UP ATS arrest of activist couple for Maoist links: Timing suspicious, claims CASR

Counterview Desk

Civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR)* statement on arrest of activists Brijesh Kushwaha and his 3 months pregnant wife Prabha Kushwaha by UP ATS on charges of Maoist connection:

Text:

On October 18, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested activists Brijesh Kushwaha of the Mazdoor Kisan Ekta Manch and Prabha Kushwaha of the Savitri Bai Phule Sangharsh Samiti. Both are married and Prabha is three months pregnant. She had travelled to her maternal home in Raipur, Chhattisgarh to be with her family. In 2019, the activists were named in an FIR but were not arrested due to lack of “credible material evidence.”
The ATS at the time had seized the electronic devices of the two activists and now claims that the forensic science laboratory has discovered Maoist literature on their devices and that the two are engaged in “anti-national activities and spreading Communist ideology.” In 2019 under the same FIR, activist and academic Manish Azad and his wife Anita were arrested too.
The timings of these arrests is highly suspect. The first FIR was filed right around the time of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and once again, arrests of democratic rights activists are being made prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. NIA has been conducting raids all across the country in the name of “Maoist links” and targeting democratic rights activists, intellectuals and lawyers to silence them prior to the elections.
Even in cases where there was no evidence found, four years later evidence magically appears in the hands of the government agencies. This is reminiscent of the situation the late Fr. Stan Swamy was in, wherein it was found that evidence was planted on his electronic devices seized by the police.
It seems past charges are being used as a buffer to target to democratic rights activists at future instances so as to both keep a sword against their necks while also initiating proceedings at random times to silence them when the politics of the ruling party requires. Be it in the name of “Chinese terror funding” or “Maoist links,” the government is willing to use any methods necessary to silence any democratic voice.
Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) condemns the arrests made against democratic rights activists.
CASR demands the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to politically motivated arrests.
---
*AIRSO, AISA, AISF, APCR,BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, bsCEM, CEM, CRPP, CTF, Disha, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity, IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA,Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, , Morcha Patrika, NAPM, NBS, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad,Samajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samjvadi Manch, SFI, United Against Hate, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S

Comments

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman* Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas* In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023.

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.

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.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

'Ambiguous policy': India late in advocating EVs as energy storage in national grid

By Shankar Sharma* This is regarding the points raised by the Chief Electricity Authority’s (CEA's) advocacy for usage of electrical vehicles (EVs) as energy storage technology, and few associated issues . An objective reading of what he states should reiterate the enormously growing importance of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in our need to transition to a net-zero carbon scenario for the country.

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.

How national chauvinism 'overtook' sport despite cricketing glory of World Cup 2023

By Harsh Thakor* The recently-concluded cricket World Cup was a testimony or manifestation of the thrills, intensity, twists and turns in sport and evolution of the game of cricket. It carried on the trend of the World Cups of yesteryears. Possibly, this was the best ever Indian team in a World Cup, and arguably amongst the best ever to contest a World Cup.

Search This Blog