Video: Unless we wake-up India will enact Hitlerite Germany: N Venugopal Rao
Kulukkai TV / by N Venugopal Rao
en | 15:31 | 2022
Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case Book Release – Conference
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Is India Really a Democracy? The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in the Wind: Nayantara Sahgal
The Wire / by Nayantara Sahgal
The author’s lament about the attacks on individual rights and freedoms in present-day India.
… Recently I heard that the government wants a strong opposition. But when members of the opposition such as the Elgar Parishad prisoners, to name one case, are in jail for criticising some official measure or not falling in line with the ruling ideology, is this the way that a democracy treats dissent?
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Five Bhima Koregaon accused write open letter on four years of incarceration [read letter]
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‘We are all prisoners of conscience’, say those facing trial in Bhima Koregaon case on the occasion of fourth anniversary of their arrests [read letter]
05/06/2022
The Leaflet / by The Leaflet
As they complete four years in prison, those accused of instigating violence wonder how much more time the judiciary will take to digest that all the evidence fabricated against them is fake.
In a poignant letter from the prisons where they have been languishing for the past four years, those facing trial in the Bhima Koregaon case, have asserted that their suffering is nothing in comparison to many other prisoners, who have spent years altogether with a smile on their face. “Looking at them gives us some a different kind of energy. [sic] Even in these inhuman places, they live with great optimism….”
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Read their letter in full here
Five Bhima Koregaon accused write open letter on four years of incarceration
05/06/2022
The Hindu / by Special Correspondent
Reiterate their commitment to fight for the underprivileged and downtrodden.
It has been four years since Prof Shoma Sen, advocate Surendra Gadling, activist Rona Wilson, Mahesh Raut and Sudhir Dhawale were arrested for the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad conference. They have written an open letter that they are still committed to take up the cudgels for the labourers, underprivileged and the downtrodden.
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siddhesh gautam (Jun 6):
Bhima Koregaon: four years of injustice, 2022
From 6th June 2018 to 6th June 2022, four years of imprisonment, four years of wrongful incrimination, four years of injustice and an eternity of separation and pain.
#FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #freebk16
Also watch/read:
VIDEO: THE BHIMA KOREGAON CONSPIRACY CASE – THREE YEARS TOO MANY …
06/06/2021
By Family and Friends of BK16
Three years ago, on 6 June 2018, the first arrests of human rights activists in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case occurred. Today, 16 of the finest citizens of India face trumped up charges in this fabricated case.
Join the Family Members and friends of BK16 on a webinar and Book Release.
Book Release by Bhanwar Meghvanshi, leading writer and Dalit Intellectual
hindi + en | 4h 30min | 2021
Watch video at PUCL fb
SALAAKHON MEIN QAID AVAAZEIN (IMPRISONED VOICES)
06/06/2021
By Family Members and friends of BK16
“Salaakhon Mein Qaid Avaazein”
Edition: June 2021
Language: Hindi
Paperback: 69 pages
Access a PDF copy of the book here (15MB)
‘Unjust’ jail and death can’t eclipse Stan Swamy’s work / What is the Martin Ennals Award?
‘Unjust’ jail and death can’t eclipse Stan Swamy’s work
04/06/2022
The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent
Jesuit priest has been honoured by Martin Ennals Foundation in Geneva for showing exceptional commitment to defending and promoting human rights.
Stan Swamy, the human rights defender and Jesuit priest who died in judicial custody in Mumbai at the age of 84, has been posthumously honoured by the Martin Ennals Foundation in Geneva.
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What is the Martin Ennals Award, the ‘human rights Nobel’, which honoured Father Stan Swamy?
04/06/2022
The Indian Express / by Dipanita Nath
In a special move this year, the Martin Ennals Foundation posthumously honoured Father Stan Swamy for his “many contributions to human rights”. Who was Martin Ennals, and what is the intention of the award?
Every year, the Martin Ennals Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, gives out an award that is regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders. The recipients of this year’s awards include Daouda Diallo from Burkina Faso, Pham Doan Trang from Vietnam and Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja of Bahrain.
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Late Indian Jesuit honored with rights ‘Nobel Prize’
04/06/2022
UCA News / by UCA News reporter
Father Stan Swamy, the late Indian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, has been posthumously awarded the Martin Ennals Award, regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders…
Though the award was presented posthumously, the priest was chosen for it while he was still alive. “Father Stan was nominated for the award in spring 2021, but he sadly passed away before it could reach him,” said Hans Thoolen, chair of the award jury.
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‘Death of Imagination’ / Hindutva, Sangh Parivar, UAPA: Penguin Censors Words From VV Rao’s Book
Penguin Random House Drops ‘Hindutva’, Other Words From Varavara Rao’s Latest Book: Report
05/06/2022
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
The said words, from the book which is yet to be released, have been removed by the publishers’ legal team purportedly to avoid attracting charges such as sedition or defamation.
Penguin Random House India’s legal team has allegedly removed words like ‘Hindutva’, ‘Sangh Parivar’ and ‘saffronisation’ from Telugu poet Varavara Rao’s latest book Varavara Rao: A Revolutionary Poet, the Quint has reported.
The book, which is yet to be released, will become the first English-translated collection of poems by the 81-year-old Rao, who was arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case. He is at present out on medical bail.
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‘Death of Imagination’: Meena Kandasamy on Penguin Censoring Varavara Rao’s Book
04/06/2022
The Quint / by Nikhila Henry
Meena Kandasamy, an editor of Varavara Rao’s book, says climate of fear among publishers is real in India.
Penguin Random House (PRH), a leading publisher in India, has prescribed removal of several words including ‘Hindutva,’ ‘Sangh Parivar,’ and ‘Ayodhya,’ from Telugu poet Varavara Rao’s book – Varavara Rao: The Revolutionary Poet.
Poet, novelist, and translator Meena Kandasamy, who is one of the editors of the book, speaks to The Quint in an interview about the legal vetting.
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Hindutva, Sangh Parivar, UAPA: Penguin Censors Words From Varavara Rao’s Book
03/06/2022
The Quint / by Nkikhila Henry
References to ‘revolution,’ saffronisation’ and ‘Ayodhya’ in poet Varavara Rao’s poems were flagged by Penguin.
Penguin Random House India, a leading publisher in the country, has prescribed censorship of Telugu poet Varavara Rao’s poems for fear of being slapped with sedition and defamation charges, reveal comments from the legal team of the publisher, posted on the latest edit of the book Varavara Rao: A Revolutionary Poet.
Read more
Also read:
● ‘Legal Row’: Penguin Censors Poems, Then Stalls Varavara Rao’s Book Indefinitely (The Quint / Nov 2021)
Video: Honour for Fr. Stan Swamy at the 2022 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony
Martin Ennals Award 2022
02/06/2022
By Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders
french (en) | 1:36:04 (Stan Swamy’s honour 1:24:00) | 2022
Watch video
By The Indian Social Institute (June 1):
Fr. Stan Swamy will be honoured on 2 June 2022. (Time: 09.30 pm India time) in Geneva with the Martin Ennals Honorary Award-2022. Fr. Xavier Soreng SJ, Ranchi will participate in the ceremony and receive the honorary award.
Jury of the Martin Ennals Award honours Father Stan Swamy (1937-2021)
30/05/2022
By Martin Ennals Award
The Martin Ennals Foundation announced today that a special, post-humous homage will be made to Father Stanislas Swamy during the 2022 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony, next June 2nd at 18h CET.
Father Stan (1937-2021), as he was better known, was a Jesuit priest and activist who founded several organizations to promote human rights in Jharkhand state, India. He dedicated much of his work to advance the rights of Adivasi communities – indigenous tribes of India who are known as forest dwellers and protectors of the environment.
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HRDA honour for Fr. Stan Swamy
30/05/2022
Sabgrang / by Sabrangindia
Father Swamy worked most of his life to empower the Adivasi community
Human Rights Defenders Alert – India (HRDA) on June 2, 2022 will award martyred human rights defender Father Stan Swamy ‘2022 Martin Ennals Award’ for his exemplary work protecting and defending the rights of Adivasis in Jharkhand.
The 84-year-old Jesuit priest was a beloved activist till his final days in Taloja jail where he suffered a cardiac arrest. He had been jailed under trumped up charges in the Bhima Koregaon case, despite the fact that he was nowhere near the location of the violence!
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● Framed to Die – The Case of Stan Swamy
By Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
Edition: Aug 2021
Publisher: Peoples Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi
Language: English
Paperback: 45 pages
Download full book (pdf file)
Maharashtra MLC met Sagar Gorkhe in jail / On 7th day of his hunger strike Sagar Gorkhe called it off
Bhima Koregaon accused calls off hunger strike
28/05/2022
The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
Sagar Gorkhe began “fast unto death” on May 20 alleging harassment by jail authorities.
Bhima Koregaon accused Sagar Gorkhe called off his hunger strike on Friday after Member of Legislative Council Kapil Patil met him at Taloja Central Jail.
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Maharashtra MLC to meet Bhima Koregaon accused Sagar Gorkhe in jail
27/05/2022
The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
He has been on an indefinite hunger strike alleging harassment by jail authorities.
Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Kapil Patil will visit the Taloja Central Jail to meet Bhima Koregaon accused Sagar Gorkhe, who is on an indefinite hunger strike alleging harassment by jail authorities.
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The dangerous Machchhardani (mosquito net) – Statement by Ramesh Gaichor
Jailed Shahir Sagar Gorkhe is not the only under trail prisoner who has been continually harassed and whose ‘Machchhardani’ stolen by the insolent jail administration. This is an attempt to condemn the unlawful treatment meted against the under trial prisoners and to safeguard their rights. Following is the account of a similar incident that was faced by another imprisoned writer and poet Ramesh Gaichor translated from the original written in Marathi.
#Machhardani #Freebk16 #gautammawlakha #Sagar #Ramesh
Statement by Ramesh Gaichor
Also read/ watch:
● As Sagar Gorkhe announces fast unto death, Gautam Navlakha approaches NIA court seeking mosquito net (The Leaflet / May 2022)
Video Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor (Sep 5, 2020)
hindi/ english subtitles | 2:20min | 2020
Kabir Kala Manch activists Sagar Gorkhe & Ramesh Gaichor have alleged that they’re being forced by the NIA to give confessional statements, claiming they are a part of Maoist organization. The two refused, and were arrested in The Bhima Koregaon case.
Their statement was recorded on Sep 5, 2020.
Watch their statement
● Kabir Kala Manch: A History of Revolutionary Singing and State Repression (ritimo / April 2022)
● Video: Dafachya Talavar (Songs of Defiance) | Hindi, Marthi (subtitles: English) | 24:01min | 2022
Hunger Strike unto death against the harassment from Taloja Central Jail’s apathetic administration
By Sagar Tatyaram Gorakhe
To,
Honourable Home Minister,
State of Maharashtra,
Home Department, Mantralaya
Mumbai
Hunger Strike unto death against the harassment from Taloja Central Jail’s apathetic administration.
Subject:
Sir,
I, Sagar Tatyaram Gorakhe, am a Political Prisoner under the Elgar Parishad Bhima Koregao Case, and have been locked up in the Taloja Central Jail since September 2020. It is with extreme distress that I inform you that since the very beginning the prison administration has treated the Bhima Koregao Case accused with utmost prejudice. As a result, the prison has become a torture camp for my co-accused and me. As you must be aware that it was the maltreatment by the prison administration that led to the custodial death of Father Stan Swami last year. Even today our basic human rights are being trampled over every day in the prison. It is because the situation has become absolutely unbearable that I must resort to an agonising hunger strike in protest. …
Sagar Gorkhe announces fast unto death, Gautam Navlakha approaches NIA court seeking mosquito net
File pic: Sagar Gorkhe
Accused Sagar Gorkhe goes on hunger strike against jail authorities
25/05/2022
Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia
Accused alleges harassment by jail authorities and denial of basic facilities, Co-accused Gautam Navlakha seeks special court’s permission to use a mosquito net
Sagar Gorkhe, a cultural activist who has been locked up in the Taloja Central Jail since September 2020 as a virtual political prisoner in the Elgar Parishad Bhima Koregaon case, has now gone on hunger strike to protest his inhuman treatment in jail. Gorkhe has written to Maharashtra’s Home Minister, informing him about his decision that he was forced to take due to Taloja Central Jail allegedly harassing him and denying him his basic human rights.
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As Sagar Gorkhe announces fast unto death, Gautam Navlakha approaches NIA court seeking mosquito net
25/05/2022
The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat
Gorkhe’s letter to Maharashtra Home Minister, Dilip Walse Patil, equates the conditions in Taloja jail to that of a “torture camp”.
SAGAR Gorkhe, an activist and performer with cultural troupe Kabir Kala Manch, accused of inciting violence in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case, has written to Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil announcing his hunger strike in protest against the conditions at Taloja jail.
Meanwhile, septuagenarian activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha, who is a co-accused lodged in the same prison, approached the National Investigation Agency (‘NIA’) seeking a mosquito net.
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Elgar Parishad accused alleges harassment by Taloja jail officer
25/05/2022
Mid-day.com / by Faizan Khan
Sagar Tatyaram Gorkhe has written to the state home minister Dilip Walse Patil, threatens to go on an indefinite hunger strike if action is not taken immediately.
Sagar Tatyaram Gorkhe, an accused in Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon accused, has written to Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, alleging harassment by the Taloja Jail superintendent. He has threatened to go on a hunger strike until death.
“It is with extreme distress that I inform you that since the very beginning the prison administration has treated the Bhima Koregaon case accused with utmost prejudice. As a result, the prison has become a torture camp for my co-accused and me. As you must be aware that it was the maltreatment by the prison administration that led to the custodial death of Father Stan Swami last year,” his letter reads.
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Jail officials delaying treatment to all Elgar Parishad case accused: Sagar Gorkhe writes to HM
24/05/2022
Hindustan Times / by HT Correspondent
He has also urged the home minister to immediately stop the scanning of all incoming and outgoing mail by the jail officials.
Sagar Gorkhe, one of the accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case, has written to state home minister Dilip Walse-Patil alleging that Taloja jail authorities are discriminating against several accused in the case and deliberately delaying medical treatment to them even though they are suffering from several serious ailments.
Read more
Video Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor (Sep 5, 2020)
hindi/ english subtitles | 2:20min | 2020
Kabir Kala Manch activists Sagar Gorkhe & Ramesh Gaichor have alleged that they’re being forced by the NIA to give confessional statements, claiming they are a part of Maoist organization. The two refused, and were arrested in The Bhima Koregaon case.
Their statement was recorded on Sep 5, 2020.
Watch their statement
Also read/watch:
● Kabir Kala Manch: A History of Revolutionary Singing and State Repression (ritimo / April 2022)
● Video: Dafachya Talavar (Songs of Defiance) | Hindi, Marthi (subtitles: English) | 24:01min | 2022