Seema Koshy – Atelier
- Satyavrat KK- General Secretary – Karnataka, AIITEU (All India IT and ITes union)
- Sarosh Kuruvilla- Professor
- Sarojini N- Independent Researcher
- Sarika Nair Concerned citizen
- Saranya Narayan– Concerned citizen
- Saqlain Mohamed – Sapthagiri hospital
- Sapana Rawat– Concerned citizen
- Santhosh-Loyola Vikasa Kendra
- Santana Pereira- Eusebia Welfare Centre, Pune
- Sannidhi- KSEB
- Sandhya Srinivasan-Indian journal of medical ethics
- Sanaaulla – Concerned citizen
- Sana Fatima- NGO
- Samji – FMCG
- Samir Kumar Dass – Jharkhand Science Forum
- Samina Banu- FORWARD TRUST
- Sami Syed – Concerned citizen
- Sameeda– Concerned citizen
- Salim Yusuf– Concerned citizen
- Saleha- Trainer
- Sakina- Straw board Mills Ratlam
- Sajida Begum- House wife
- Saifi Akbarali Chulawala – We Speak Out
- Sagar Ramteke- JRF @IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- Safi Ahmed– Concerned citizen
- Sachidanand Sinha- JNU
- Sachi Hegde – AISA
- Sabyasachi Chatterjee – AIPSN
- Saba Ali – Jain university
- Srinivasan LOCOST, Vadodara
- Nirmal Chandran– Concerned citizen
- S Parveen– Concerned citizen
- S M Durairaj – GGDSD college
- Ruth Manorama- Women’s Voice, Karnataka.
- Rumi Harish– Concerned citizen
- Rosaline Pereira- Auxilium Skills Academy
- Roopa Shanbhag – Concerned Individual
- Riz Syed- Environmental Consultant
- Ritash (aka Pushpa)- Women against Sexual Violence & State Repression (WSS)
- Richa- Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Delhi
- Rekha Kumari – Holy Cross Institute, Gubbi Cross , Kothanur,
- Reha Sharma – Azim Premji University
- Reena Dsouza- KDWU Gulbarga
- Rebekka Ninan– Concerned citizen
- Ravi Duggal- Public Health Researcher and Activist
- Rashida– Concerned citizen
- Rameeza Shaikh- Muslim Women Study Circle
- Ramdas Rao – PUCL
- RAMAN VR- Public Health Practitioner
- Ram Puniyani-National Solidarity Forum
- Rakshita– Concerned citizen
- Rajshree- All India IT n ITES
- Rajluxmi Vaish– Concerned citizen
- Rajesh M Concerned Citizen living in Karnataka
- Rajendran Narayanan– Concerned citizen
- Rahima Banu – House wife
- Raheel– Concerned citizen
- Raghunath J- Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
- Govinda – Council for Social Development
- R A Janab- Karnataka peace organization
- Pushpa S- Activist/ Swaraj Abhiyan
- Mohan Rao- Independent public health researcher
- Tanika Sircar
- Sumit Sircar
- Prof Janaki Nair ( retd. Centre for historical studies JNU)
- Priyanka Bopana– Concerned citizen
- Praveen Kumar- MedPure
- Prasanna Saligram JSA Karnataka
- Pramod Mujumdar SALOKHA GROUP, MAHARASHTRA
- Prameela Dsouza St Peter’s Church road , shahapur
- Prakash Louis- Bihar Migrant Hub, Patna
- Prajval Shastri- Astrophysicist, Bengaluru
- Prabir KC– Concerned citizen
- Prabha D souza Solur
- Poonam Batra- Delhi University
- Pooja Ramanunni – Concerned citizen
- Ponniah Rajamanickam- TNSF
- Paul Varghese– Concerned citizen
- Parveen Mujhtar – Concerned citizen
- Pallavi Gupta- Independent Practitioner, New Delhi
- Pachalal Bhawaddin Karimi– Concerned citizen
- Nrithya -Dancer
- Noorin– Concerned citizen
- Nizamuddin Davangere – Bahutva Karnataka
- Niyaz- Concerned citizen
- Niveditha– Concerned citizen
- Nivedita Menon – JNU, Delhi
- Nishan – Free lance
- Nisha Abdulla- Independent Artist and Educator, Bahutva Karnataka
- Nirmal- Ambedkarite
- V.P Freelance Independent Scholar and Development Educationist
- Nikhil Pandhi – Princeton University
- Nikhil Mandalaparthy- Hindus for Human Rights
- Nicolette Ketchum– Concerned citizen
- Neeta Alva-Special School
- Neelufer- N designs
- Nawaz Aman- Ex Serviceman
- Navsharan Singh- Independent Researcher
- Navroze Contractor None
- Navina Shettigar- GGC School
- Narendra Gupta– Concerned citizen
- Nancy Rodrigs- Nirmala institute
- Najmul – JIH
- Najma Banu-Principal of a private school
- Nagaragere Ramesh- Peoples’ Democratic Forum
- Nafees Batool– Concerned citizen
- Naeem Khan- Teacher
- Nadiya, JIH
- Balanaraysnan– Concerned citizen
- Mythili – Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
- Mustafa– Concerned citizen
- Munavar Hussain M – Professor
- Mumtaz Fathima– Concerned citizen
- Mukta-RNDM
- Muhammad Zaheeruddin – Concerned citizen
- Moina Parveen – FORWARD trust
- Mohmed –Nurse, KIMS
- Mohammed Yusuf – Student
- Mohammed Sadik – Analog devices india pvt ltd
- Mohammed Khizer- Aegis India pvt ltd
- Mohammed Imran NRI – Nationality from India
- Mohammed Asim – Construction Safety
- Mohammed Abid- Rawabi Holding Oil And Gas
- Mohammed Aasim NA
- Mohamed Sirajudeen -Tamilnadu government
- Mohamed Sajeed– Concerned citizen
- Mohamed Ridwan- MMF
- Mohamed Kareem Basha, MMF
- ML Ramprakash– Concerned citizen
- Mira Shiva – Public health physician
- Mira Bakhru- Retd faculty , IIMB
- Minusia-Indian Statistical Institute
- Merlyn Mathew – Asha Deep
- Melwyn Kevin Sequeira -Social activist
- Maya Menon- The Teacher Foundation
- Mathew – Farmer, Ketala
- Marzia – Concerned citizen
- Mary Swapana– Concerned citizen
- Maria- Sochara
- Margarita– Concerned citizen
- Maqbool Ahmed– Concerned citizen
- Mansoor Alam Mallick – Freelancer
- Manisha Gupte – Human rights activist
- Mani Educationist
- Manasi Pingle BSF
- Manan Wan – Concerned citizen
- Manan Kumar- Freelance journalist
- Mamur Ali– Concerned citizen
- Mallappa Kumbar – Karnataka sexual minorities forum
- Malarvizhi– Concerned citizen
- Maitreyi Krishnan- AILAJ
- Maitreyee Boruah- Independent journalist
- Madhuri- Filmmaker
- Madhu Bhushan – Women’s rights activist
- A.Lawrence – Gideons
- M Kesudeen- SMMCHRI
- Linet-St. Joseph’s convent
- Lesley Birnur– Concerned citizen
- Leena Gomes– Concerned citizen
- Latifa – Movement for Justice
- Latha– Concerned citizen
- Lara Jesani – Advocate
- Labeed Shafi-Solidarity youth movement Karnataka
- Kuldeep Garg- Independent Educator
- Khan – IFN
- Khaleel Ahmed– Concerned citizen
- Keerthana Jagadeesh- Indian Institute for Human Settlements
- Kawsar Jahan – Trainer
- Kavitha Shanmugam-The Federal
- Kavitha Kuruganti – Social activist
- Kavita Srivastava – PUCL
- Kathyayini Chamaraj- Forum for Democracy & Communal Amity
- Kasim Abdul Salim – NHS
- Kashish Naqvi- Student
- Karthi Marshan – None
- Kaneez Fathima – Arafath school
- Kamayani Bali Mahabal Mumbai
- Kalpana Mistry- Aangan Trust
- P Mayan Democratic Alliance
- P Mayan- Democratic Alliance
- K S Parthasarathy– Concerned citizen
- Juned Kamal- APCR
- Joyal-Roshni
- Joseph Xavier- Indian Social Institute Bangalore
- Jose Lobo- Atlántico University
- Joji George-SURE
- John Dayal -Writer and activist
- Jessy-Mariam Niketan convent
- Jerald Dsouza-Loyola Vikas Kendra
- Jerald Dsouza – Advocate
- Jean Dreze – Concerned citizen
- Jayshree Oza- Consultant
- Jayati Ghosh- University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
- Javadha– Concerned citizen
- Jansi- Slum Mahila Sanghatane
- Janet F Pinto -Roshni
- Janavi Sridhar- Medical Student
- James V – Concerned Christian
- James F Fomba- Campaign against racism
- Jagdish Patel- PTRC
- Jacinta Machado-Deepalaya Indi Bijapur district
- Irfan – Concerned citizen
- Iqbal– Concerned citizen
- Indranil- JSA Delhi
- Indira- Public Health Researcher
- Imran Naqvi– Concerned citizen
- Imran– Concerned citizen
- Huzefa– Concerned citizen
- Huzafah Sadaf SM-St. Joseph’s College of Law
- Hema Swaminathan-IIM Bangalore
- Heena Kouser – Teacher
- Hathija – House wife
- Harry -Karnataka Jesuits
- Haleema Teacher
- Haleema – Teacher
- Gurumurthy Kasinathan- National Coalition on the Education Emergency
- Gurumoorthy– Concerned citizen
- Gulab Pasha- SWARAJ INDIA
- Gracy-Concerned citizen
- Gowri Kolal-Student
- Gouranga Mohapatra- Patient right group, Odisha
- Gloria Maria Crasta-Sneha Sadan Kankal
- Gitanjali R – Concerned citizen
- Girish B- City Corporation
- Ghouse Hussain– Concerned citizen
- George – Montfort School
- Geetha Menon, Women activist, Stree Jagruti Samiti
- Gautam Sonti. Concerned citizen.
- Cedric Prakash – Human Rights activist
- Firdouse Khan – FORWARD TRUST
- Fazlu – Vadagara Sagerdayavedhi Muscat
- Fatema– Concerned citizen
- Farooq Mohammed – SOCHARA
- Farita Viegas – Teacher
- Farhan Ahmed K – JIH
- Farha- Concerned citizen
- Faquih Abdul Sattar– Concerned citizen
- Fahim Aziz– Concerned citizen
- Evelyn Benis – SSW
- Enas- MD CADI ReSearch Foundation USA
- Edith Gonalves- Holy cross sister
- Dunu Roy– Concerned citizen
- Rahmathunisa– Concerned citizen
- C.Ramakrishnan- BGVS
- Sylvia Karpagam, Public health doctor
- Reshma Parveen – I.G .Khan Memorial Trust
- N. A. Hussain – Tertiary care hospital
- Karan P-Independent
- James Deutsch- University of Toronto
- Goldy M George – Activist and Academician
- Belgami Mohammad Saad – Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka
- Asifa- Doctors for Humanity
- Dr Shakeel – Centre for health and Resource management
- Dr Shabreen Kauser- Masters in Dental surgery
- Dr Rajeev B R-Community Dentist, Bangalore
- Dr Nasser Yusuf – SAVE LIVES
- Dr Mira Shiva-Public Health Physician
- Dr Maxim Dias SJ college
- Dr Antony K R – Independent Monitor, National Health Mission GoI
- Divya Reshma CNFE
- Divya Prafulla – Concerned Citizen
- Dipa Sinha– Concerned citizen
- Dimple Dsouza- Student
- Dibakar Bhattacharjya- Advocate AILAJ/LSJHR, West Bengal.
- Dhanam -Holy cross
- Devassy kadaparambil -Don Bosco
- Denzel Joyson A J – MPT Acharya Anarchist Reading Circle.
- Deepti Bharti-Delhi NFIW
- Deepika Joshi- People’s Health Movement/ Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh
- Deepak Malghan – IIM Bangalore
- Deepa – Public Health Practitioner
- Dawood S- Engineer
- Dalhia Mani- Professor
- D Parthasarathy- IIT Bombay
- Clifton D’ Rozario – All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice
- Christina Samy- Swaraj India
- Chayanika Shah -Forum Against Oppression of Women Mumbai
- Chandrika- MILANA
- Brinelle D’souza – Academic and Activist, Mumbai
- Brinda Adige – Women Rights, Karnataka
- Binju Saramma Abraham – Concerned citizen
- Bindiya Shajith- All inclusive Foundation
- Bilva Raman – Concerned citizen
- Ben Dover– Concerned citizen
- Beena Yallurkar- Spoorthi Sadan Talikoti
- Banu Azeez – Housewife
- Balu- Bangalore Dalit Forum
- Babita– Concerned citizen
- Nasreen Taj (Teacher)
- Aziz Kassam– Concerned citizen
- Azeez pasha- Business
- Azam pasha- Student
- Ayub pasha- Transportation
- Ayesha Sulaiman – Homemaker
- Ayesha Kidwai- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Avani Chokshi -All India Lawyers Association for Justice
- Aswaty George- Concerned Citizen
- Asunta Patil -Carmel Ashish Charitable Trust .
- Asim Siddiqui – Concerned citizen
- Asif Iqbal– Concerned citizen
- Ashok Narayan- Retired doctor
- Ashok Maridas-Samvidhanada Haadiyalli
- Ashika Shetty– Concerned citizen
- Asfia Aejaz – IIMB
- Arun Gupta-Alliance Against Conflicts of Interest
- Arun Chockalingam – University of Toronto
- Arul Pandian- NEXGEN – Melbourne Australia
- Arslan Naqvi- Student
- Apurva Vivek- Hashiya Socio-Legal Centre for Women
- Anusha S- IT for Change
- Anupama Hegde– Concerned citizen
- Anjali Lal– Concerned citizen
- Anitha Dsouza-Social worker
- Anita Rego– Concerned citizen
- Anil Sadgopal – Former Member, Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE)
- Anil -LCSC
- Ananya Dasgupta – Concerned citizen
- Anant Phadke- Shramik Mukti Dal (D)
- Amruthavalli- Activist
- Amrita-RNDM
- Ammu Joseph – Journalist and author
- Ammu Abraham Forum Against Oppression of Women
- Amjad Pasha- Business
- Amita Pitre Independent Researcher and Development Practitioner
- Ameer Abdul Raheem– Concerned citizen
- Amar Jesani Independent Researcher and Teacher, Public Health and Bioethic
- Alwyn-Sangama
- Alwyn D’Souza – Concerned citizen
- Alishah– Concerned citizen
- Alice Kerketta– Concerned citizen
- Akhtar– Concerned citizen
- Akhil Mythri -National Institute of Advanced Studies
- Ajith Thomas– Concerned citizen
- Aishwarya Ravikumar-Independent
- Ahmed – Concerned citizen
- Afshan Yasmeen– Concerned citizen
- Afsel CK-Rehab India Foundation
- Adnan Yunus- HSBC
- Aditya Krishnan– Concerned citizen
- Adithya Anil-St Joseph’s College of law
- Adeeba Fathima -Student
- Abishek Ramasubramanian -Concerned citizen
- Abigail Silversmith -Independent researcher
- Abhishek Mazumdar – Theatre writer
- Abhay Shukla- Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
- Abeer- Jamat islami Hind
- Abdul Yunus- Ex-servicemen
- Aarti Bhatt – Campaign Against Racism MN
- R.Vasavi-Independent Researcher