Save Democracy & Rights of Citizens: Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill

Guwahati: Criticizing the arrest of five activists by Maharashtra Police, the Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill (FACAAB) and the Left-Democratic Mancha, Assam (LDMA) on Wednesday said that the ongoing case against five public intellectuals reputed for their service to the Dalits and other deprived sections of people, who were arrested recently for allegedly being ‘Urban Maoists’ - an undefined term of accusation, the role of the Maharashtra Police do not appear to be above board.

“In view of the fact that ours is a democratic State, any arbitrary or excessive action by the police cannot be supported by right-thinking people. The Judicial system of our country must uphold the citizens’ individual liberty and democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These fundamental rights must not be trampled upon by the police under political pressure or influence,” the FACAAB and LDMA said in a joint statement.

On the other hand, the FACAAB and LDMA welcomed the Delhi High Court verdict ordering release of journalist and social activist Gautam Navlakha and expected that the other four accused will find the same kind of relief.

“We also demand that the culprits who unleashed violence against the dalits in the Bhima-Koregaon incidents must be brought to justice. What is disturbing, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra has withdrawn cases against hundreds of perpetrators of the crime against the dalits. In sharp contrast, the cases that are slapped on dalit activists remain and they continue to be subjected to undue harassment,” the statement further said.