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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25 killed in lightning strikes, hailstorms in several districts of Bihar
Patna, Apr 10 (PTI): At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes and hailstorms in several districts of Bihar on Thursday, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Nalanda reported 18 deaths, followed by two in Siwan, one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed in a post on X that over 50 people died on Thursday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people in various incidents of storm, rain, lightning, tree and wall collapse in Bihar. I express my deepest condolences. May God provide strength to the families affected by the disaster in this hour of grief,” he wrote in Hindi.
He also said that the state government should compensate farmers for their crop loss due to the sudden rain and give them proper compensation.
Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.
On Wednesday, 13 people had died in lightning strikes in four districts of Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ (be prepared) for a number of districts, including Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada and Patna.
It has also forecast heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday in these districts.
"Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at few places over Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna," the IMD said in a bulletin.
Water-logging was also reported on Thursday from several parts of Patna following heavy rain.
The state capital recorded an average of 42.6 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm.
Officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and district administration, however, claimed that rainwater was drained out in the shortest possible time despite the downpour.
