Condemning the “criminalisation of dissent”, the letter lauds the resilience of the Indian activists standing up against the Modi government
Clarion India
MORE than 200 lawmakers and noted citizens from different walks of life in the United Kingdom have put out an open letter condemning the majoritarian policies of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The signatories of the letter include British parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, including Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas, the Scottish National Party’s Brendan O’Hara (spokesperson on International Human Rights), Zara Sultana from Labour Party and sitting members of the House of Lords, including Shami Chakrabarti (former director of civil liberties group Liberty).
Besides, the letter has also been signed by artists, writers, journalists, civil rights and peace activists like Danny Boyle (director of Slumdog Millionaire), filmmaker Ken Loach, actress Maxine Peake, musician Lowkey, novelist Hari Kunzru, cultural producer Tobi Kyeremateng, environmentalist George Monbiot and writer Paul Gilroy.
A number of Britishers of Indian origin have also lent their support to the letter. These include journalists (Ash Sarkar, Angela Saini), writers (Nikesh Shukla, Preti Taneja, Sandeep Parmar, Jemma Desai), musicians (Adam Bainbridge, Kapil Seshasayee, Sarathy Korwar), and theatre-makers (Tanika Gupta, Vinay Patel, Anjli Mohindra, Rakhee Thakrar, Milli Bhatia).
Condemning the “criminalisation of dissent”, the letter lauds the resilience of the Indian activists standing up against the Modi government. The letter says these are “courageous activists in India who are opposing this vicious regime”.
The letter appeals the Indian government to release all political prisoners.
Full text of the letter:
We add our voices to the global outcry against the Modi regime’s assault on human rights activists and democratic dissent.
The regime has incarcerated student protesters, feminist campaigners, human rights activists and prominent civil society figures. Many arrests were made on the basis of emergency laws that have no accountability, like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In some cases, patently absurd charges of rioting were concocted to frame activists whose protests have always been peaceful and constitutional.
This criminalisation of dissent has intensified in unprecedented ways in recent months. Arrests have been made under the cover of the covid lockdown, while the pandemic rages across India.
The callous BJP-led government has not only failed its vulnerable population of migrant workers but also exposed activists to India’s unsanitary jails, which are breeding grounds for disease. Several imprisoned activists have already caught the virus.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have made inflammatory hate speeches calling for vigilante attacks on anyone protesting the regime. There is mounting evidence that police forces were complicit in abetting and committing brutality against Muslims in horrific riots instigated in Delhi during February-March. Once again, the actual perpetrators of violence are evading accountability.
The Modi regime is systematically destroying India’s constitutional democracy in pursuit of its dictatorial and majoritarian agenda. India’s image in the world has never been so tarnished.
We stand with the courageous activists in India who are opposing this vicious regime and call for the immediate release of all political prisoners.