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We, the undersigned, are shocked by the serial raids across the country on the homes of activists and public intellectuals who are critical of the government and the ruling party at the Centre. The arrests of prominent activists and intellectuals Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and others, are nothing but an attempt by the government to strike terror among those who are fighting for justice for the marginalised. This is also an attempt by the BJP to invent a false enemy and engage in scaremongering in order to polarise the 2019 elections in its favour. Already, the government and the media houses close to the BJP have been trying to spin a false narrative of a Maoist conspiracy since June, 2018. Terms like “urban naxals” are invented in order to stifle any criticism of the government. We have learnt that the Delhi Police, after having arrested Sudha Bharadwaj, waited for Republic TV to arrive before taking her to the court. This simply shows that the arrests are incomplete without the accompanying sensationalist media propaganda to demonise activists, human rights defenders and intellectuals.
The so-called raids carried out on the houses of these activists are aimed at creating a spectacle, as the writings and views of these intellectuals are already publicly known and are well documented. This seems like a conspiracy to divert attention from the gravity of the Sanatan Sanstha conspiracy to carry out serial bomb attacks on Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi! The same Sanatan Sanstha was also involved in the murder of Gauri Lankesh, as per the ongoing investigations by Karnataka police. Today’s arrests have been carried out in order to give cover to the murderers of Gauri Lankesh. People like Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha and others who have been arrested are friends of the people who have dedicated their entire lives to the betterment of the Indian public. By arresting them, the BJP is only exposing its insecurities and its intolerance to any dissent or criticism of its policies.
The arrests should be seen in continuation with the recent attacks on pro-justice voices such as Swami Agnivesh, Umar Khalid and many other student activists from Delhi to Lucknow. A BJP lawmaker from Karnataka even advocated the murder of “intellectuals.” Both the arrests and the physical attacks on justice loving people must be seen in a series of attempts to stifle dissent and deny social justice.
We demand immediate release of the arrested individuals, dropping of all false and malicious charges, as these arrests are politically motivated and unjustified.
Shehla Rashid Shora, former Vice-President, JNU Students’ Union.
Mohit Pandey, former President, JNU Students’ Union.
Fahad Ahmad, former General Secreatry TISS Students’ Union, Mumbai.
Admiral Ramdas, Former Chief of Naval Staff.
Lalita Ramdas, Activist.
Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist.
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Author, Journalist, Publisher.
Neha Dixit, Journalist.
Jignesh Mevani, MLA Vadgam, Gujarat.
Sanam Sutirath Wazir, Human Rights Activist.
Nakul Singh Sawhney, Documentary Filmmaker.
Umar Khalid, Activist, BASO.
Nandita Narain, former President, DUTA and FEDCUTA.
Kavita Krishnan, PB Member, CPI (ML) liberation
Nivedita Menon, Professor, JNU.
Teesta Setalvad, Journalist and Social Activist.
Harish Iyer, Equal Rights Activist.
Ram Puniyani, All India Secular Forum.
Lubna Duggal, Economic & Political Weekly.
Bindu Doddahatti, Advocate, Alternative Law Forum.
Swami Agnivesh, Arya Samaj, Social Activist.
Anisha Ahuja, Entrepreneur.
Aniket Alam, Journalist and Historian.
Nirjhari Sinha, Activist.
Chayanika Shah, Queer Feminist Activist.
Geeta Seshu, Independent Journalist, Mumbai.
Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, Journalist, Peace Activist.
Richa Jairaj, Women’s Rights Activist.
Mallika Sarabhai Social Activist.
Rituparna, Queer Feminist Activist, Delhi.
Maya Krishna Rao, Theatre Artist.
Bittu, WSS.
Maneka Khanna, Lawyer.
Payoshi Roy, Lawyer.
Surbhi Dhar, Lawyer.
Zeba Sikora, Lawyer.
Veena Johari, Lawyer.
Bindulakshmi Pattadath, Faculty, TISS Mumbai.
Amit Sengupta, Journalist and former President, JNU Students' Union
Vineeta Bal, Retired Researcher.
Svati Joshi, Academic and Activist.
Rohit Samuel Shah, Doctoral Scholar, IITB-Monash.
Panchali Ray, Assisstant Professor, Jadavpur University.
Shraddha, Junior Research Fellow, MPI for Innovation and Competition.
Ravi Duggal, Independent Health Researcher and Activist.
Debjit Bannerjee, Bastar Solidarity Network.
Pranoy Thakur, Activist.
Dr. Shakeel, Convenor, JSA, Bihar.
Sohini, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, Bihar.
Swatija Manorama, Social Activist.
Suhas Paranjape, Retired Researcher.
Jashodhara Sengupta, Human Rights Activist.
Rupesh Kumar Singh, Freelance Journalist.
Inayat Singh, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Punjab.
Beni Madhab Sen, Delhi.
Zubeda, Student.
Dr. Sona Deshmukh, Research Coordinator, Pune.
Vasantha, Activist.
Abhay Shukla, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.
Balmurli Natrajan, Professor.
Vijaya Kumar Seethapha, Film maker/activist. Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali.
Akhila Vasan, Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali.
Meera Sanghmitra, NAPM.
Pushpa S., Social and Political Activist.
Vandana Mahajan, Gender Equality Practitioner.
Rammanohar, Journalist, Writer.
Ila Ananya, Student.
Narendra Gupta, Jan Swasthya Abhyan.
Koonal Duggal, Independent Researcher
Mujahid Nafees, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Lara Jesani, Advocate
R V Ramana Murthy, Professor
Hussain Indorewala, Mumbai
Srinivas Lankala, Assistant Professor
Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore
V.S. Sambandan, Journalist
Kritika, Journalist
Subhash Rai, Journalist
Mrittika Biswas, Student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Mirza Saaib Bég, Lawyer, Former President NALSAR Student Bar Council
Roshni, Student
Sitaram Shelar, Convener
Niti Saxena, Activist/ Lawyer
Shreya Ila Anasuya, Journalist
Milind Champanerkar, Writer, Freelance Journalist and Civil Liberties Activist
Kalpana Sharma, Independent Journalist
Mohammed Afeef, Advocate
Inji Pennu, Journalist, Global Voices
Dolphy D'souza, Police Reforms Watch
Ria De, PhD Student
Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party of India
C P Geevan, Former scientist and Independent Researcher
Aditya Nigam, Professor
Ritu Dewan, Director
Shailza Sharma, Lawyer
Bhamati Sivapalan, Filmmaker
A Sunil Dharan, Academic, Delhi
J Ravikumar, Stephen G Management Consultant and Relationship Counsellor cum Trainer
Neha Mathews, Journalist
Mazher Hussain, Social Activist
Vasvi, Artist
Rita Manchanda, Writer, Activist
Vidyun Sabhaney, Artist
Winnie Saldanha, Founder Member - WE FOR YOU Association
Banojyotsna Lahiri, Academic and Lecturer, DU
Padmaja Shaw, Retd. Professor, Journalism, Osmania University
Shiraz Bulsara Prabhu, Activist Kashtakari Sanghatana
Urvashi Chudawala, Student, Tata Institute Of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Shinzani Jain, Student, Ambedkar University, Delhi
Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore
Nikita Agarwal, Advocate
Pavani P., WSS
Bosco Patel
Mandeep Raikhy, Choreographer
Sunayana, Student, Ashoka University
Mandeep Raikhy, Choreographer
Rosamma Thomas, Journalist
Akhil Kumar, Law
Mandeep Raikhy , Choreographer
Jeroo Mulla, Lecturer
Nirja, Citizen
Dyuti, Researcher
Saravanan Velusamy, Student
Anand Kumar, LL.B student
Aradhna Wal, Journalist
Ashalatha, Activist
B. N. Ratna
Sharada Gopal, Right to Food Karnataka
Sarayu, Advocate
Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Sayali Kadu, Lawyer
Smriti Dhingra, Social Worker
Himu, Research Scholar
Archit Krishna, Lawyer
Carmel Christy, Assistant Professor, Delhi
Kaneez Fathima, Civil Rights Activist
Charudatta Navare, Research scholar
Nirajana Chakraborty, Student
Dhruv Mankad, Managing Trustee, Anusandhan Trust, Mumbai
V. Krishnappa, Group Captain (Retd.)
Subhana Khan, Child psychologist
Chitra Adkar, Research Scholar
Sagari R Ramdas Veterinary Scientist
Noor Enayat, Publicist
Hamza Khan
Rajesh Umadevi Srinivas, Activist
Amit Kumar, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Satyaki Chakraborty, Legal Specialist
Saranga Ugalmugle, Advocate, Bombay High Court
Freny Manecksha, Independent journalist
Eric Pinto, NAPM
Basant Hetamsaria, NAPM Jharkhand
Kaustuv, Assistant Professor, MAKAUT and Queer Fiction Writer
Poushali Basak, Queer Feminist Activist
Saurabh Kumar, Freelance Journalist
John Dayal, Writer
Dr. K.S. Kusuma, Assistant Professor
Deepti Mary Minj, Student, JNU
Ankita Aggarwal, Research Scholar
Anuradha Talwar, State Committee Member, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity
Satyaki Chakraborty, Legal Specialist
Durgesh, Graduate Student, Department of Sociology, Johns Hopkins University.
Sucheta Chakravarty, Journalist
Arunesh Maiyar, Sangama (Working Class Sexuality Minorities Group)
Sabina Y Rahman, Ph.D. (Sociology) Candidate/MSW
Samina Mishra, Media Practitioner and Teacher
Kalyani B, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan
Shivam, student
Pradip Kumar Datta, Professor
Mukta srivastava, Activist
Ankit Rathore, Student, Ambedkar University Delhi
Mounica Sreesai, Student
Balreddy Jitta, Natural Farmer , Agricultural Activist
Shikha, Student, DU
Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist
Sucheta Chakravarty, Journalist
Pramod Mandade, Ph.D. student, IIT Bombay
Paroma Ray, Research Scholar, JMI
C Lakshmanan, Academic and Dalit Activist
Karen, Photographer
Mukta Srivastava, Social Activist
Rajinder Singh Majhail. Vijay Jandiala. Gurpal singh Guri. Beant Singh. Students Struggle Committee Punjab
Shireen Azam, Writer
Mathew Thomas, Retired
Shatakshy Bhatt, M.Phil.- Ph.D. Student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Fr.Jothi SJ Director, Udayani Kolkata
Lazar Vellara Sr Manager
Jasveen Jairath Concerned Citizens
VRINDA GOPINATH Journalist
Roshni Chattopadhyay Student and member of PUCL, Mahatrashtra
Raj kumar sinha NAPM Madhya Pradesh
Vijay singh REVOLUTIONARY democracy.
Priya Thuvassery Filmmaker, Delhi
Mukta Srivastava Social activist
Saumya Dadoo Human Rights Student
Shobha Human rights activist and Artist
Aaloka Math Educator
VIJAY KUMAR Central commitee member of CPI(M-L)) Red Star
Poushali Basak FAOW and Sappho for Equality
Koyel M Activist
Fr. Nithiya Sagayam OFM Cap Secretary AIFFI
Prateek Khobragade Student
Soham Basu Student
Jubal Braganza Retired
Abir Dasgupta Journalist
Samata Biswas Faculty, Bethune College
Mamta Singh Activist, UP
PUJA Human Rights Activist
Indra Munshi Former Head, Dept of Sociology, Univ of Mumbai
Anubha Rana student
Arundhati Ghosh Arts Support
Biplab Mukherjje Banglar Manabadhikar Surakksha Mancha (MASUM)
Devika Student
Dr.Anant Phadke Social worker
Raju Behara Consultant
Sandhya LC Independent professional
Tanima PhD student
Rakesh Sharma Filmmaker
M N Ravunni Vice President, CRPP
Yousuf Saeed Filmmaker, Delhi
Jitta balreddy Journalist
Praveer Peter Solidarity Centre & Sajha Kadam Jharkhand
Himshi Singh NAPM
Subhabrata Roy Research scholar MS university ofBaroda
Minakshi Research Consultant
Mukta srivastava Social activist
R N Shukul Academic Consultant
Nandini Dutta, Associate Professor, Economics
Department, Miranda House, University of Delhi
Aatika, Student
Parivaz, homemaker
Katyayani Vidmahe, Retired Professor and Literary Critic
Bhupendra Yadav, Teacher
Adhiraaj Ray Advocate, Calcutta High Court
Manjula Pradeep, Social Activist
R N Shukul, Academic Consultant
Rakesh Bisaria, Engineer
Pathikrit Sanyal, Journalist, DailyO
Raunaq Chandrashekar, Lawyer
Suvir Kaul, Professor
Mayank Kumar, Academics, Delhi University
Noah, Writer-Director
Sravanthi Dasari, Researcher
Hasina Khan, Bebaak collective
Mukta Srivastava, Social activist
Farrukh S Waris, Retd. Principal
Himshi Singh, NAPM
Gaurav Kasturia, Filmmaker
Arundhati Dhuru , National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Prof. Roop Rekha Verma, Secretary, Saajhi Duniya, Lucknow
Nayanjyoti, Activist
K A Shaji, Journalist
Mohammed Ali Khan, Queer Activist
Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party (India)
Abhishek Shaw, Hyderabad
Anindita Adhikari, PhD student
Shailza Sharma, Lawyer
Kalyani Jaishankar, Self-employed
D Ravi Kanth, Journalist
Minnie Vaid, Documentary filmmaker.
Brinelle D'souza, Academic and Activist
Mukta Srivastava, Social Activist
Naren Singh Rao, Independent Researcher
Dilip Menon, Director Centre for Indian Studies in Africa, Johannesburg
Shobha, Human Rights Activist and Theatre Artist
Vivek Sundara, Rights Activist
G Arunima, Professor, JNU
Veena
Kamayani Swami, NAPM
Jothi S J, Director Udayani Social Action Forum
Pradeep Bhattacharya, Writer, Docu Maker
Aditi Maddali, Women's Studies, TISS
Sukla Sen, Peace Activist
Ingrid Srinath, Civil society defender
N. Sukumar, Professor
Jothi S J, Director Udayani Social Action Forum
Bhuvi Gupta, Communications Consultant
Avi Researcher, Gender and Sexuality
Arjun Sheoran, Advocate | PUCL
Archana Prasad, Academic
Vivek, Activist, Jharkhand
K. Ashraf, Research Scholar, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Talat Aziz, Citizen of India
Arjun Sheoran, Advocate
Seema Kulkarni, Social researcher
Jaleshwar Upadhyay, Senior Journalist
Sunandan K N, Assistant Professor, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Biraj Mehta, Lecturer
Dipta Bhog, Gender Rights activist
Joseph Mathai, Civil Rights Activist
Kausik Mukhopadhyay, Artist
C P Chandrasekhar, JNU
Himshi Singh, NAPM
Ravi S Kumaraswamy, Social worker
Indira C, Public Health Researcher
Rōmal Lāisram, Founder, Queer Arts Movement (India)
Shireen Maswood, Retd. Teacher, CU, Deptt. of History
Dr V N Sharma, Environment, Social & Human Rights Activist
Jaleshwar Upadhyay, Senior Journalist
Hasina Khan, Activist
Dwaipayan Sen, Historian and Professor.
Sion Kongari, Social Worker
Pradeep Joseph, Citizen of India
Tasneema Zaidi, Child Rights Activist
Mathew Jacob, Human Rights Defenders Alert
K.P. Reji, Artist
Virochan Raote
Anomita
Kalpana Wilson, South Asia Solidarity Group, UK
Arunima Nair, Researcher
Divita Shandilya, Researcher
Sherin Pradeep, Citizen of Independent India
Mohua Ray, Artist
Gagan Sethi, HRD
Subir Datta, Retired teacher
Brinelle Dsouza, Faculty Member, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
C.T. Joseph, Citizen of Democratic India
Anuradha, Development Professional
Michelle Pradeep, Future of India
Mukta Srivastava, Social Activist, Mumbai
Deepti N, Ph.D. Student, TISS & Journalist
Sukruta Alluri, Researcher, CSSSC
Maimoona Mollah, Activist
Mangalesh Dabral, Poet and Journalist; former Editor.
Lakshmi krishnamurty, Alarippu
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