NEW DELHI: Even as the central government tries to put a lid on the criticism against the growing climate of intolerance flagged by the Dadri lynching and the targeted assassinations of scholars and thinkers, more and more intellectuals across India and the globe are joining the protests.

Another statement issued today will make it clear to even Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah that the concern about the protestors are not confined, as he put it, to “Lutyens Delhi.”

The statement, signed by 250 intellectuals, reads:

We, as social scientists, scholars, teachers and concerned citizens, feel extremely concerned about the lynching at Dadri, and the murders of scholars and thinkers like MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and others, and wish to register our strong protest.

We are not just shocked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late response, but also by the implications of the victim-blaming statement he made. To say that ‘Hindus and Muslims should not fight each other but should fight poverty instead’ puts the onus for peace and fighting poverty entirely on civil society and communities and absolves the state of any responsibility for both. As Prime Minister, he should have asserted that the state would defend the rule of law.

In a country with some 4693 communities and over 415 living languages, each community is bound to have its own customs, including dietary choices. Individuals may also follow practices different from the ones followed by the majority of their community. Any attempt to impose a uniform belief or practice, on either individuals or communities, is antithetical to the freedom enshrined in the Constitution. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure this freedom.

Further, as scholars, we are extremely worried about the implications of these recent developments for our ability to study and write about different life ways, and to critically analyse society, including social phenomena like religion.

Achin Vanaik (Retd.) University of Delhi

Aditya Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Aditya Sarkar, Warwick University

Ajay Dandekar, Shiv Nadar University

Ajit Menon, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai

Albeena Shakil, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla

Alito Siquira, University of Goa

Amar Farooqui, University of Delhi, Delhi

Amar Jesani, Researcher/teacher, Pubic health and Bioethics, Mumbai

Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Amita Baviskar, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

Amman Madan, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Amrita Pande, University of Cape Town

Anand Chakravarti, (Retd.), Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Anand K. Sahay, Columnist, New Delhi

Anjali Bhatia, University of Delhi

Ankur Datta, South Asian University

Annapurna Shaw, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Anuj Bhuwania, South Asian University, New Delhi

Anuja Agrawal, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Anup Sinha, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Anurekha Chari Wagh, University of Pune

Aparna Basu, (Retd.) University of Delhi

Aparna Rayaprol, University of Hyderabad

Aparna Sundar,Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Aparna Vaidik, Ashoka University, Kundli, Haryana

Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Archana Sahare, JDB Govt. Girls’ College, Kota (Rajasthan)

Arif Waqif, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad

Arima Misra, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Arindam Banerjee, Ambedkar University Delhi

Arjun Dev (Retd)Professor of History, NCERT

Arun Kumar, Retd. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Arupjyoti Saikia, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Atulan Guha, IIM Kashipur

Babu P. Remesh, IGNOU, New Delhi

Badri Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Balmurli Natarajan, William Paterson University, USA

Balveer Arora, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi

Bhupinder Yadav, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Birinder Pal Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala

C T Kurien, formerly of Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.

C. Lakshmanan, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai

Carol Upadhya, National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore

Chandan Gowda, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Chandra Chari, The Book Review, New Delhi

Chayanika Shah, Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai

Chirashree Das Gupta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Chitra Joshi, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi

D N Dhanagare, former National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

D. R. Sahu, University of Lucknow

D.Nrasimha Reddy, Rtd. University of Hyderabad.

Debarshi Das, IIT Guwahati

Debashis Ghoshal, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Debashish Bhattacherjee, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Deepak Kumar, Punjabi University, Patiala

Deepak Mehta, University of Delhi

Dia Da Costa, University of Alberta, Canada

Dilip M Menon, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Dinesh Abrol, ISID, New Delhi

Divya Vaid, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Dr. S.V. Nadkarni, Ex. Dean L.T.M. Med. College, Mumbai,

Dulali Nag, Indian Institute for Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata

Farhana Ibrahim, Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi

G. Srinivas, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Gayatri Menon, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Geet Lamba, Government College, Moonak, Punjab

Geeta Kapur, Art Critic, New Delhi

Geetha Nambissan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Girish Mishra, Author, Columnist and Teacher, New Delhi

Gita Chadha, University of Mumbai

Gopalji Pradhan, Ambedkar University Delhi

Gopesh Talukdar, IISWBM, Kolkata

Gyan Pandey, Emory University, USA

Harbans Mukhia, (Retd ), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Harinder Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala

Hira Singh, York University, Canada

Imtiaz Ahmad, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Indira Chandrasekhar, Publisher, Tulika Books, New Delhi

Indra Munshi, (Retd.) University of Mumbai

Indrapramit Roy, Artist, Baroda.

Jaiwanti Dimri, H.P. University, Shimla

Janaki Abraham, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Jasmeen Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala

Jesim Pais, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi

Johannes Manjrekar, M.S. University of Baroda

John Paul, Pondicherry University

Jyothsna Belliappa, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Kalpana Kannabiran, Centre for Social Development, Hyderabad

Kamala Ganesh,( Retd.) University of Mumbai

Kamei Aphun, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Kushal Deb, IIT Bombay

Lakshmi Subramaniam, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata

Leena Abraham, TISS, Mumbai.

Madhumati Dutta, IIESTS, Howrah (WB)

Madhura Swaminathan, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore

Mahesh Sarma, Independent Researcher, New Delhi

Mahuya Bandyopadhyay, University of Delhi

Maitrayee Chaudhary, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Mani Inderpal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)

Manish Jain, Ambedkar University Delhi

Manisha Sethi, Jamia Millia Islamia

Manjeet Singh, Government College, Jind, Haryana

Manoranjan Mohanty, (Retd) University of Delhi

Manpreet Kaur, Lovely University, Jalandhar, Punjab

Mariam Dossal, (Retd.) University of Mumbai

Mary E. John, Centre for Women's Development studies, New Delhi

Maya Rao, Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh

Meena Gopal, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Meena Radhakrishna, formerly of Delhi School of Economics,University of Delhi

Meher Engineer, independent scientist, Kolkata

Mohan Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Mridula Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Mritiunjoy Mohanty, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Mushirul Hasan, former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Nalini Nayak, PGDAV (M) College, Delhi University

Namrata Vadhera, Punjabi University, Patiala

Nandini Manjrekar, TISS , Mumbai

Nandini Sundar, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Narendra Panjwani, formerly at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

Narinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala

Nasir Tyabji, formerly of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Nasreen Fazalbhoy, (Retd) University of Mumbai.

Navdeep Mathur, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Nayanika Mathur, University of Cambridge

Neeladri Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Neera Chandhoke, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Neetha N., Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi

Neshat Quaiser, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Nilika Mehrotra, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Nirmal Sengupta, Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla

Nissim Mannathukkaren, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Padma Prakash, Director, esocialsciences

Padma Velaskar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Parimal Ghosh, (Retd.) University of Calcutta.

Partho Datta, Zakir Husain Delhi Evening College, University of Delhi

Parveen Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Patricia Uberoi, (Retd.) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

Pratiksha Baxi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Pratyush, Sarwahara newspaper, Delhi

Praveen Jha, Jawharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Probal Dasgupta, Linguistic Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

Pulin Nayak, (Retd) Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Purendra Prasad, University of Hyderabad

R Nagaraj, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai.

R. Siva Prasad, Central University, Hyderabad

Rachna Dhingra Coordinator International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal

Radhika Chopra, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Radhika Gupta, Max Planck Institute, Göttingen

Radhika Mongia, York University, Canada

Radhika Singha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Rajan Barrett, MS University of Baroda

Rajat Datta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Rajesh Kamble, University of Mumbai

Rajni Palriwala, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Raka Ray, University of California at Berkeley, USA

Rama Baru, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Ranabir Chakravarti, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Rashmi Doraiswamy, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Ratna Raman, Sri Venkateshwara College, University of Delhi

Ravi Duggal, Public Health Researcher, Anusandhan Trust, Mumbai

Ravi Kumar, South Asian University, New Delhi

Ravi Shukla, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Ravi Sundaram, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

Ravinder Kaur, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi

Ravinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala

Reema Bhatia, University of Delhi

Rekha Basu, University of Delhi,

Renny Thomas, University of Delhi

Riddhi Shah, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Rita Brara, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta

Ritu Dewan, formerly at University of Mumbai

Roma Chatterji, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Romila Thapar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Ruchi Chaturvedi, University of Cape Town

Rudolf Heredia, Independent Researcher, Mumbai

Rukmini Sen, Ambedkar University Delhi

S.B. Upadhyay, IGNOU, New Delhi

Sadhana Natu, Department of Psychology, Modern College, Pune University

Sajal Lahiri, Southern Illinois University, USA

Sajni Mukherji, Jadavpur University, West Bengal

Sakshi Khurana, V. V. Giri National Labour Institute

Sanjay Srivastava, Institute of Economic Growth

Sasheej Hegde, University of Hyderabad

Satendra Kumar, Lucknow

Satinath Sarangi Member Bhopal Group for Information & Action, Bhopal

Satish Deshpande, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Savyasaachi, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Shail Mayaram, CSDS, Delhi

Shalini Grover, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

Shamsul Islam, Author/Dramatist, formerly of University of Delhi

Sharada Srinivasan, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore

Sheena Jain, formerly at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Shilpa Phadke, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Mumbai

Shivaji Panikkar, Ambedkar University Delhi

Shivali Tukdeo, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore

Shruti Tambe, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

Soumyen Sikdar, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Sreekala.E, Pondicherry University

Sreemati Chakrabarti, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi

Sripad Motiram, University of Massachusetts, USA

Subir Rana, National Institute Of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Sucheta Mahahan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Sudha Vasan, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Sujata Patel, University of Hyderabad

Sumanta Banerjee, Independent researcher, Hyderabad

Sumit Sarkar, (Retd) University of Delhi

Suneet Chopra, Art Critic and Writer, New Delhi

Superna Jindal, Punjabi University, Patiala

Surajit Mazumdar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Surinder S. Jodhka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Susan Visvanathan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Sushil Khanna, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Svati Shah, University of Massachusetts, USA

Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Tapati Talukdar, formerly at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata

T. N. Madan, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

Tanika Sarkar, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Tanweer Fazal, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Tapan Basu, University of Delhi

Tejaswini Niranjana, TISS, Mumbai

Tejinder Pal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)

Tina Chakravarty, Sophia College, Mumbai.

Tiplut Nongbri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Tulsi Patel, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Ujjwala Mhatre, Researcher and Writer, Mumbai

Uma Iyengar, The Book Review , New Delhi

Uma Das Gupta, Independent scholar, Kolkata.

Urfat Anjem Mir, Ambedkar University Delhi

Utsa Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

V. Sujatha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Valerian Rodrigues, National Fellow - ICSSR, Mangalore

Vasavi, A. R., Bangalore

Vasundhara Bhojvaid, University of Delhi

Veena Naregal, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

Venkatesh Athreya, formerly of Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli (TN)

Vidhu Verma, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Vijay Prashad, Chief Editor, LeftWord Books

Vikas Maniar, Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Vincent Ekka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Vinita Bhatia, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

Vinod Vyasulu, Formerly at Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Virginius Xaxa, Tata Institute of Social Sciences– Guwahati

Vivan Sundaram, Artist, New Delhi

Walter Fernandes, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati

Xonzoi Barbora, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Guwahati

Yasmeen Arif, University of Delhi

Yasmeen Lukmani, (Retd.) University of Mumbai

Zoya Hasan, National Fellow, ICSSR.

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