June 24, 2018
Despite announcing it to the media, the Pune Police have not included the letters in their submissions to the Pune Sessions Court.
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https://scroll.in/video/883893/video-why-the-maoist-letters-found-on-arrested-activists-in-the-bhima-koregaon-case-might-be-fake
http://www.livelaw.in/attacking-public-spirited-lawyers-now-a-trend-iapl-condemns-arrest-of-advocate-vanchinathan-for-anti-sterlite-movement/
https://kaplanherald.com/2018/06/23/koregaon-bhima-clashes-judicial-custody-for-four/
http://sanhati.com/articles/18777/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/24/india-dalit-rights-activists-detained
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/14191/Bhima-Koregaon-Citizens-Flay-Arrests-As-Assault-on-Democracy
https://amnesty.org.in/news-update/india-dalit-rights-activists-detained/
https://thewire.in/caste/condemn-arrests-bhima-koregaon-clashes-dalit-rights
https://scroll.in/article/883226/kerala-maoist-konnath-muralidharans-kin-activists-say-hes-being-denied-medical-care-in-pune-jail
https://scroll.in/article/883758/family-of-maoist-spokesperson-arrested-in-chhattisgarh-says-police-have-the-wrong-man
https://www.facebook.com/IAPLIndia/
http://www.streekaal.com/2018/06/Theory-of-Arban-Maoist-by-the-Neopeshwas.html (HINDI)
https://www.change.org/p/devendra-fadnavis-we-demand-release-of-advocate-surendra-gadling-and-other-human-rights-activists?recruiter=885436142&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi.pacific_abi_share_button_ordering_1.abi_featured_fb (SIGN THE PETITION!)
#FreeSurendraGadling
#BhimaKoregaon
Citizens’ Solidarity with Voices of Democracy
We condemn the arrest of five human rights activists, professors and lawyers in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon clashes early this year. The alarming arrest of Advocate and General Secretary of Indian Association of Peoples’ Lawyers (IAPL) Surendra Gadling, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) Public Relations Secretary Rona Wilson, Head of English Department Professor Shoma Sen of Nagpur University and member of Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), cultural activist and founder of Republican Panthers Jaatiya Antachi Chalwal Sudhir Dhawale and anti-displacement activist and Prime Ministers Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF) Mahesh Raut is a clear manifestation of state terror to crush the voices of dissent in this country. The intemperate use of sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on all five reveals legal over-reach and exposes the desperation to foist extraordinary and excessive charges on all five to ensure they remain in the clutches of the Fadnavis-Maharashtra government. All the arrested have consistently worked for the assertion of oppressed and marginalised communities against majoritarian forces, spoken out against Brahmanical patriarchy, upheld peoples’ rights to land, life and dignity, and have strived for the release of political prisoners. Today, after standing for the assertion of dalits, adivasis, Muslims, women, workers, farmers, marginalised sexualities, and oppressed communities, upholding the principles of democracy, and, consequently, being a thorn in the side of a vengeful police force, they are under the custody of impunity. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of violence during the Bhima-Koregaon clashes enjoy the protection of the state, patronage of the RSS and walk free. Now, with concerted efforts to implicate the arrested, egregious narratives of plots of assassinations is being weaved to defame and keep them in jail. These retributive actions are intended to threaten anyone who speaks out for them and drive a wedge between all struggles for peoples’ rights. In the last few years, wherever people have asserted their rights, the political establishment has clamped down on them with brutal force – be it in Saharanpur or Una, Bhima-Koregaon or Thoothkudi. The assault on the democratic fabric of this country, through the abuse of the legal and judicial process, the stage-managing of media for public trials, and deliberate efforts to build a climate of fear is blatant and pervasive. Today, more so than ever, it is crucial to reiterate unity in the face of divisive majoritarian politics that uses structural hierarchies to violently suppress different sections of people and communities. We strongly condemn the arrests of these voices of democracy, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all five human rights activists, professors and lawyers and stand united in our opposition to the onslaught of Brahmanical Hindutva fascism.
In Solidarity,
(Alphabetically)
1. Abha Dev Habib, Miranda House, University of Delhi
2. Achin Vanaik, Retired Professor, International Relations and Global Politics, University of Delhi
3. Adil Jussawalla, poet, magazine editor and translator
4. AK Ramakrishnan, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
5. Alok Rai, former faculty, Department of English, University of Delhi and writer and translator
6. Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
7. Amit Bhattacharyya, Professor, Jadavpur University and Secretary General, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
8. Anand Patwardhan, filmmaker
9. Anand Teltumbde, writer and General Secretary, Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), Mumbai
10. Ananya Vajpeyi, fellow, Centre for Studies in Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
11. Anirban Kar, Associate Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
12. Anu Arunima, Professor, Women’s Studies Department, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
13. Arun Khopkar, director and actor
14. Ashok Bhowmick, artist
15. Asiya Shervani, Independent Consultant, Diversity and Social Inclusion, Hyderabad
16. Atamjit Singh, Punjabi playwright and Dakshinayan Abhiyan
17. Atul Dodiya, artist
18. Basavaraj Sulibhavi, activist and publisher of Ladai Prakashana, Karnataka
19. Benu Mohanlal, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
20. Bhupinder Choudhry, Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi
21. Biswajit K. Bora, Syama Prasad Mukherjee College, University of Delh
22. Bittu Karthik Kondaiah, Associate Professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat and Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti
23. C. Sadasiva, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
24. Chaman Lal, professor in Hindi translation at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Punjabi writer
25. Damodar Mauzo, Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee
26. Debaditya Bhattacharya, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol
27. Feroze Mithiborwala, National Convenor, Bharat Bachao Andolan
28. Freny Manecksha, independent journalist,
29. G Haragopal, Visiting Professor, NLSIU, Bengaluru
30. Ganesh Devy, Dakshinayan Abhiyan
31. Gauhar Raza, former scientist, CSIR
32. Gauri Gill, contemporary photographer, Delhi
33. Ghanshyam Shah, social researcher, Ahmedabad
34. Githa Hariharan, writer
35. Govindi Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
36. Hany Babu MT, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Delhi
37. Hari Sen, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
38. Hemlata Manishwar, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia
39. Indira Jaisingh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
40. Imran G,
Advocate J&K High Court Srinagar, Socio-political activist
41. Jagmohan Singh, Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Punjab
42. Jatinder, Assistant Professor, Punjabi University
43. Jawari Mal Parakh, writer
44. John Dayal, human rights and political activist, Secretary-General, All India Christian Council
45. Jose Maria Sison, Chair, International League of People’s Struggle
46. Kalyani Menon Sen, feminist researcher and activist and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
47. Kanji Patel, poet and novelist in Gujarati and editor of journal Vahi
48. Kavita Srivastava, President, Rajasthan chapter of People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jaipur
49. Keval Arora, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
50. Kiran Nagarkar, novelist, playwright, film and drama critic and screenwriter in Marathi
51. Kiran Shaheen, independent journalist, Delhi and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
52. Laltu (Harjinder), Hyderabad
53. Laxmi Murthy, journalist, Bangalore
54. Loi, Global Secretariat, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
55. Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat
56. Mala Dayal, author and editor
57. Malem Ningthouja, writer and Chairperson, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Manipur (CPDM)
58. Marie Boti, International Women’s Alliance
59. Meena Kandasamy, poet, writer, translator and activist
60. Megha Pansare, Assistant professor and head, Department of Foreign Languages, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and District President, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)
61. MN Ravunni, Vice President, CRPP, Wayanad, Kerala
62. Mohan Rao, Retd. Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
63. Mridula Garg, writer
64. Mukul Kesavan, historian, novelist and essayist
65. Mukul Mangalik, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
66. N Raghuram, Professor and Dean, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
67. Nalini Nayak, Retd. Associate Professor, PGDAV (M) College, University of Delhi
68. Nancy Adajania, cultural theorist, art critic and curator
69. Nandini Chandra, Department of English, University of Delhi
70. Nandini Dutta, Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
71. Nandini Sundar, Professor, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
72. Nandita Narain, St. Stephens College, University of Delhi
73. Narender Thakur, B. R. Ambedkar College, University of Delhi
74. Naveen Gaur, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
75. Nikhil Jain, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
76. Nirmalangshu Mukerjee, Retd. Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi
77. Nivedita Menon, Professor, Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University
78. P K Vijayan, Hindu College, University of Delhi
78. P. Koya, Professor, Calicut, Vice President, CRPP
80. Patricia Mukhim, social activist, writer, journalist and editor of Shillong Times
81. Pulin Nayak, Retd. Professor, Department of Economics, University of Delhi
82. Rajeev Bhargava, political theorist, former director of CSDS and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University
83. Rajvinder Singh Bains, High Court advocate and human rights lawyer, Chandigarh
84. Rakesh Ranjan, Associate Professor, Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi
85. Ranbir Kaleka, contemporary multimedia artist
86. Ratna Raman, Sri Venketeswara College, University of Delhi
87. Ravinder Goel, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College (E), University of Delhi
88. Rina Ramdev. Associate Professor, Sri Venkataswara College, University of Delhi
89. Rita Kothari, Ashoka University, Sonipat and author and translator
90. Rita Sinha, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi
91. Rohini Hensman, writer and independent scholar, Bombay
92. Roopa Dhawan, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
93. Rudolf C. Heredia, Indian Social Institute, Delhi
94. Rukmini Bhaya Nair, linguist, poet, writer and critic
95. Saba Dewan, filmmaker
96. Sachin N, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
97. Sadhi Binning, Punjabi writer and activist, Canada
98. Sagari Chhabra, writer and film director
98. Samit Basu, writer
100. Samuel John, actor and cultural activist
101. Sandeep, film editor and writer, Mumbai
102. Sanjay Kak, filmmaker, Delhi
103. Sanjeev Kumar, writer and office-bearer, Janwadi Lekhak Sangh
104. SAR Geelani, Professor, Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi and President, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
105. Seema Azad, writer, activist, editor of Dastak and Secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Uttar Pradesh
106. Shabnam Hashmi, social activist
107. Shanta Gokhale, writer, translator, journalist and social critic
108. Shaswati Mazumdar, Professor, Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
109. Sheba Chhachhi, photographer, activist, writer, filmmaker and artist, Delhi
110. Shobhana Warrier, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
111. Shovon Chowdhury, writer
112. Soumya Datta, South Asian University (SAU), Delhi
113. Sudha Bharadwaj, trade unionist and human rights lawyer
114. Sujato Bhadro, Vice President CRPP, Kolkata
115. Sukrita Paul Kumar, poet, critic, academician
116. Sumangala Damodaran, Associate Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
117. Sunil Kumar, Professor, Head, Department of History, University of Delhi
118. Susie Tharu, writer, professor, publisher, editor and activist
119. Suvojit Bagchi, journalist, Kolkata
120. Svati Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
121. Teena Anil, visiting fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi
122. Teesta Setalvad, civil rights activist, journalist and Secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)
123. TM Krishna, musician and author
124. Venugopalrao Nellutla, Editor, Veekshanam
125. Vidya Rao, Hindustani classical singer and writer
126. Vijay Singh, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College, University of Delhi
127. Vijaya Venkarataraman, Associate Professor, Deparment of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
128. Vijender Singh Chauhan, Zakir Hussain Delhi College, University of Delhi
129. Vikas Bajpai, Assistant Professor, Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
130. Vikas Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi, Joint Secretary, Sambhavana
131. Vineet Tiwari, National Secretary, All India Progressive Writer’s Association
132. Vinita Chandra, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
133. Vishnu Nagar, writer and poety
134. Vivek Narayanan, writer, poet and co-editor of Almost Island
135. Windel Bolinget, Chairperson, Cordillera People’s Alliance and Co-Convenor of KATRIBU Kalinpunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas
136. Xavier Dias, former editor, Khan Kaneej aur Adhikar, Jharkhand
137. Yogesh Puri, Retd. Associate Professor, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
138. Adv Imran G, Jk High Court Srinagar, Socio-political activist
[Please endorse this statement with your solidarity and your names will be added. It will be issued late evening on 24th of June, on the eve of Emergency Day. If possible, do share with others who may be willing to add their names in solidarity. If endorsements are added in the comments, it will be added to the list.
With sincere appreciation for the waves of support and solidarity.]
(Facebook, 24/6/18)
