Police version of my Maoist "links" a mix of baseless fabrications, publicly available facts: Bharadwaj

By A Representative
In a statement, human rights defender, trade union activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, denying Pune Police's letter issued to the media alleging her links with Maoists, has said that it is a "mixture of innocuous and publicly available facts and baseless fabrication". In a point-by-point rebuttal, she says, the police has sought to "delegitimise" Indian Association of People's Lawyers, "whose president is Retd. J. Hosbet Suresh and which has been active in speaking up against attacks of lawyers."
"Categorically" stating that she has "never given Rs. 50,000 to hold any programme in Moga, Bharadwaj adds, "Nor do I know any 'Ankit from Maharashtra' or 'Com Ankit who is in touch with Kashmiri separatists'." The statement, issued through prominent Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover, she asserts, "I know Gautam Nadvlakha, a senior and respected human rights activist whose name has been mentioned in a manner to criminalize and incite hatred against him."

Also pointing out that she knows "the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group well", but has "never solicited any fund for them, least of all from any banned organization.", Bharadwaj underlines, "I categorically state that their work has been absolutely legitimate and legal." Also, she says, "I know Advocate Degree Prasad Chouhan, a dalit human right activist who is active in People's Union for Civil Liberties and works with the Human Rights Law Network", adding, "Totally baseless allegation has been made against him."

The making of a self-made woman: How eighty sheep changed everything for Kalawati Ninama

By Vikas Meshram* About forty-two kilometres from Rajasthan's Banswara district, in the tribal heartland of Ghatol block, lies the small village of Ubapana. This is where Kalawati Ninama, her husband Dhulji, and their four children make their home. Their days unfold much like those of their neighbours—bustling mornings, long hours of farm labour through the afternoon, and evenings spent tending livestock. For this family, farming and livestock were once simply a means of putting food on the table. Today, they have become the sturdy foundation of something far greater: genuine self-sufficiency.

India has spent billions on skilling. Where are the jobs?

By Vikas Gupta India loves the photograph of a certificate ceremony. A minister on a stage. A banner bearing the word “skill.” Young people holding folders that promise a future. It is a reassuring image because it tells us the problem has a manageable answer: train the young, make them job-ready, and work will follow.

BAPS, the Eiffel Tower and the curious silence on secularism

By Rajiv Shah I was a little surprised to see how some of those whom I respect for taking a firm stand on patriarchal issues reacted to the manner in which they responded to the recent incident in Paris, in which women employees of the Eiffel Tower were asked to remain "invisible" on September 5 when 100 BAPS sadhus visited one of the world's top tourist destinations.

Counterview

Search This Blog