Demand grows for repeal of UAPA, release of Bhima Koregaon detainees
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The death of incarcerated 84-year-old human rights activist Father Stan Swamy has sent shock-wave throughout the country. Expressions like “state-sanctioned murder” and “institutional murder” have been used by opposition leaders and activists. Demands to repeal the UAPA have also been made from several quarters as the octogenarian was detained in the case of Bhima Koregaon case under the draconian law.
“It’s with a very heavy heart I have to inform you that Fr. Stan Swamy has passed away,” Dr. Stanislaus D’Souza, the doctor treating him at a private hospital, informed the Bombay High Court judges Justice S. S. Shinde and Justice N. J. Jamdar through his lawyer Mihir Desai when his bail plea came up for hearing on Monday afternoon.
CPI (M) chief Sitaram Yechuri called his death ‘murder and demanded to fix the accountability for his death.
Deeply pained & outraged at the death of Father Stan Swamy.
A jesuit priest & social activist he tirelessly helped the marginalised.
Draconian UAPA custody, inhuman treatment since October 2020 with no charge established.
Accountability must be fixed for this murder in custody. pic.twitter.com/iQ8XrfRb9n— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 5, 2021
In a statement, he said “Those responsible for foisting false cases on him, his continued detention in jail and inhuman treatment cannot escape accountability. It is incumbent that all those jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case and other detenues under politically motivated cases, misusing draconian laws like UAPA, Sedition etc, be released forthwith”.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren held the Central government responsible for his death saying that the absolute apathy and non-provision of medical treatment caused Swamy’s death.
Shocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy. He dedicated his life working for tribal rights. I had strongly opposed his arrest & incarceration. The Union Govt should be answerable for absolute apathy & non provision of timely medical services, leading to his death.
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) July 5, 2021
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolence saying that he deserved justice and humanness.
Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy.
He deserved justice and humaneness.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 5, 2021
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that he was deprived of justice and human rights at the time of his death.
फादर स्टैन स्वामी को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि।
कितना दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि एक व्यक्ति जिसने जीवन भर गरीबों-आदिवासियों की सेवा की और मानव अधिकारों की आवाज बना, उन्हें मृत्यु की घड़ी में भी न्याय एवं मानव अधिकारों से वंचित रखा गया।#StanSwamy
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 5, 2021
Activists believe that Swamy could not be granted bail even on medical grounds because he was charged under the UAPA. Hence, they demanded the repeal of the UAPA to avoid any further casualty.
Welfare Party of India President Qasim Rasool Ilyas expressed deep anguish at the sad demise of Swamy and called it an institutional murder.
Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) called it ‘state-sanctioned murder’.
“The state-sanctioned murder of 84-year-old priest and human rights activist Father Stan Swamy has exposed the inhuman face of the government, its investigative agencies and even the judiciary,” said SIO.
“Father Stan has been killed in judicial custody not because of any crime he committed, but because his ceaseless fight for justice was making the powers that be uncomfortable. Once again, this case has highlighted the fundamentally unjust nature of UAPA and other draconian laws. All laws that allow the state to imprison people without due process must be struck down.
“Father Stan’s death should serve as a wake-up call for our criminal justice system. The courts should call out the farce of Bhima Koregaon, Delhi Riots and other such hollow ‘conspiracy’ cases and acquit all the political prisoners in a speedy trial. We also demand that all the elderly and severely ill undertrials languishing in the jails should be released on bail as soon as possible. This includes many of the senior activists and lawyers who have been arrested on fake charges in the Bhima Koregaon case.
“We are deeply anguished by Father Stan’s killing and offer our deepest condolences to his family and near and dear ones. We hope that his fight for the rights of India’s tribal population continues with even more vigour,” the SIO said.
