Protest Demonstration Against Incarceration of Sudha Bhardwaj On False & Fabricated Charges
Demand for Positive Intervention by the Chhattisgarh Government
A Protest Demonstration was organized today on 15th July 2019 at Budha Talab, Raipur against the illegal detention of Sudha Bhardwaj demanding her immediate release. Organized under the banner of Chhattsigarh Bachao Andolan, the day-long Dharna ended by submitting a Memorandum to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh demanding the State Government to clarify their stand on the entire episode, and their positive intervention.
The Memorandum recounted the various contributions of Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj during the past four decades in Chhaattisgarh; especially championing the Constitutions and Democratic rights of adivasis, workers, peasants, dalits, minorities and women both inside the courts of law, and through peaceful and democratic means outside the courts. In the Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur, she represented the cause of the hundreds and thousands of adivasis and peasants against the corporate loot and various industrial schemes being set-up in utter violation of the established law of the land. Adv Sudha Bhardwaj raised before the National Human Rights Commission, and in various courts of law the incidents of State-sponsored fake encounters and sexual violence against women in the name of curbing naxal violence in Bastar. In several cases, she was part and parcel of the Fact-finding teams set up by the NHRC. She also raised the incidents of violent attacks on minorities and dalits in the state of Chhattisgarh, and took many such criminal cases to the courts of law.
Addressing the Dharna, Comrade Nand Kumar Kashyap said that Sudha ji has always being associated with the people’s movements raising voices against the gross violation of the rights of the people, while the governments were in the service corporate interests. Governments felt threatened by such an open demonstration of support and solidarity with the workers, women and fighting for the human rights by Sudha ji and, thus, she has been falsely implicated in fabricated criminal cases.
Comrade Kashyap said that : “The governments and corporate forces probably forget that when people get united the chains of slavery are shattered and, therefore, it’s the people’s united struggles that will ultimately liberate Sudha ji from the prisons of the repressive governments.”
Rajendra Sail said that “democracy is dangerous for both capitalism and fascism and, thus, together they are trying to destroy the secular-socialist-democratic fabric of India.” According to him, elections do not bring about radical transformation of society, but it’s the people’s struggles for their basic rights and needs that usher in a new era of socialism. He said that “Elections are won and lost by the rulers; but the people defeat the draconian designs of the capitalists and fascist and, ultimately, register a victory through united struggles.” He also pointed out that Adv Sudha Bhardwaj has been associated with the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha and the PUCL – both these organizations having unfailing faith in peace, non-violence and democracy.
Comrade Tuhin Dev said that a highly qualified Sudha Bhardwaj having IIT graduation had committed herself to work with the toiling masses and unitedly with them fight for their cause and constitutional rights instead of going for lucrative jobs in the capitalist world. Today, in the country, there are regular attacks on the Constitution, Laws are being amended to suit the Corporate interests, weaken the educational system, exploitation of rich resources on the model of PPP, and all this indicates towards imposing of undeclared emergency in India. It’s crystal clear that the fascist forces are behind the illegal detention of Sudha ji, which are out-and-out to crush the voices of dissent and forces fighting against injustices. It is, therefore, necessary that a revolutionary consciousness is generated amongst the people, who would then unitedly fight against injustices.
Vijay Bhai of Bharat Jan Andolan said that the government is now claiming that within the next five years the Indian economy would touch five lakh crores of rupees, while the fact is that all statistics point towards current crisis in economy. On top of it, the government is hell bent to hand over the jal, jangal and zameen to the corporate world — basic source and resource of people’s life and livelihood! All those who are opposing such a plan, are being termed as ‘urban naxals’ and are falsely implicated in fabricated criminal cases. The police action and court’s proceedings both are trying to illegally detain these people who are working for the people’s rights.
Sudesh Teekam of District Kisan Sangh, Rajnandgaon said that the repressive measures taken against those working for the people’s rights are aimed at creating an atmosphere for fear. Against this backdrop of state repression, workers, peasants and adivasis will have to strengthen their united struggles for justice and rights.
Alok Shukla of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan said that the main culprit of Bheema-Koregaon incident, Sambhaji Bheede is scot free, while innocent human rights defenders are behind bars. Definitely Sudha Bhardwaj had become a threat to the BJP Governments both at the Centre and in the State, the way she had become the ‘voice of the voiceless’; and especially because of the way she was championing the cause of the poor and oppressed against the corporate loot, repression and communal violence, that too within the democratic means and through the avenues available at the judiciary. And it is now obvious that the Modi Government crushes all the voices of dissent against their regime. Such a motive of Modi Government is clearly evident in the Bheema-Koregaon incident.
And, that’s why on the basis of fake and fabricated documents, the Government has sent many a human rights defenders behind bars.
Others who participated and addressed the Dharna were: Senior Socialist Leader, Anand Mishra, Ramakand Banjare, Kaladas Dahriya from the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha ( Mazdoor Karyakarta Samiti), Balsai Korram from Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Gautam Bandopadhyaya of Nadi Ghaati Morcha, Arun PannaLal of Chhattsigarh Christian Forum, Dr. Lakhan Singh, Adv A P Josy, Rinchin from the CG-PUCL, Rajim Tandi from Dalit-Adivasi Manch, etc.
The Dharna was made lively by revolutionary songs and slogan by Kaladas Dahriya and the Rella Team.
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