Arresting Teltumbde was to silence Dalit voices
In the arrest case of Dalit thinker Anand Teltumbde, state and central government have been rapped on the knuckles really good. The police forcibly arrested Teltumbde on the wee hours last week. They arrested him and produced him before the court.
But the Court called this arrest ‘illegal’ and contempt of court, ordering for his immediate release. Teltumbde has been given immunity for four weeks from arrest. The court also said his arrest can be ordered only by Bombay High Court or Supreme Court after his bail application was cancelled. The issue of why the state hurried over his arrest by the police, while grossly misinterpreting the court rule, is worth pondering over now.
Anand Teltumbde has worked in various sectors. He was an engineer by profession and worked in prestigious positions in many private sector companies in both India and abroad. He is also known for his work in education sector, and as an activist for human rights.
His writings around the time when barbaric attack on dalits happened in Khairlanji ensured the issue got international focus. He is working relentlessly to spread Ambedkar’s thoughts and messages across the country as part of his commitment to preserve the country’s constitution. He is a public person, and not the one who would work underground or clandestinely over anything.
Today, the police are not interested in catching those who are spreading communal wildfire, lynching persons and creating chaos in the society. At the same time, the police are in great hurry to put a rational thinker, who has not committed a single crime, behind bars. What is the reason for this? What would the country gain if Teltumbde is called an ‘urban naxal’ and jailed?
Arresting him would be part of a bigger scheme of silencing voices that speak the language of dissidence in the society. This in real sense would be a loss to democracy. Hence the police wants to hold him captive so that the operation to shut the mouths of democratic voices can begin full force. If there was not an immense political pressure, his arrest wasn’t so inevitable despite the court order.
This Dalit Vijayotsava is not a new event that’s happening in Koregaon. This day marks the victory of 500 Mahar Dalits against casteist Peshwas. That day the Peshwa rule ended forever. Ambedkar set the practice of Koregaon Vijay Diwas. If all those who gather to celebrate Koregaon Vijay Diwas, the very first person as per the police department to earn this title would be Ambedkar. The police have always been against Koregaon Divas.
Sangh Parivar created a situation where a planned ruckus would break out at the time of celebration. Sangh leaders desecrated the burial site of Mahar Dalit which was right next to Sambhaji’s cemetery.
Their intention was to instigate the Dalits. Dalit leaders and followers held their composure. The police even have a video of the entire duration of speeches made at the event. It should have had records of instigative speeches if any were made. There’s nothing as such.
How does then one become responsible for the violence at the event or after that? At the same time, there are witnesses to prove Sangh Parivar attacked the Dalits. Yet, none of the main accused have been arrested.
Even those who were arrested have been released without delay and it is important to note that all of them have criminal backgrounds. But the police are blind to such truths and are targeting social activists time and again.
Teltumbde had not even participated in this programme and yet was targeted. So the motive is pretty clear here. Koregaon Vijayotsava is the main problem for the police and the state. Now the Peshwa bloodline is ruling the state of Maharashtra. This Vijayotsava is an indirect rap to them.
But the government has no power to stop the celebrations. If that’s done, the Dalits would rise against the government. And the Dalit leaders cannot be arrested directly. As a result, the organisers were called ‘Urban Naxals’ and allegations were made against them that they had plotted to kill the PM. Subsequent to that, their arrest was arranged for.
State hopes to finish all Dalit leaders who participate in Koregaon Vijay Diwas by way of arresting them one after another. They are trying to hold this shield of Urban Naxals and attacking the Dalits at the very root of their self respect.
Teltumbde may have escaped an arrest right now. But the police wont spare him for too long. This is the first attack on silencing the dalits. If the dalits do not come together to protest against this they won’t be able to save their own lives in the future.
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Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
