An Alternative Harthal for protesting.
Our Hartal is SWATHENDRA HARTHAl, which is a participatory one, a protest where all can participate instead of becoming passive victims.
Let us examine the proposal of free Hartal. Freedom for disagreement, freedom for protest and freedom for questioning the authority are our rights in a democratic society. But nowadays we are denied all these rights in the name of democracy. The existing rule is the rule of jungle, survival of the fittest.
In a traditional hartal, really people are not protesting. But they become the victims of might and fear. Fear is being propagated. A minority imposes their intentions on others for their petty political gains. Actually nobody gains and everybody loses including those who impose the hartal. During the hartal, public life is paralyzed not because of protest but because of fear of losing life and the property.
It is not too late now. Good people and organizations with social commitment have to join together to overcome the situation and bring people to a constructive side and save the state and its assets. If at all hartal is to be conducted, the same may be done in a non destructive and progressive style without causing damage to the life and property of the people.
Let us have a dialogue or debate on Alternative Hartal.Our aspiration is an optional Hartal, but we feel that the time is not ripe for the same. Hence let us work for an alternative hartal for the time being.
