Leaders belonging to different political parties, noted activists and other prominent personalities held a virtual press conference on Wednesday, condemning the arrests of activists in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence and flayed the government over alleged misuse of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), invoked against the arrested activists.
According to media reports, the virtual press meet, organised by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), was attended by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's Kanimozhi, NCP's Supriya Sule, CPI leader D. Raja, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, and economist Jean Dreze among others.
Condemning the arrests of various activists, including priest-activist Stan Swamy, academics Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, lawyers Sudha Bharadwaj, Surendra Gadling and others, by the NIA, the participants of the press meet said the government is using the UAPA to silence voices that stand for secularism and democracy. A total of 16 people have been arrested by the investigating agency in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence.
While Kanimozhi said UAPA is being misused to silence those who believe in secularism and democracy, Sule said it is unfortunate that anyone who speaks against the government is branded 'anti-national'.
"I grew up in an India that was liberal, where we could raise our voice. It is unfortunate that anytime anyone speaks against the government, he is called an anti-national," Sule was quoted as saying. She also accused the government of completely crushing the democratic voices.
Slamming the RSS-BJP, Yechury said this is not just about the Bhima-Koregaon issue but a "larger struggle to safeguard the secular fabric of our country against the BJP-RSS, which wants to establish a theocratic and rabidly intolerant Hindu Rashtra."
The participants demanded the release of 83-year-old Swamy with the Congress MP, in a video message, calling the arrest "shocking". "The charges against Swamy are preposterous. Swamy’s work with the adivasis must be encouraged," he said.
Soren accused the Union government of targetting non-BJP ruled states and made an appeal to the opposition to take efforts to stop the Centre from targetting such states.
A total of 16 people have been arrested under the UAPA in the case, which include three cultural activists of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), Ramesh Gaichor, Sagar Ghogre and Jyoti Jagtap, as well as thinker, writers and academics Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Shoma Sen, Hany Baby, lawyers, Sudha Bharadwaj, Surendra Gadling, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, who are all also trade unionists, and activists. Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson are also in prison.
(With PTI inputs)
