By Muslim Mirror Desk,
New Delhi : In a spate of arrests which seem to be politically motivated human rights activists Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj, and poet Varavara Rao were detained on Tuesday triggering widespread outrage by netizens.
The raids were conducted across the country in states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Telangana, Delhi, Haryana and Goa. The arrests were made over allegations of Maoist links.
The raids have been widely condemned in the country with many comparing it with emergency during Indira Gandhi’s time.
Prominent historian Ramachandra Guha while speaking on the issue to NDTV blamed it on the “corporate cronies of the ruling government,” who, he said, were bent on grabbing tribal land, forest and mineral resources. The arrest of the activists was meant to take away the only representation the tribals have, he said.
Author-activist Arundhati Roy also condemned the raids on the “homes of lawyers, poets, writers, Dalit rights activists and intellectuals” and said, “They should raid those who make up lynch mobs and murder people in broad daylight. It tells us very clearly where India is headed. Murderers will be honoured and celebrated. Anybody who speaks up for justice or against Hindu majoritarianism is being made into a criminal. What is happening is absolutely perilous.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also slammed government on twitter “There is only place for one NGO in India and it’s called the RSS. Shut down all other NGOs. Jail all activists and shoot those that complain,” he said.
