He was murdered by the state: Activists remember Father Stan Swamy on fourth death anniversary
New Delhi: On the fourth death anniversary of Father Stan Swamy, members of the Jesuit community, human rights defenders, and civil society groups came together in Delhi to commemorate the legacy of the late tribal rights activist and Jesuit priest, who died in judicial custody on July 5, 2021.
The memorial event was organised jointly by the Jesuits and the Catholic Associations of the Archdiocese of Delhi (CAAD). Speakers condemned the injustice surrounding Father Stan’s arrest and death, highlighting his lifelong commitment to Adivasi rights and the increasing criminalisation of dissent in India.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, founder of the Human Rights Law Network, criticised the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against peaceful activists. “It is irrational that judges who deny bail to ailing individuals like Father Stan, leading to their death, face no accountability,” he said. “Stan Swamy was the most soft-spoken and gentle ‘terrorist’ India has ever produced.”
Prominent sociologist Prof. Nandini Sundar reiterated the dangers faced by those who question state power. She recalled Father Stan’s advocacy for Gram Sabha rights and his 2017 PIL in the Jharkhand High Court against mass incarceration of Adivasis and Dalits under false Maoist allegations. “Stan was targeted because he stood with the oppressed,” she said.
Father Cyril Anthony Samy SJ described Father Stan as “a living saint,” and accused the Indian state of causing his death. “He proclaimed the truth boldly and paid the price for standing with Adivasis and demanding justice. His death is a murder by the state,” he said.
Father Stan was arrested on October 8, 2020, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under UAPA in the Bhima Koregaon case. Despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other serious illnesses, he was denied bail multiple times. His request for basic medical necessities, like a straw and sipper, was also initially denied, sparking national outrage. He died of cardiac arrest after contracting COVID-19 in custody, while his bail plea was still pending.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention later declared his arrest “arbitrary” and his death “utterly preventable,” holding the Indian state responsible.
To mark his martyrdom, members of the Bhima Koregaon-16 group (BK-16), including Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Gautam Navlakha, and Sudha Bharadwaj, observed a hunger strike both inside and outside jail on July 5. A statement issued by the group was read aloud at the event, denouncing the state's repression of dissenting voices.
“The powers that be feared Stan, because he was fearless,” the statement read. “He united people’s movements against the destruction of jal, jungle, zameen in Adivasi areas. In return, the state used surveillance, fabricated charges, and incarceration to silence him.”
The statement also condemned the broader trend of targeting activists from the anti-CAA-NRC movement, members of the Moolnivasi Bachao Andolan, and Muslim individuals and organisations under the guise of national security.
Prof. Sundar also drew parallels between India's domestic repression and its international alliances, particularly with Israel. She highlighted the use of Israeli weapons, originally tested on Palestinians, against India’s own minorities, and criticised the export of arms linked to Adani to Israel, contributing to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Speakers concluded that remembering Father Stan is not only an act of mourning, but a renewed commitment to resistance. “His life was a beacon of hope for democratic values. His death is a reminder of the cost of speaking truth to power,” they said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
