Dark days of emergency cast their shadow
The days of dictatorial rule that haunted Germany have long started in India. Fascist administration has launched attack on journalists, poets, writers and lawyers etc. They have not killed anyone, they have not amassed wealth or assault anyone for eating beef, or they never garlanded the lynch mob members. These people took up the cause of women, minorities, and the exploited people including tribals and have been fighting for their causes.This is the reason poet Varavara Rao, journalist Gautam Navlakha, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferira, Vernon Gonsalves and writer Anand Teltumbde have been arrested. They are accused of plotting for PM Modi’s murder. No sooner did Karnataka SIT unravel the murders and the common thread that joins the killings of Dabholkar, Pansare, Gauri Lankesh, the union has levelled allegations against the activists in a totally unexpected development.
Now is the time when political parties and rights-based organisations should speak up. Because their silence can be very dangerous in the given situation. Arresting people who worked to protect the interests of dalits, adivasis, backward class people, women and minorities, without tangible basis or proof or even a warrant is highly condemnable. A government that does not value democracy, is shameless enough to get down to this level to dissuade dissident voices that do not pay heed to their demands.
There is hardly any peace of mind to the people of this country ever since Narendra Modi assumed office. A conspiracy to displace a dalit student in Hyderabad Central University, the tragic death of Rohith Vemula, the conspiracy and concocted videos that surfaced from JNU, the attack on Umar Khalid, the assault on Swami Agnivesh and the violence that disrupted Bhima Koregaon, protecting those who fanned the flames of violence, arrest of thinkers Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson, Mahesh Raut and Marathi poet Sudhir Dhavale were arrested during that incident.
Now what led to the arrest of six thinkers all of a sudden? The rational thinker of Maharashtra and a staunch opponent of superstition Narendra Dabholkar, thinker Govind Pansare, well-known researcher Dr M M Kalburgi, journalist Gauri Lankesh cases of killing are being probed right now. The common thread indicated all these murders are connected as established by Karnataka SIT. One wonders whether the Modi government carried out these arrests to divert people’s attention from this issue to something else. Because the government has hardly fulfilled any promise assured to the people of this nation. Hence this could also be another way of keeping people’s attention off the topic. Whatever be the case, the activists have to be released at the earliest.
Industrialists such as Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and other corporates who borrowed thousands of crores in loan are living it up in London. But normal people such as poets, lawyers and activists face threat in our country. Lawyers Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Anand Teltumbde and others have to be released soon. Sudha Bharadwaj has identified herself with Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha established by Shankar Guha Neogi. She started her career in law from the year 2000. Right from then, she has always taken up cases to defend the farmers, poor people, adivasis and labourers to ensure they have their right to forests and ecology wherever applicable. Sudha Bharadwaj is a visiting law professor in Law University in Delhi.
The intent of these arrests is very clear. All the activists who have defended the poor have done so against all threatening situations. They have worked within the framework of democracy. Their arrests are highly vicious attacks. Journalist Gautam Navlakha had brought to light the case of ‘Rafale deal’ that has caused much embarrassment to the government. He has also been arrested for obvious reasons.
Believers in democracy have to condemn this in the strongest manner possible since they have been branded as ‘Urban Naxals’ just because they work on human rights issues.
Ever since Modi government came into power, attempts have been on to silence the voice of dissidence in order to protect the interest of corporate companies. This attack s straightaway an assault on adivasis and dalits. Every person who understands the value of democracy, should not allow this government to turn this country into manu-vadi hindu nation, trying to implement the secret agenda of RSS. Every socially conscious person has to oppose this in its totality.
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Islamabad locked down ahead of planned protest by Imran Khan's party in Pakistan
Islamabad (PTI): Amid stringent measures put in place by the Pakistan government to thwart the protest march on Sunday, jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party is preparing to proceed with its highly anticipated march towards Islamabad.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has called on the public to join the march to "break the shackles of slavery."
The federal government has taken several steps to block the protest, including deploying heavy security forces, sealing key roads, and setting up barriers around the capital.
The Interior Ministry has emphasised that, in accordance with court orders, no protests or sit-ins will be allowed in Islamabad, and any attempts to disrupt public order will be met with legal action.
Khan, in a statement, urged the masses to unite for the protest, calling it a movement for freedom and justice.
The PTI leaders earlier on Sunday held a high-level meeting at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s House to finalise the strategy for the planned protest, Geo News reported.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that he will arrive in Swabi at 3pm to oversee the preparations for the planned protest and lead the party's march to Islamabad, the report added.
The chief minister also directed the party's activists intending to attend the march to reach Swabi by 3pm.
Ignoring calls by the government to postpone the protest – the second one in as many months – Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) declared to go ahead with its planned march to Islamabad coinciding with the arrival of a large Belarusian delegation even as the authorities issued a warning of a potential threat during the protest.
The PTI gave a call last week for a long march to Islamabad to press for three demands: the release of the incarcerated party founder and other leaders, against the alleged “stolen mandate” during February 8 elections and restoration of the judiciary by revoking the recent 26th amendment to the Constitution that granted legislators more power in appointing top judges.
Meanwhile, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has opted not to participate in the protest but will oversee the convoys from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's House.
In preparation for the protest, Islamabad’s federal government has fortified security measures, sealing off several key roads and blocking routes leading to the Red Zone, where critical government buildings are located.
Containers have been placed across the city, including along the Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and the Expressway, limiting access to strategic areas like D-Chowk, Islamabad Airport, and the A-11 point at New Margalla Road.
Rangers, along with police and Frontier Constabulary (FC), have been deployed to monitor the area. The federal government has also warned against any unlawful protests, stating that no one will be permitted to hold a demonstration in violation of judicial orders, with legal action promised against any violators.
Also, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services between Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar in light of the ongoing PTI protest, the Express Tribune reported.
According to railway authorities, services between Peshawar and Rawalpindi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, as well as between Multan and Faisalabad to Rawalpindi, have been halted immediately.
Additionally, all 25 train bookings for Sunday, November 24, have been cancelled, and passengers will receive immediate refunds for their tickets.
The suspension of services and the cancellation of bookings have impacted daily commuters and travellers, as Pakistan Railways responds to the security situation surrounding the ongoing protests.
Section 144 – which prohibits gatherings of individuals – has been in effect in Islamabad since November 18. On the other hand, the Punjab government too has enforced Section 144 across the province from November 23 to November 25, banning protests, public gatherings, rallies, and sit-ins.
Despite the heightened security and restrictions, the PTI has remained persistent about proceeding with its protest march and subsequent sit-in to press for its demands.
Additionally, internet and mobile services have been partially suspended in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab as a precaution.
Users in Islamabad are facing partial disruptions in internet services at various locations, while it remains unhindered in neighbouring Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, mobile services also remain fully operational in Rawalpindi.
Public transport, including metro bus services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has been halted, and all bus terminals at Faizabad, linking the twin cities, have been barricaded.
Khan, 72, has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has been in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year facing, according to his party, over 200 cases; got bail in some of them, convicted in some others, and hearings going on for some more.
Khan's party won the largest number of seats in the February general elections despite contesting as independents as the party was denied an election symbol and the PTI chief has already alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had “stolen the mandate” to grab power at the federal level.
Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government -already tense since Khan’s ouster in 2022 - have strained even more in recent times.
