FIR against Medha Patkar, others: move to stifle and subdue dissenting voices

Squash the FIR registered against Narmada Bachao Andolan based on false allegations", Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan has demanded, even as condemning the ongoing attempts across the country to stifle peoples' movements and activists standing up for democratic rights and constitutional values:

For over 37 years, Narmada Bachao Andolan has been continuously waging struggles for the thousands of Adivasis and farmers displaced by Sardar Sarovar Dam Project, along with other projects in the Narmada River valley, causing widespread displacement of people and ecological destruction. Narmada Bachao Andolan has been continuously leading non-violent struggles for the democractic and constitutional rights of farmers and workers. We have known the tireless struggle of the activists of Narmada Bachao Andolan and we salute their hard work over the years. We strongly oppose the FIR registered against the 11 activists of Narmada Bachao Andolan, which is grounded on wholly false allegations, and further demand that the FIR registered against them be immediately squashed.
We also reject the baseless accusations made against Medha Patkar, Parveen Rumi Jahangir, Parveen Rumi Jahangir, Vijaya Chouhan, Kailash Awasya, Mohan Patidar, Ashish Mandloi, Kewal Singh Vasave, Sanjay Joshi, Shyam Patil, Sunit SR, Noorji Padvi and Keshav Vasave of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The fact that this is not the first time Barwani Police and Adminsitration has made similar allegations and registered false cases on Adivasi activists is shameful and reflects attempts to harass activists standing up for democratic rights.
Today, as farmers continue to deal with a worsening agrarian crisis and the situation of workers continues to deteriorate from bad to worse. The youth of the country are being systemically denied of both, education and opportunities of employment. Privatisation has been weaponized to further weaken the already poor access to education and employment for the majority youth of Adivasi, Dalit and other marginalized youth. Adivasis who have been staunchly resisting attempts by the government to hand over their traditional resources of Jal-Jangal-Zameen are continuously facing evictions from their own lands. An ever-growing number of people are being deprived of their constitutional rights, every day. With this latest accusation, it is clear that peoples' movements and activists who have been consistently raising these issues are being targeted as part of a larger assault on democratic forces.
It is clear that governments across the country are trying to stifle and subdue dissenting voices who are continuously resisting the erosion of democratic rights and are leading constitutional struggles for the same. Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, stands in complete solidarity with Narmada Bachao Andolan, its activists and all democratic forces who are leading struggles to ensure the right towards a secure and dignified life for all citizens of the country.
---
*Signed by Harsing Jamre, Nasri Bai Ningwal, Madhuri

Comments

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Structural retrogression? Steady rise in share of self-employment in agriculture 2017-18 to 2023-24

By Ishwar Awasthi, Puneet Kumar Shrivastav* The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017 to provide timely labour force data. The 2023-24 edition, released on 23rd September 2024, is the 7th round of the series and the fastest survey conducted, with data collected between July 2023 and June 2024. Key labour market indicators analysed include the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR), which highlight trends crucial to understanding labour market sustainability and economic growth.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Venugopal's book 'explores' genesis, evolution of Andhra Naxalism

By Harsh Thakor* N. Venugopal has been one of the most vocal critics of the neo-fascist forces of Hindutva and Brahmanism, as well as the encroachment of globalization and liberalization over the last few decades. With sharp insight, Venugopal has produced comprehensive writings on social movements, drawing from his experience as a participant in student, literary, and broader social movements.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

End India's arms trade with Israel as part of comprehensive sanctions on Israel, demands NAPM

Counterview Desk Civil rights network National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has said that Israel’s horrendous year-long genocidal war on Palestine and its continued attacks on Lebanon calls for global action.

Authorities' shrewd caveat? NREGA payment 'subject to funds availability': Barmer women protest

By Bharat Dogra* India is among very few developing countries to have a rural employment guarantee scheme. Apart from providing employment during the lean farm work season, this scheme can make a big contribution to important needs like water and soil conservation. Workers can get employment within or very near to their village on the kind of work which improves the sustainable development prospects of their village.

A significant event that has revitalized fundamental right of freedom of expression for journalists

By Vikas Meshram* The recent remark made by the Supreme Court -- that cases can’t be lodged against journalists for criticising Government -- is a significant event that has revitalized the fundamental rights of freedom of expression for journalists. The core of journalism in a democracy is to examine the policies, plans, and governance of the government and present the truth to the public. For this purpose, it is necessary for journalists to have the right to criticize fearlessly.

Search This Blog