Mumbai: NCPCR accuses Aaditya Thackeray of child labour, faces flak

The national child rights body on Monday demanded that the Mumbai police book Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on charges related to child labour, for allegedly using children in the Save Aarey protest on Sunday. While the activists have condemned the NCPCR's notice, Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the children were part of citizens' groups protesting on Sunday.

In a letter to Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP) Vivek Phansalkar, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Registrar Anu Chaudhary said, "The Commission has received a complaint from Shri Dhrutiman Joshi, legal head, Sahyadri Rights Forum, citing Twitter links, alleging that Aaditya Thackeray, president of Yuva Sena and president of Mumbai District Football Association, used minor children in the protest/political campaigns and so called ‘Save Aarey protest' campaign. Through the Twitter link, the children are seen as part of the protest, holding placards (sic)."

Children take part in the Save Aarey protest on Sunday

"The commission...is of the view that such an act is prima facie in contravention of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 23 (Right to protection from forced labour) of the Constitution of India and relevant Sections of Indian Penal Code.

"...the Commission thereby requests you to investigate the matter urgently by lodging an FIR against the accused person(s), at once. The children should be identified and produced before the Child Welfare Committee as per Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 for recording their statements," reads the letter. The NCPCR demanded an action taken report along with the copy of the FIR and children's statement within three days.

NCPCR criticised for notice

Environment activists, free speech activists and a senior journalist have condemned the NCPR's suo motu cognisance of the matter.

"This notice is dangerous, and the last paragraph is very disturbing. That children will be called to give their statements is highly invasive and intimidating," Geeta Seshu, a senior journalist and free speech activist told mid-day.

Priyanka Chaturvedi

"Let's not forget that children have the most stake in the environment. They are the future. They may have been inspired by their parents or guardians to join the protest or even the other way round. They cannot be robbed of agency," she added.

"Children associate themselves with trees, birds, butterflies and animals and do not wish to harm them. They are raising their voices to save Mother Nature from being destroyed. This is not a political issue where there are chances of children being manipulated by their parents to uphold a particular ideology or a cult. Environmental Science is a part of their syllabus. Children know the importance of forests in maintaining the ecology of the planet," said Nirali Vaidya, an environmentalist.

"They were just peacefully voicing their concerns under parental guidance on Sunday, which is their right. This demonstration was not harmful to the sovereignty of the society. As per directive policy under article 48A of the Constitution, every Indian, including children, has the fundamental duty to save the environment. The first school strike for climate change was by Greta Thunberg, who was 15 at the time, and since, many more students have been protesting the world over for the mitigation of global warming," Vaidya added.

"We are seeing, in our lifetime, how dissent is being curtailed. Now, according to a notice by the NCPCR, children's rights have been violated by their presence in a protest. But don't children have the very right to protest? Don't they deserve to decide what kind of world they want to live in?" asked Environmentalist Kritika Motalia, 31.

"When we can have child actors, why not children in protests? After all, Greta was a child when she first protested," she added.

"What a joke! They were not part of Shiv Sena protests but citizens group. The children wanted to meet Shri @AUThackeray &he was appreciative of their interest in forest conservation! Is this a new form of intimidation to stop citizens from protesting? Is saving forests now a crime?" Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.

At the time of going to the press, Mumbai police had not filed an FIR against Thackeray.

Tweet talk
Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena leader@priyankac19
What a joke! They were not part of Shiv Sena protests but citizens group. The children wanted to meet Shri @AUThackeray &he was appreciative of their interest in forest conservation! Is this a new form of intimidation to stop citizens from protesting? Is saving forests now a crime?

3
No. of days NCPCR gives CP to act on its notice