40 civil rights groups denounce ‘continued hounding’ of activists

MUMBAI: On Saturday, more than 40 civil rights organisations came together under the umbrella organisation Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy (MRSD) to protest the state’s “continued hounding” of human rights activists arrested in August for their alleged role in the Koregaon-Bhima riot. “People like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya are allowed to escape but human rights defenders, who keep democracy alive and speak for the voiceless, are being arrested and harassed,” said police reforms activist Dolphy D’Souza.
The press conference was held a day after the bail applications of Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Fereira and Vernon Gonsalves were rejected.
Teesta Setalvad, who heads Citizens for Justice and Peace, said no action has yet been taken against right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote against whom the first FIR was filed for allegedly inciting violence at Koregaon-Bhima. “Why is the state so reluctant to act against the perpetrators of incitement, violence and hatred, which are also terror crimes in this country?” she asked. Other speakers like advocate Nilima Dutta said, “It is a tragedy that so-called incriminatory material, which is being shown to the courts, the accused have had no right to see or challenge it.” In a list of demands presented to the press, members of the MRSD asked for the “immediate and unconditional” release of activists and their families; the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges against the activists be dropped and the law be repealed; the real culprits be arrested; and that the attacks by the state on dissenting voices be stopped immediately.