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BJP rulers’ standard mode of operation amidst Covid-19: Turning ‘victims’ into accused

BJP rulers’ standard mode of operation amidst Covid-19: Turning ‘victims’ into accused

Counterview/ by Surabhi Agarwal, Sandeep Pandey, Shreekumar

At a time when there can be no mass mobilisations or street protests, and when so many people are distressed, anxious and distracted by the unprecedented challenges our country is facing due to the Covid-19 crisis, the government’s actions against activists, journalists, intellectuals and Muslims appear to be calculated and insidious.
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VINDICTIVE GOVT FINDS SEDITION UNDER EVERY STONE

14/05/2020

National Herald / by Ashlin Mathew

Even as the Government claims to be waging a desperate war against the coronavirus and the lockdown has crippled the economy, draconian laws are being invoked to punish protestors and stifle dissent.
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The BK16

The BK16


All the people who are the focus of this blog have been accused of being associated with what has come to be known as the “Bhima-Koregaon” or “Elgar Parishad” case.
To mark the bi-centenary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon in 2018, more than 200 Dalit, Bahujan, Ambedkarite and other organisations came together. The coalition organised the hugely successful and massively attended event, ‘Elgar Parishad’ (loud declaration committee), on December 31, 2017 in Shaniwarwada in Pune, once the seat of Peshwai power. This event, as per the organisers, was organised to expose the Navi Peshwai — an era of increasing repression on movements, alienation of minorities, increasing caste atrocities, anti-poor development policies and more.

Charges against the Activists

● That they had made inflammatory speeches at the Elgar Parishad.
● That they are acting on behalf of, or are members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists).
● That they were plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister.

Lack of Evidence

As it turns out, most of those arrested were not even at the Elgar Parishad event, the charges about the links to Maoists entirely shown to be based on fabricated evidence and so far the charges about the assassination plot had not even a single piece of evidence produced.

The Case of the Reliance Workers Satyanarayan Karrela, Babushankar Vanguri, 
Shankar Gunde, Ravi Marampelli and Saidulu Singapanga

The BK16: Who is …?

Who is Varavara Rao?
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Who is Sudha Bharadwaj?
All posts related to Sudha Bharadwaj
Who is Sudhir Dhawale?
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Who is Arun Ferreira?
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Who is Surendra Gadling?
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Who is Vernon Gonsalves?
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Who is Mahesh Raut?
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Who is Shoma Sen?
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Who is Rona Wilson?
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Who is Gautam Navlakha?
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Who is Anand Teltumbde?
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Who is Hany Babu?
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Who are the Kabir Kala Manch artistes Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor?
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Who is Stan Swamy?
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On the History and Memory of the Battle of Koregaon

On the History and Memory of the Battle of Koregaon

The Wire / by Dwaipayan Sen

The site and its associated meanings have thus only further cemented their reputation as a source of resistance to a Brahminical order.
A range of views characterise recent discourse concerning Mahar involvement in the famed Battle of Koregaon of 1818 that brought to an end Peshwa rule in western India and led to the rise of the East India company-state’s rule in the region.
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UN raises concerns over exploitative provisions of UAPA [full communique]

UN raises concerns over exploitative provisions of UAPA [full communique]

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

Sites labelling of people as terrorists, reversal of burden of proof, and prolonged pre-trial detention as inconsistent with international Human Rights and legal standards.
In a special communication dated May 6, four United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs have written to the government of India about their serious concerns with respect to violation of human rights that are made possible by several provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 and amendments made to it in 2019.
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Devanur Mahadeva: Release Anand Teltumbde immediately

Devanur Mahadeva: Release Anand Teltumbde immediately

Times of India / by TNN

Mysuru: Dalit writer and activist Devanur Mahadeva oined hundreds of activists and rationalists from across the country on Thursday, demandingthe immediate release of activist and writer Anand Teltumbde.
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DSS STAGES PROTEST, DEMANDS RELEASE OF DR ANAND TELTUMBDE

14/05/2020

City Today / by CTBUREAU_HS

Mysuru: Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) staged a silent protest alleging the government has arrested scholar Dr Anand Teltumbde purposefully and demanded his immediate release.
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SC single bench on bail pleas must lead to speedy justice for Safoora Zargar, Sudha Bharadwaj

SC single bench on bail pleas must lead to speedy justice for Safoora Zargar, Sudha Bharadwaj

The Print / by Maneesh Chhibber

Supreme Court’s move to let single judge benches hear bail pleas must not end up like govt pronouncements – good to read about but with little impact on citizens’ lives.
It took a pandemic of the scale of Covid-19 for India’s Supreme Court to finally decide that single-judge benches will hear special leave petitions, or SLPs, arising out of bail orders in cases where the maximum punishment is up to seven years.
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Delhi Communal Violence Case: Jail for Pregnant Safoora, Bail for ‘Gun Supplier’ Sirohi

Delhi Communal Violence Case: Jail for Pregnant Safoora, Bail for ‘Gun Supplier’ Sirohi

The Wire / by Seemi Pasha

How can a person who was found in possession of illegal arms during a riot be granted bail in a riots case when others from whom nothing was recovered are still behind bars?
New Delhi: Consider the case of two people arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the Delhi riots of February 2020.
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AI India: FREE SHOMA & SUDHA!

AI India: FREE SHOMA & SUDHA!

By Amnesty International India

Shoma Sen & Sudha Bharadwaj are in Byculla jail where an inmate has been tested positive for #COVID19. The Indian Government must stop punishing them for speaking truth to power and release them immediately.

AI UK: FREE THE BHIMA KOREGAON 11

By Amnesty International UK

Eleven prominent activists are locked up in India after false accusations by the government.
The Bhima Koregaon 11 (BK11) have fought bravely for the rights of the poorest and most marginalised communities in the country. Far from being anti-national, the ‘Bhima Koregaon 11’ are for many, national heroes.
They should be celebrated, not treated like criminals. Email India’s Home Minister demanding their immediate release.
Send instant e-mail here

Mumbai Police Land at Arrested Activist’s House to Inquire About His Whereabouts

Mumbai Police Land at Arrested Activist’s House to Inquire About His Whereabouts

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

Civil liberties activist Vernon Gonsalves is lodged at Taloja jail along with others arrested in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case.
Mumbai: In a strange turn of events, two policemen from Mumbai’s crime branch landed at civil rights activist and lawyer Susan Abraham’s residence in Andheri asking the whereabouts of her husband Vernon Gonsalves, who has been in jail since 2018. Gonsalves, who was arrested in August 2018 for his alleged involvement in the Elgar Parishad case, is currently lodged at Taloja central prison located in Thane district.
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JAILED ACTIVIST´S WIFE WRITES TO MUMBAI TOP COP, CJ AFTER POLICE VISIT HER HOME

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

“My son Sagar and I were shocked and disturbed at this uncalled for visit at a time when the risk of transmission of Covid-19 between police (frontline workers) and community members is very high,” the letter states.
Activist Vernon Gonsalves’ wife, advocate Susan Abraham, has written to the Mumbai Police commissioner and Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court stating that while her husband is lodged in Taloja jail in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case, police officers from the crime branch visited their home, making inquiries about his whereabouts. Gonsalves has been behind bars since August 2018.
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