Activists write to Prez over arrests in Noida labour violence case

Dehradun: Social activists and members of various organisations in the capital staged a protest at the court premises on Saturday, demanding the immediate release of student-youth activists and social workers, including journalist-writer Satyam Verma and theatre artist Akriti Chaudhary, arrested in connection with the Noida labour violence. They also sought the withdrawal of all “fabricated” cases, including those filed under the National Security Act (NSA).A memorandum addressed to the President was submitted through the district magistrate’s office. Protesters alleged that journalists and social activists standing in solidarity with workers were being targeted and suppressed.“It is the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen to stand up and speak out for justice and rights. Any assault on this right cannot be tolerated. What workers are going through is unfair, with labour laws not being in their favour,” said Kamla Pant of Uttarakhand Mahila Manch.Senior litterateur Rajesh Saklani demanded that the NSA charges against Verma and Akriti be revoked. Condemning the UP govt’s action, he said, “The arrested activists had merely supported workers’ democratic rights. Their arrests are entirely unconstitutional.”The memorandum stated that workers across industrial centres had been protesting for implementation of labour laws, including minimum wages and regulated working hours, and that writers, journalists and activists supporting these demands were being targeted.It alleged that state govts in different parts of the country were attacking democratic rights by filing “fabricated” cases against writers, journalists, student activists and trade unionists supporting workers in Noida, Gurgaon and Manesar.The protesters also referred to the arrest of student and youth activists from Noida’s Botanical Garden Metro Station on April 11, who were later declared “masterminds” behind the April 13 violence in Noida.The memorandum also demanded the release of workers, trade unionists and social activists arrested in Noida, Gurgaon and Manesar, and alleged that trade union workers in Uttarakhand’s SIDCUL region were also being harassed and threatened with false cases. The letter concluded with a demand for an immediate end to what it described as “repressive measures” and urged authorities to address the workers’ demands.