Close to 300 civil society members have come together and released a statement condemning the arrest of the five people in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon case.
Every year on January 1, dalits gather at the Bhima-Koregaon War Memorial to commemorate the historic Battle of Bhima-Koregaon which saw the British East India Company soldiers, comprising primarily of Mahars (a dalit community), defeat the Peshwa army. The battle is seen as a victory over the oppressive upper-caste Peshwas who discriminated heavily against the Mahars.The documentary Battle for Bhima-Koregaon: An Unending Journey, is the only known film made on the event, according to its filmmaker Somnath Waghmare. Read an interview with him here where he talks about the Bhima-Koregaon celebrations and the struggle against brahminism.
This year, on January 1, the celebrations at Bhima-Koregaon turned violent when it was interrupted by a group carrying saffron flags who attacked the attendees while they were on their way back. During the initial investigations, the two prime accused were Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, leaders of hindu right wing organisations Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan, respectively. EKbote, who was arrested, was later granted bail.
On June 6, the Delhi, Mumbai, and Nagpur Police, in a “joint operation”, arrested five people. These five people are Mahesh Raut, a former fellow of the Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship and a displacement-issues activist; Shoma Sen, a university professor who was the head of the English Literature department at Nagur University; Sudhir Dhawale, a dalit-rights activist based out of Mumbai; Surendra Gadling, a lawyer and active member of the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights who was also handling G N Saibaba’s case before his arrest; and Rona Wilson, a social-activist based out of Delhi and core-committee member of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners. One of the reasons cited was their “involvement” in the violence at Bhima-Koregaon this year.
Read the statement by the Citizens' Solidary with Voices of Democracy below.
We condemn the arrest of five human rights activists, professors and lawyers in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon clashes early this year. The alarming arrest of Advocate and General Secretary of Indian Association of Peoples’ Lawyers (IAPL) Surendra Gadling, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) Public Relations Secretary Rona Wilson, Head of English Department Professor Shoma Sen of Nagpur University and member of Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), cultural activist and founder of Republican Panthers Jaatiya Antachi Chalwal Sudhir Dhawale and anti-displacement activist and Prime Ministers Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF) Mahesh Raut is a clear manifestation of state terror to crush the voices of dissent in this country. The intemperate use of sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on all five reveals legal over-reach and exposes the desperation to foist extraordinary and excessive charges on all five to ensure they remain in the clutches of the Fadnavis-Maharashtra government. All the arrested have consistently worked for the assertion of oppressed and marginalised communities against majoritarian forces, spoken out against Brahmanical patriarchy, upheld peoples’ rights to land, life and dignity, and have strived for the release of political prisoners. Today, after standing for the assertion of dalits, adivasis, Muslims, women, workers, farmers, marginalised sexualities, and oppressed communities, upholding the principles of democracy, and, consequently, being a thorn in the side of a vengeful police force, they are under the custody of impunity. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of violence during the Bhima-Koregaon clashes enjoy the protection of the state, patronage of the RSS and walk free. Now, with concerted efforts to implicate the arrested, egregious narratives of plots of assassinations is being weaved to defame and keep them in jail. These retributive actions are intended to threaten anyone who speaks out for them and drive a wedge between all struggles for peoples’ rights. In the last few years, wherever people have asserted their rights, the political establishment has clamped down on them with brutal force – be it in Saharanpur or Una, Bhima-Koregaon or Thoothkudi. The assault on the democratic fabric of this country, through the abuse of the legal and judicial process, the stage-managing of media for public trials, and deliberate efforts to build a climate of fear is blatant and pervasive. Today, more so than ever, it is crucial to reiterate unity in the face of divisive majoritarian politics that uses structural hierarchies to violently suppress different sections of people and communities. We strongly condemn the arrests of these voices of democracy, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all five human rights activists, professors and lawyers and stand united in our opposition to the onslaught of Brahmanical Hindutva fascism.
In Solidarity,
(Alphabetically)
- Abha Bhaiya, Jagori Rural, Himachal Pradesh and One Billion Rising
- Abha Dev Habib, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Abhay Regi, Department of History, SOAS, London
- Abhijnan Sarkar, editor, Towards a New Dawn and documentary filmmaker
- Achin Vanaik, Retired Professor, International Relations and Global Politics, University of Delhi
- Adil Jussawalla, poet, magazine editor and translator
- Aditya Shekhar, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Ajay TG, filmmaker, Chhattisgarh
- Ajita Rao, dalit feminist and democratic rights activist, Delhi
- AK Ramakrishnan, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Akhil Vasudevan, researcher, Mumbai
- Alok Rai, former faculty, Department of English, University of Delhi and writer and translator
- Alokananda, alumni, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
- Amandeep Kaur, Panjab University, Chandigarh
- Amar Kanwar, filmmaker
- Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Amit Bhattacharyya, Professor, Jadavpur University and Secretary General, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
- Amla Pisharody, student, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
- Anand Patwardhan, filmmaker, Mumbai
- Anand Teltumbde, writer and General Secretary, Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), Mumbai
- Ananya Vajpeyi, fellow, Centre for Studies in Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
- Aneeb PA, journalist
- Anirban Kar, Associate Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
- Ankit Grewal, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Ankita Sharma, filmmaker
- Anu Arunima, Professor, Women’s Studies Department, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Anubha Rana, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, SOAS, London
- Anubhuti Sharma, research scholar, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Anupama Potluri, Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad
- Arijeet Mandal, Assistant Professor, Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Arjun Sheoran, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Arun Ferreira, Indian Association for People’s Lawyers (IAPL), Mumbai
- Arun Khopkar, director and actor
- Ashok Bhowmick, artist
- Asiya Shervani, Independent Consultant, Diversity and Social Inclusion, Hyderabad
- Atamjit Singh, Punjabi playwright and Dakshinayan Abhiyan
- Atul Dodiya, artist
- Babur Hussain, doctoral student, ISEC, Bangalore
- Baljeet Kaur, researcher, Delhi
- Basavaraj Sulibhavi, activist and publisher of Ladai Prakashana, Karnataka
- Benu Mohanlal, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Bhat Iqbal Majeed, Central University, Jammu
- Bhupinder Choudhry, Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi
- Biswajit K. Bora, Syama Prasad Mukherjee College, University of Delh
- Bittu Karthik Kondaiah, Associate Professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat and Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti
- Buta Singh Nawanshahr, Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab
- C. Sadasiva, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Chaitanya, researcher, Centre for Women’s Development Studies (CWDS), Delhi
- Chaman Lal, professor in Hindi translation at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Punjabi writer
- Damodar Mauzo, Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee
- Deachen Angmo, student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Debaditya Bhattacharya, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol
- Debalina, filmmaker, Kolkata
- Debi Mukhopadhyay, English Language Consultant, NOIDA
- Deepak Yatri, mime artist
- Devika N Menon, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Dyuti Ailawadi, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)
- Farhana Latief, research student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Feroze Mithiborwala, National Convenor, Bharat Bachao Andolan
- Freny Manecksha, independent journalist,
- G Haragopal, Visiting Professor, NLSIU, Bengaluru
- Ganesh Devy, Dakshinayan Abhiyan
- Gauhar Raza, former Chief Scientist, CSIR
- Gauri Gill, contemporary photographer, Delhi
- Ghanshyam Shah, social researcher, Ahmedabad
- Githa Hariharan, writer
- Gopal Menon, filmmaker
- Govindi Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Hany Babu MT, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Delhi
- Hari Sen, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Hemlata Manishwar, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Himo Aronno, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Hussain Indorewala, Assistant Professor, Mumbai
- Ila Ananya, journalist and student, Department of Gender Studies, SOAS, London
- Imran G, Advocate, J & K High Court and Subordinate Courts
- Indira Jaisingh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
- Isha Khandelwal, Advocate, Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group
- Jagmohan Singh, Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Punjab
- Janaki Nair, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Jatinder, Assistant Professor, Punjabi University
- Jawari Mal Parakh, writer
- Jhelum Roy, activist, Bastar Solidarity Network (Kolkata Chapter)
- Jhuma Sen, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat
- John Dayal, human rights and political activist, Secretary-General, All India Christian Council
- Jose Maria Sison, Chair, International League of People’s Struggle
- Joyraj Bhattacharjee, theatre practitioner, Kolkata
- Kalyani Menon Sen, feminist researcher and activist and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
- Kamal Shukla, journalist, Chhattisgarh
- Kamayani Bali Mahabal, feminist and human rights activist, Mumbai
- Kanji Patel, poet and novelist in Gujarati and editor of journal Vahi
- Karuna DW, researcher, Chennai
- Kavita Srivastava, President, Rajasthan chapter of People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jaipur
- Keki Daruwalla, poet, writer and former IPS officer
- Keval Arora, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
- Kiran Nagarkar, novelist, playwright, film and drama critic and screenwriter in Marathi
- Kiran Shaheen, independent journalist and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), Delhi
- Koel Sen, filmmaker, Mumbai
- Kritika Agarwal
- Kritika, researcher, Mumbai
- Krupa Desai, research student, Birkbeck, University of London
- Laltu (Harjinder), Hyderabad
- Lara Jesani, advocate, High Court, Mumbai
- Laxmi Murthy, journalist, Bangalore
- Loi, Global Secretariat, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
- Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat
- Mala Dayal, author and editor
- Malem Ningthouja, writer and Chairperson, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Manipur (CPDM)
- Mamata Dash, Delhi
- Manasi Pingle, Bangalore
- Manshi Asher, activist, Himachal Pradesh
- Mariam, teacher, Economics Department, Kashmir University
- Marie Boti, International Women’s Alliance
- Mathew Jacob, Human Rights Defenders Alert (HRDA)
- Meena Kandasamy, poet, writer, translator and activist
- Megha Kshirsagar, Mumbai
- Megha Pansare, Assistant professor and head, Department of Foreign Languages, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and District President, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)
- Meghana, theatre artist, Mumbai
- Milind Champanerkar, writer and National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
- MN Ravunni, Vice President, CRPP, Wayanad, Kerala
- Mohan Rao, Retd. Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Monica Sabarwal, Assistant Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala
- Mridula Garg, writer
- Mrittika Biswas, MA Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Mukul Kesavan, historian, novelist and essayist
- Mukul Mangalik, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- N Raghuram, Professor and Dean, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
- Nabaneeta Dev Sen, poet, novelist and academic
- Nachikethas MJ, engineer
- Nagesh Havanur, Bangalore
- Najwa Abdul Rasheed, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Nalini Nayak, Retd. Associate Professor, PGDAV (M) College, University of Delhi
- Nancy Adajania, cultural theorist, art critic and curator
- Nandakumar KN, activist, writer and freelance journalist
- Nandini Chandra, Department of English, University of Delhi
- Nandini Dutta, Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Nandini Sundar, Professor, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
- Nandita Narain, St. Stephens College, University of Delhi
- Narender Thakur, B. R. Ambedkar College, University of Delhi
- Naveen Gaur, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Navsharan Singh, author and independent researcher
- Nayanjyoti, Krantikari Naujawan Sabha
- Neha Sonawane, Advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Nikhil Jain, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Nikita Agarwal, Advocate, Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group
- Nirmalangshu Mukerjee, Retd. Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi
- Nisha Biswas, scientist and activist, Kolkata
- Niti Saxena, feminist activist
- Nivedita Menon, Professor, Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Omprakash Kushwaha, cartoonist, Delhi
- P K Vijayan, Hindu College, University of Delhi
- P. Koya, Professor, Calicut, Vice President, CRPP
- Padma Velaskar, Retd. Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Padmakar Shaw, Retd, Professor, Journalism, Osmania University
- Pallav, Bhopal
- Pankaj Butalia, filmmaker
- Pankaj Tyagi, Advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court and People’s Union for Civil Rights, Haryana
- Pargat Singh, teacher, GMSS Sector 26 Model, Chandigarh
- Parthasarathi Muthukkaruppan, Assistant Professor, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad
- Parvez Imam, filmmaker and artist
- Patricia Mukhim, social activist, writer, journalist and editor of Shillong Times
- Paul Zacharia, short story writer, novelist and essayist in Malayalam
- Pratik Sharma, student, University of Delhi
- Prithvi, student, University of Delhi
- Priya Dharshini, Delhi Solidarity Group, Delhi
- Priya Pillai
- Pulin Nayak, Retd. Professor, Department of Economics, University of Delhi
- Purnima Gupta, feminist activist
- Pushpa Achanta, journalist and consultant, Bangalore
- Pyoli Swatija, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
- Radhika, lawyer and independent researcher
- Rajeev Bhargava, political theorist, former director of CSDS and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rajesh Azad, Lok Shikshak Manch, Delhi
- Rajvinder Singh Bains, High Court advocate and human rights lawyer, Chandigarh
- Rakesh Ranjan, Associate Professor, Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi
- Ranbir Kaleka, contemporary multimedia artist
- Ratna Raman, Sri Venketeswara College, University of Delhi
- Ravinder Goel, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College (E), University of Delhi
- Ridhima Sharma, Centre for Women’s Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Rina Ramdev. Associate Professor, Sri Venkataswara College, University of Delhi
- Rinchin, writer and activist, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
- Rita Kothari, Ashoka University, Sonipat and author and translator
- Rita Manchanda, writer and human rights activist
- Rita Sinha, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi
- Ritu Dewan, feminist economist and Director, Centre for Development Research and Action, Mumbai
- Rochelle Pinto, independent researcher
- Rohini Hensman, writer and independent scholar, Bombay
- Roopa Dhawan, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Rosemary Dzuvichu, Head, Department of English, Nagaland University, Kohima
- Rossi D’Souza, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR
- Rudolf C. Heredia, Indian Social Institute, Delhi
- Rukmini Bhaya Nair, linguist, poet, writer and critic
- Rupa Panalal, Mumbai
- Rupika Khere, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- S Anand, publisher, Navayana
- Saba Dewan, filmmaker
- Sachin N, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Sachinderpal Singh, editor, Mashaal
- Sadhi Binning, Punjabi writer and activist, Canada
- Sadhna Arya, Satyawati College, University of Delhi
- Sagari Chhabra, writer and film director
- Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist and Member, Food Sovereignty Alliance India
- Samantha Agarwal, PhD student, John Hopkins University
- Sameeksha Khandelwal, filmmaker, Delhi
- Samit Basu, writer
- Samuel John, actor and cultural activist
- Sananda Dasgupta, activist, Bastar Solidarity Network (Kolkata Chapter)
- Sandeep, film editor and writer, Mumbai
- Sandhya Devasan, Assistant Professor, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi
- Sanjay Kak, filmmaker, Delhi
- Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar
- Sanjeev Kumar, writer and office-bearer, Janwadi Lekhak Sangh
- SAR Geelani, Professor, Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi and President, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
- Saswati Ghosh, academic and activist, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Kolkata
- Satyam Varma, journalist
- Seema Azad, writer, activist, editor of Dastak and Secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Uttar Pradesh
- Shabnam Hashmi, social activist
- Shabnam Sengupta, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression
- Shafey Danish, Assistant Professor, KKM College, Munger University
- Shailza, International Politics, SOAS, London
- Shakeel Anjum, research student, School for International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Shanta Gokhale, writer, translator, journalist and social critic
- Shashank Kela, writer, Chennai
- Shaswati Mazumdar, Professor, Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
- Sheba Chhachhi, photographer, activist, writer, filmmaker and artist, Delhi
- Shefali Saini, student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Shinzani Jain, MA Sociology, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Shobhana Warrier, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
- Shovon Chowdhury, writer
- Shraddha Pandya, Mumbai
- Shreya K, Chhattisgarh
- Shreya, researcher, Mumbai
- Shumona Goel, filmmaker, Bombay
- Sidhharth Ramu, editor, Forward Press
- Skand Priya, Assistant Professor, Shivaji College, University of Delhi
- Sohini, activist, Jan Jagran Shakti Sanghathan, Bihar
- Sonam Kumari, student, University of Delhi
- Soumya Datta, South Asian University (SAU), Delhi
- Souradeep Roy, Indian Writers Forum, Delhi
- Sourav Banerjee, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Srijani Kar, student, Department of Mathematics, University of Delhi
- Srinivas Burra, South Asian University, Delhi
- Sruti Visweswaran, filmmaker and editor, Mumbai
- Subhadipta Biswas, filmmaker, Kolkata
- Subrat Kumar Sahu, filmmaker, Delhi
- Sudha Bharadwaj, trade unionist and human rights lawyer
- Sujato Bhadro, Vice President CRPP, Kolkata
- Sukrita Paul Kumar, poet, critic, academician
- Sukruta Alluri, researcher, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSS), Kolkata
- Sumangala Damodaran, Associate Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Sumit Chowdhury, filmmaker and activist
- Sunil Kumar, Professor, Head, Department of History, University of Delhi
- Surabhi Sharma, filmmaker, Bombay
- Surabhi Singh, freelance journalist
- Sushmita, researcher, Mumbai
- Susie Tharu, writer, professor, publisher, editor and activist
- Sutapa Kar Goswami, social and cultural activist and Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Kolkata
- Suvajit Mustafi, media professional and writer
- Suvojit Bagchi, journalist, Kolkata
- Svati Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Tameshwar Sinha, journalist, Bastar
- Tamoghna Halder, PhD student, University of California, Davis
- Tathagata Sengupta, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR
- Teena Anil, visiting fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi
- Teesta Setalvad, civil rights activist, journalist and Secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)
- TM Krishna, musician and author
- Tultul Biswas, Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch, Bhopal
- Twinkle Kapdi, motorcycle rider and travel entrepreneur, Adipur, Kutch
- Ujithra Ponniah, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
- Ujwal Punyark, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Uma Chakravarti, academic, activist and documentary filmmaker
- Uma V Chandru, Bangalore
- Ushmayo Dutta, University of Kashmir
- Vanessa Chishti, OP Jindal Global University
- Venugopalrao Nellutla, Editor, Veekshanam
- Vidhya, student and activist, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
- Vidya Rao, Hindustani classical singer and writer
- Vijay Singh, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College, University of Delhi
- Vijaya Singh, poet, filmmaker and teacher, Chandigarh
- Vijaya Venkarataraman, Associate Professor, Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
- Vijender Singh Chauhan, Zakir Hussain Delhi College, University of Delhi
- Vikas Bajpai, Assistant Professor, Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Vikas Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi, Joint Secretary, Sambhavana
- Vineet Tiwari, National Secretary, All India Progressive Writer's Association
- Vineeta Bal, scientist, Pune
- Vinita Chandra, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Virginia Saldanha, Secretary, Indian Christian Women’s Movement, Mumbai
- Vishnu Nagar, writer and poet
- Vivek Narayanan, writer, poet and co-editor of Almost Island
- Waseem RS, Secretary, Fraternity Movement
- Windel Bolinget, Chairperson, Cordillera People’s Alliance and Co-Convenor of KATRIBU Kalinpunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas
- Xavier Dias, former editor, Khan Kaneej aur Adhikar, Jharkhand
- Yogesh Puri, Retd. Associate Professor, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
- Yuvraj RS Singh, Law Student, Raipur
- Zulaikha Jabeen, social activist, Delhi
*This list is incomplete, with more names being added to it daily.
