Asha – Page 54 – free them all

Made with fire: Review of ‘Varavara Rao: A Life in Poetry’

10/08/2023 Asha

Frontline / by Serish Nanisetti

Words speak the unvarnished truth in this anthology representing six decades of Varavara Rao’s career as a poet.
Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao is a thin, wiry man with the kind of leanness that Julius Caesar found scary in Cassius in Shakespeare’s play. Rao was arrested in 2018 on charges of inciting caste violence and plotting to assassinate the Indian Prime Minister (and released on bail in 2022 on health grounds). The publication of this anthology of Rao’s poetry has been much delayed reportedly because of legal issues. Some words used by Rao have apparently been removed from the translation to avoid attracting the charge of sedition.
Read more

Also read:
● How Varavara Rao shaped Telangana’s sociopolitics: N Venugopal Rao interview (The Federal / Aug 2023)
● Tomorrow there won’t be any classes’: Activist Varavara Rao’s poems get an English translation (Scroll.in / by Varavara Rao, N Venugopal & Rohith / Jul 2023)
● Move Division Bench for permission to undergo cataract surgery in Hyderabad: Bombay High Court to Varavara Rao (India Legal / June 2023)
● Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case (The Leaflet / Aug 2022)

Video: Vernon v. State of Maharashtra: A Breakthrough in Bail Jurisprudence under the UAPA?

08/08/2023 Asha

by PUCL India / @PUCLindia (Aug 7, 2023)

Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves were released after 5 years in jail!
Join our discussion on their bail order and to understand its implications! How can we advocate for the release of all political prisoners arrested under UAPA?

en | 1:29:01 | 2023
Watch video

UAPA disproportionately targets religious, ethnic minorities: Activist

10/08/2023

News Trail / by Umar Sharieef | NT

Discussing the Supreme Court’s decision in granting bail to activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferriera accused in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case, members from People’s Union for Civil Liberties said the bail order has significant implications for bail jurisprudence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, UAPA, in the framework of criminal law.
The members highlighted the top court’s bail-granting powers under the UAPA, which flows from the Zahood Ahmad Watali judgment.
Read more

Also read/watch:
● PUDR welcomes the release on bail of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira today, but protests onerous bail conditions (PUDR / Aug 6, 2023)

● Video: Personal Liberty and the Indian Courts

en | 1h 42min | 2022
The discussion moderated by PUCL General Secretary, V Suresh, Arvind Narrain, VP Karnataka State PUCL and Kavita Srivastava, National Secretary PUCL

Watch video (PUCL fb page)

● Repeal UAPA – Persecution by Prosecution

NIA claims fact-finding conducted by Gautam Navlakha was sponsored to further terrorist activities

08/08/2023 Asha

poster campaign 2020

by Bar & Bench – Live Threads / @lawbarandbench (Aug 9, 2023)
NIA arguments in bail hearing of Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha will continue on August 24, 2023.

NIA claims fact-finding conducted by Gautam Navlakha was sponsored to further terrorist activities

09/08/2023

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The National Investigation Agency has also claimed that the perception of resistance from members of the banned organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist) against Navlakha was deliberately created.
On Wednesday, a division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and Shivkumar Dige continued hearing the bail application filed by journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha.
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NIA emphasises charges of conspiracy and common intention to further terrorist activities against Gautam Navlakha

08/08/2023

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The National Investigation Agency argued that the individual roles of the accused persons in the Bhima Koregaon case should not be looked into in isolation from the larger conspiracy.
On Monday, a division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and Shivkumar Dige continued hearing the bail application filed by journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha.
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Gautam Navlakha part of urban naxal movement which arranges manpower, funds for rural naxal struggle: NIA to Bombay High Court

08/08/2023

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Responding to Navlakha’s claims that he was not involved in any violent acts for seeking bail in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018, ASG Devang Vyas argued that Navlakha was assigned a role in the larger conspiracy.
Human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha was part of an urban movement to arrange for logistics for the rural naxal movement, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told the Bombay High Court on Monday while opposing Navlakha’s bail application.
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Probe agency opposes Gautam Navlakha’s bail plea, says ‘Part of Urban Naxals’

08/08/2023

India Today / by Vidya

The National Investigation Agency opposed the bail plea of Elgar Parishad case accused, Gautam Navlakha, in the Bombay High Court.
Opposing the bail plea of Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, the National Investigation Agency told the Bombay High Court that Navlakha was part of “Urban Naxals” to arrange logistics for Naxal movements in rural areas.
Read more

Also read:
● ‘Urban Naxal’ is a label to terrorise intellectuals: Prabhat Patnaik (The Telegraph / Feb 2023)
● From Anti-National to Urban Naxal: The Trajectory of Dissent in India – How the term Urban Naxal came to being (Newsclick / Sep 2018)

Gautam Navlakha has a tremendous archive of writings from the 1980s to the present, documented by The Friends of Gautam Navlakha.
To read some of his recent writings and a full list of his articles with Economic & Political Weekly, the NewsClick newsportal and the platform Sanhati visit: Gautam Navlakha – Journalist, Human Rights Defender, Political Prisoner

PUDR welcomes the release of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, but protests onerous bail conditions

05/08/2023 Asha

Vernon & Arun walk out of jail. Aug 5, 2023.

PUDR welcomes the release on bail of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira today, but protests onerous bail conditions

05/08/2023

pudr.org / by Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR))

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) welcomes the Supreme Court order granting bail on merits and release of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, two of the accused in the infamous Bhima Koregaon case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a significant judgement, on 28 July 2023, the top court granted bail for two primary reasons: the fact that the accused had already been incarcerated for 5 years with the trial not having commenced yet, and that the NIA had been unable to justify, even prima facie, the allegations against them.
… However, what is even more disturbing is that the apex court has allowed for further conditions to be set by the special trial court, conditions that the latter may “consider fit and proper”. Accordingly, on July 31, the special NIA court has set further conditions which prohibit the duo from:
Read full statement:

Also read:
● Gonsalves and Ferreira bail judgment: A step in the right direction but where will we go from here? (The Leaflet / Aug 5, 2023)
● Bhima Koregaon accused asked to share phone location while on bail. Is this constitutional? (Scroll.in / Jul 31, 2023)
● ‘Brings Hope, But…’ Bhima Koregaon Families React to Gonsalves, Ferreira Bail ( The Quint / Jul 29, 2023)

Activists Vernon Gonsalves & Arun Ferreira, walk out of jail finally

05/08/2023 Asha

By Meera Sanghamitra / @meeracomposes (Aug 5, 2023)
Activists #VernonGonsalves & #ArunFerreira, walk out of jail finally! Small mercies after unjust incarceration over 5 long years! Zindabad, Salaam, Arun & Vernon! Ur beautiful smiles despite so much of injustice, puts this entire system to shame!
#FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners

Also read:
● Supreme Court grants bail to Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, with tethers (The Leaflet / July 28, 2023)

Bombay High Court hears fresh bail plea of Gautam Navlakha

03/08/2023 Asha

Bombay High Court hears fresh bail plea of Gautam Navlakha

04/08/2023

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

Advocate Yug Chaudhry, representing Gautam Navalkha, sought parity with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court granting bail to co-accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira. Chaudhry took the court through the material cited by the National Investigation Agency, claiming there was no evidence to prove the commission of any “terrorist act” by Navlakha.
On Friday, a division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and Shivkumar Dige heard a fresh bail application filed by journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha.
… The matter is posted for further hearing on August 7.
Read more

‘If I write mercy plea for Kasab…’: Elgar parishad accused asks Bombay High Court

03/08/2023

India Today / by Vidya

Gautam Navlakha has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He has been behind bars since the last three and half years and is currently under house arrest.
The bail plea hearing of Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, began before the bench of Justices AS Gadkari and SG Dige on Thursday. Advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhari, representing Navlakha, raised significant concerns regarding the charges levied against the activist under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including waging war against the country and conspiracy.
Read more

Also read:
● Supreme Court grants bail to Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, with tethers (The Leaflet / July 28, 2023)
● Why the SC Judgment Granting Bail to Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira Is So Significant (The Wire / Jul 2023)
● Why the Bombay High Court granted regular bail to Dr. Anand Teltumbde: An explainer (The Leaflet / Dec 2022)

How Varavara Rao shaped Telangana’s sociopolitics: N Venugopal Rao interview

03/08/2023 Asha

The Federal / by Nawaid Anjum

Poet, critic, and translator Venugopal Rao opens up about Varavara Rao, the iconic Telugu poet-activist
Poet, critic, journalist, public speaker, and translator N. Venugopal Rao has an impressive tally of 32 books in both Telugu and English, and an equal number in translation, to his credit. After having worked as a journalist for two decades, he ventured into publishing Veekshanam, a monthly journal focused on political economy and society.
… In an interview to The Federal, Venugopal Rao shares how Varavara Rao has influenced the socio-political landscape of Telangana through his poetry, the literary magazine he edited, his public speeches, his support to various people’s movements and his association with Naxalbari politics.
Read more

Also read:
● Tomorrow there won’t be any classes’: Activist Varavara Rao’s poems get an English translation (Scroll.in / by Varavara Rao, N Venugopal & Rohith / Jul 2023)

On 5th birthday in jail, friends wish for Shoma Sen’s release

03/08/2023 Asha

The Times of India / by Shishir Arya

“On your 5th birthday in incarceration, Shoma…we will fight for justice,“ says a post by Thusharkanti Bhattacharya, for his wife who is one of the 16 accused in Bhima Koregaon case. With the message he also posted her picture that was published in a Bangali journal Azaadi which carried an article on various political prisoners.
Read more

Also read:
● “Hopefully waiting” writes Shoma Sen from prison (InSAF India / July 7, 2023)

Prison Not The Reform Centre As Claimed, It’s Centre Of Sadism: Prof. Anand Teltumbde

01/08/2023 Asha

Poster by Siddesh Gautam / #bakeryprasad

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Professor Anand Teltumbde fought for civil and labor rights while holding various managerial profiles during his illustrious corporate career and had only ever passed by a prison while commuting to work.
“If a profile like mine could be tarnished over night as such an oxymoron as urban Naxal, then I thought nothing would be impossible in the world”, he says months after his release on bail in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case where he is accused of Maoist links along with several rights activists.
In this interview, Teltumbde talks about his observations from behind prison bars, the four books he authored during his time in prison, including a book dedicated to Ambedkar and why he declined to avail court permission to meet his mother.
Read more

● Multi-part interview by Neeta Kolhakar

○ Part 1: Anand Teltumbde: I never imagined I would have a jail life (Rediff.com / by Neeta Kolhakar / Jul 25, 2023)
○ Part 2: Anand Teltumbde: If my mother knew of my arrest, she would have died of shock (Rediff.com / by Neeta Kolhakar / Jul 28, 2023)
○ Part 3: Rama Teltumbde: We struggled to see each day through (Rediff.com / by Neeta Kolhakar / Jul 31, 2023)

● Video: The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails

By All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – AILAJ / March 2022

en | 1:21:23 | 2022
The huge number of undertrials, the overcrowding, and the disproportional numbers of Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi prisoners are part of the prison problem in India.
We are joined by Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj for a discussion on the Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails.
Watch video

NIA Court Imposes Extra Bail Terms on Gonsalves & Ferreira / Is this constitutional? / Release may get delayed

31/07/2023 Asha

NIA Court Imposes Extra Bail Terms on Gonsalves & Ferreira: What Does This Mean?

01/08/2023

The Quint / by The Quint

The Supreme Court had granted bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on 28 July.
Even though the Supreme Court granted bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on Friday, 28 July, the two might not walk out of prison just yet.
Why the delay? A special NIA court, according to India Today, has imposed additional bail conditions on them.
Read more

Bhima Koregaon accused asked to share phone location while on bail. Is this constitutional?

01/08/2023

Scroll.in / by Vineet Bhalla

A Supreme Court bench is currently adjudicating the constitutionality of such a bail condition.
… The two-judge bench of the court comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia on Friday imposed unusually restrictive bail conditions on Ferreira and Gonsalves. One of them is the requirement of keeping “the location status of their mobile phones active, 24 hours a day” and “pair[ing]” their phones with those of the investigating officer of the National Investigation Agency to enable the officer to identify Ferreira’s and Gonsalves’ exact location “at any given time”.
While this may sound like an uncommon bail condition, it has featured in three previous orders of the Supreme Court over the last nine months. In all four instances, Justice Bose was part of the bench that passed the order. The Delhi High Court has passed over 800 bail orders with this condition.
Read more

Release of Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira may get delayed as court rejects cash bail plea

31/07/2023

The Telegraph / by pti

The court imposed additional conditions for their bail, directing the accused to furnish a PR (personal recognisance) bond of Rs 50,000 each.
The release of activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, could get delayed as a special NIA court here on Monday rejected their pleas for temporary cash bail.
The court imposed additional conditions for their bail, directing the accused to furnish a PR (personal recognisance) bond of Rs 50,000 each and desist from speaking to the media about the case.
Read more

After securing Supreme Court bail, activists Gonsalves, Ferreira likely to walk out of jail next week

28/07/2023

The Telegraph / by pti

The apex court, while giving relief, asked them not to leave Maharashtra and surrender their passports to the police.
Activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, are likely to walk out of jail only next week after securing bail from the Supreme Court on Friday as certain formalities are to be completed before they are released, defence lawyers said here.
Read more

Also read:
● Supreme Court grants bail to Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, with tethers (The Leaflet / July 28, 2023)