Skip to main content

Arrest of Sudha Bharadwaj, others a fascist onslaught: Gujarat activists

By A Representative
Gujarat's social activists have condemned the arrest of Sudha Bharadwaj and other human rights activists, lawyers and writers, saying, BJP rulers across India should "stop conspiring against those fighting against suppression of tribals, Dalits and minorities." Those arrested include Chhattisgarh's senior human Rights activist, trade unionist and High Court advocate Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Father Stan Swamy, Arun Perreira, Varanan Gonzalves, Dalit rights activist Varvara Rao, and others.
"Bharadwaj has been fighting for the rights of the workers after she joined the organization founded by martyr Shankar Guha Niyogi in Chhattisgarh 30 years ago. She appears as advocate in the Chhattisgarh High Court and other courts to fight for the rights of the deprived sections", the statement, issued by Mujahid Nafees of Insaf on behalf of tens of Gujarat activists and scholars, said.
"The National Human Rights Commission recently sought her assistance in an investigation into cases of fake encounter and illegal detention of adivasis in Chhattisgarh, and she came forward help the Central body with her professional integrity and courage. Is this is her fault?", the statement asks, underlining, the way the government has acted shows "threats and challenges created by the forces of totalitarianism, fascism and globalization."
Those who have signed the statement include Meena Jadhav, Dhanji Parmar, Jayanti Mankadia, Rafi Malik, Neeta Mahadev, Mudita Vidrohi, Shahenaz Ansari, Jameela Khan, Masoom Ali Shaikh, Snehal Shah, Abdul Wahab Ansari, Suleman Khanji, Jayanti Panchal, Waqar Kaji, Pragya Joshi, Preeti Ojha, Swati Joshi, Neha Shah, Nimi Chauhan, Pallavi Rajpal, Azeem Gharach, Shakeel Sheikh, Sushila Prajapati, Danish Qureshi, Arvind Khuman, and Dhawal Chopra.

Comments

TRENDING

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.