Activist Varavara Rao admitted to hospital in Mumbai; Family seeks bail for him
Hyderabad: Activist Varavara Rao, who has been arrested and in jail in Maharashtra in the Elgar Parishad case, was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, police said, while his family members on Saturday demanded his immediate release on bail.
"It is learnt that Sri Varavar Rao has been admitted to JJ Hospital at Mumbai while in judicial custody.The matter is being informed to family members and necessary passes are being issued by DCP CZ for family to travel to Mumbai.
We are coordinating with agencies at Mumbai," Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar tweeted. The 80-year-old Rao is currently lodged at the Taloja jail at Navi Mumbai.
Varavara Rao's wife Hemalatha in a statement on Saturday expressed serious concern over his health condition. The family came to know from police in Hyderabad on Friday night that he was admitted to hospital, she said.
The information available to the family about his health and the sequence of events preceding his admission to hospital in Mumbai is unclear, she said.
".. meanwhile, the statement by Telangana police officials that they would make arrangements for the family to visit Mumbai, is much more worrying," she said.
On her part, she is not in a position to travel to Mumbai right now as she is 72 and not in good health. A legal attempt to get permission for the family to meet him is being undertaken in Mumbai, she said.
"It is enough if the government gives permission needed in the context of COVID-19 and we take care of our travel arrangements."
She requested the Centre and the governments of Maharashtra and Telangana to arrange a video conference with him immediately to enable the family members to know the actual status of his health condition.
As Varavara Rao has already undergone 18 months of incarceration on "fabricated charges and without any trial," he should be released immediately on bail, Hemalatha said.
Saying that Rao had pre-existing health issues like coronary artery disease and hypertension, she said a thorough medical examination should be done by an expert team of doctors to ascertain what led to the "present emergency."
The Union Home Ministry should direct the NIA to give up the "vindictive" attitude towards Rao and other co-accused. Union MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, a Telugu person, should take this responsibility, she said.
"It is the responsibility of the Telangana government to take care of Varavara Rao's health and security as he took part in the separate Telangana agitation since 1969 as a worthy son of Telangana," she added.
Expressing concern over Varavara Rao's health, former CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy sought his release and shifting him to a hospital in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, Union MoS (Home) Kishan Reddy, who addressed a video press conference from Delhi, said he would act as per law.
"Definitely, we want the health of all to be good.We will think as to what help we can do as per law.It is not a matter to be stated openly.
We always have a humanitarian approach. We will think accordingly," he said.
Reddy was asked about an appeal reportedly made by Varavara Raos daughter that Kishan Reddy and Telangana government should help him in getting bail as the Maharashtra government was allegedly opposing it.
Eleven people including Rao have been arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case which was transferred to the National Investigation Agency by the Centre in January.
The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune in December 31,2017,which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial.
The Pune police also claimed that the conclave was backed by Maoists.
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Indian Constitution 'forced' on Goa after liberation: Congress candidate Fernandes
Panaji (PTI): Congress's South Goa candidate Viriato Fernandes has claimed the Indian Constitution was "forced" on Goa after its liberation from the Portuguese rule in 1961.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called the comments appalling and said the Congress is a threat to democracy.
Addressing an election meeting on Monday, Fernandes recalled that then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said Goa, which became a state in 1987, will decide its own destiny, but added "this did not happen".
The Congress nominee, a supporter of dual citizenship for Goans who have opted for Portuguese passports, was speaking in South Goa.
Referring to his conversation with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Fernandes said he had told him, "When Goa was liberated in the year 1961, the Indian Constitution was forced upon us."
Fernandes was then part of an NGO, 'Goencho Away', which was pressing for dual citizenship for Goans who have opted for Portuguese passports.
"We (during a meeting with Gandhi in a hotel near Panaji) raised 12 demands before Gandhi, and one of them was about (granting) dual citizenship. Gandhi asked me whether the demand was constitutional. We said no," he told the gathering.
Fernandes said the Congress MP told them the demand would not be considered if it was not constitutional.
"I explained to him that the Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. When Goa was liberated from the Portuguese rule in 1961, you (referring to then central government) forced the Constitution on us. We were not included in it," he said.
Fernandes said he recalled a speech of Gandhi's grandfather (Nehru) in which he said that post-liberation Goa will decide its own destiny.
"But our destiny was decided by someone else," he opined.
Chief Minister Sawant took to social media platform X to hit out at the Congress candidate and his party.
"I am appalled by the comments from Congress's South Goa candidate claiming the Indian Constitution was forcefully imposed upon Goans. Our freedom fighters believed wholeheartedly that Goa is an inseparable part of India. Congress delayed Goa's liberation by 14 years. Now, their candidate dares to undermine the Indian Constitution?" the BJP leader said in the post.
Sawant asked the opposition party to stop what he called its politics of "breaking up" the country.
"Congress must stop this reckless Bharat Todo politics immediately. Congress is a threat to our democracy," the CM added.
Goa, which has two Lok Sabha seats, will vote on May 7 in the third phase of polling.
