The action of Pune police arresting a number of progressive intellectuals and human rights activists in various parts of the country is highly condemnable. The world knows that the violence perpetrated on thousands of Dalit men and women on 1st Jan. 2018 in Bhima-Koregaon, Maharashtra, was planned and wickedly executed by certain ‘Hindutvwadi’ persons. One of them Milind Ekbote was arrested and released on bail while the Sambhaji Bhide, the real master mind of Bhima Koregaon violence, is at large, thanks to shameless and unconstitutional protection given to him by the Chief Minister Devendra Phadanvis. Sambhaji Bhide is still indulging in propagating superstitions that eating of mango grown by him can help a couple to have a son.
Earlier also a number of progressive activists wedded to peaceful means, like Baba Adhav and Medha Patkar were arrested by the police as Naxalites or Maoists. There are thousands of intellectuals and activists who are not Naxalites or Maoists but are staunch supporters of the Adivasis, Dalits and other downtrodden sections of society.
Now that the Maharashtra Police ATS has unearthed a number of ‘Hindutvwadi’ terrorists at Nala Sopara, Jalna, Aurangabad etc. the Maharashtra Government aided and abetted by Modi Government at the center, is trying to present a counter by arresting these intellectuals and activists after more than seven months of the Bhima Koregaon incident and misleading the people by giving a bad name to the dog before shooting him.
I, on behalf of the Socialist Party, call upon Devendra Phadanvis to unconditionally release all the arrested intellectuals/activists and arrest Sambhji Bhide immediately and prosecute real perpetrators of violence of Bhima Koregaon.
Pannalal Surana
Senior Leader
Socialist Party (India)
