Bhim Army chief invokes ‘Right to Life’ argument, seeks guns for community

Taking to Twitter, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said that the constitution provides every citizen the right to live, which included a right to defend themselves.

The controversy over the alleged rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras spilled over to social media on Saturday, with Dalit activists seeking gun licenses and subsidised guns for the underprivileged sections of the country.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad addresses protesters at the citizens’ protest to demand justice for Hathras Dalit victim, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi. (Biplov Bhuyan/Hindustan Times)

Taking to Twitter, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said that the constitution provides every citizen the right to live, which included a right to defend themselves. “Our demand is that the 20 lakh Bahujans of the country be granted gun licenses immediately. The government should provide us a 50 % subsidy to purchase guns and pistols. We will defend ourselves,” he said.

Seeking gun licenses, Dalit activist Suraj Yengde cited the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, which empowers the state government to provide arms licenses to ensure the safety of person and property.

Responding to Azad’s comment, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh said, “... I believe the Gandhian philosophy is the way to go. Non-violence will win you the fight against injustice.”

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MP Rakesh Sinha said, “Indian Constitution and our democratically elected government are committed to the protection of citizens judiciously and effectively. Such suggestions and demands (for guns) are ridiculously crafted just for gimmicks.”

Meanwhile, in a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cover for the family of the victim.