Sheroes Will Not Be Shut, Says UP Government on Twitter

After facing severe flak for its decision to shut down Sheroes café in Lucknow, being run by acid attack survivors, the government of Uttar Pradesh has reportedly revoked its decision.

The state government took to Twitter to announce that the government was concerned about acid attack survivors and Sheroes Hangout will not be shut. The tweet was attributed to Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

It is, however, not the first time that the minister has made this statement. Two months ago as well, Bahuguna Joshi had assured the acid attack survivors that Sheroes Hangout will keep running. But, the eatery was later slapped with notices and tender to run it was given to some other agency.

The Chhanv Foundation – an NGO that runs the café – received a notice on September 22, asking it to vacate the place within three days, but the NGO got three-week stay from the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

Also Read: UP: Sheroes Café Asked to Vacate Space, Acid Attack Survivors Resolve to Fight

While the civil society has welcomed this move by the government, the acid attack survivors from Sheroes are saying that it is an attempt to weaken the campaign to save the eatery situated in the heart of Lucknow.

Anshu Rajput, who is leading the Save Sheroes campaign, says that the stay is ending on October 22, and the government has not mentioned anything else. “This is yet another attempt by the government to distract the media, civil society and weaken our campaign. The government’s intention is to take this place from us, and displace us from here,” alleged Rajput.

She added that the survivors working with the Sheroes have got to know that the minister wants to give this place to her people, and this is why she wants the survivors to leave Chhanv foundation, stop working with Sheroes, and work under the skill development initiative.

“We will keep our struggle on until the government clarifies everything. The notice served to us has not been withdrawn by the department, and we have received nothing in writing. In fact, allegations of irregularities have been made against us which are totally false,” she said.

Ashish Shukla, one of the officer bearers of the Chhanv Foundation, says that neither the NGO nor the cafe has received anything in written from the government and they also got to know about the decision of the government through the friends in media.

“See the government wants to take this place back. This place was given to the survivors by the former government led by SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, and this government wants to take it. This is the government’s land, and we do not have any right over the property, but we will fight for the survivors, and we will keep fighting for them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the survivors have penned a letter to the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asking him not to take the place away from them, and have also sought time from the chief minister.