Hindustan Times / by Manish K Pathak
Poet and Elgar Parishad case accused P Varavara Rao, who had on Thursday tested positive for Covid-19 after he was shifted out of jail to a hospital, was moved to Nanavati Hospital from St George’s Hospital on early Sunday.
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By CIVICUS
Nearly 200 human rights organisations including CIVICUS have signed a letter to world leaders urging them to release human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in honour of Nelson Mandela Day 18 July … It calls on governments to end the imprisonment and harassment of human rights defenders … Resilient human rights defenders from across the globe feature in the #StandAsMyWitness campaign. The ‘faces’ of the campaign are these defenders currently behind bars, like Sudha Bharadwaj – a human rights lawyer who defends Indigenous people’s rights in India.
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The #StandAsMyWitness campaign urges people to write letters on behalf of the defenders:
Demand the release of Sudha Bharadwaj
en | 2:08 min | 2020
Indian Cultural Forum / Newsclick / by ICF TEAM
Young poets — Sabika Abbas Naqvi, Naveen Chourey, Aseem Sundan, Kaushik Raj, Poojan Sahil, Mandvi Mishra and Hussain Haidry — have come together in solidarity with renowned poet Varavara Rao. Condemning the State’s blatant and callous disregard for the health of Varavara Rao, they demand immediate release of the poet.
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The News Minute / by Mitun MK
Kranti was one of the two journalists and eight activists across the country whose residence was raided by the Maharashtra police on August 28 2018.
Telugu journalist Tekula Kranti, a member of Revolutionary Writers Association has been issued a notice by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad- Maoist link case. The NIA has asked the journalist to appear for questioning at the Mumbai office on July 24.
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Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap
Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbde, both accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and lodged at Taloja jail, have filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court on Friday seeking directions to the State to be tested for Covid-19 as they came in close contact with co-accused Varavara Rao who was admitted to the Hospital after testing positive for the virus.
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17/07/2020
Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia
The jailed activists move Bombay High Court saying they were in close contact with poet Varavara Rao who recently tested positive.
In wake of 79-year-old activist poet Varavara Rao testing positive for Covid-19, two of his fellow inmates from Taloja Central Prison; activists Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbde have now moved Bombay High Court requesting that they too be tested as they were in close proximity of Rao.
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+++ Update July 17 by The Real Anand Teltumbde: Mr. VV Raos case though listed today could not be heard due to lack of time. This now moves to Monday +++
N Venugopal, Mr. VV Rao’s nephew writes:
The Indian Express / by Pratap Bhanu Mehta
Anand Teltumbde, one of India’s important and courageous thinkers, just turned 70 in prison. He, along with Sudha Bharadwaj and others, is being held in the Bhima Koregaon case. They are being repeatedly denied bail. Varavara Rao, poet and Maoist intellectual, contracted COVID and has been subject to degrading and humiliating conditions at the age of 80. The overwhelming power that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act gives to the state, the sheer impunity with which government can treat this group of accused, the Kafkaesque role of the judiciary in denying bail and making procedural safeguards ineffective, and the deafening political silence on their detention, all warrant deeper reflection.
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By National Human Rights Commission
NHRC passes order directing the state government to provide VV Rao best possible medical treatment at super speciality private hospital without further delay at state costs.
Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap
Taking note of the difficulties faced by jailed Telugu poet Varavara Rao, who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, the National Human Rights Commission on Friday observed that it was necessary that the Maharashtra Government should give him “the best possible treatment in a reputed super specialty private hospital without any further delay”.
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Counterview / by Counterview Desk
Through a petition to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Prof Sandeep Pandey, the Magsaysay award winning social activist, along with university academics, students and other activists*, have sought wider support for immediate release of Prof Sudha Bharadwaj, in jail since August 2018 for her alleged involvement in Maoist terror activists following a Republic TV report said she was conspiring to create public disorder and unrest in India.
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Scroll.in / by Sruthisagar Yamunan
The judiciary’s failure to protect his rights to medical treatment is disturbing.
In December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution titled “Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners”. Among the 10 principles that the UN said should be enforced “impartially” is this: “Prisoners shall have access to the health services available in the country without discrimination on the grounds of their legal situation.”
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CDRO Online / by Coordination of Democratic Rights Organaisation
A round table meeting was held on 14th July 2020, at the Godavarikhani, Ambedkar Bhavan on the issue of arrested intellectuals in Bhima-Koregaon case. This meeting was attended by different public associations, Civil Liberties Committee (CLC), leftist parties like CPI, CPIM, CPI-ML New Democracy and Dalit groups like All India Ambedkar Youth Association (AIAYA), Madiga Reservation PorataSamithi (MRPS) and Mala Mahanadu.
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