Father Stan's death is an institutional murder, say Teesta Setalvad and John Dayal

"Father Stan Swamy's death is an institutional murder", asserted Human Rights defender Teesta Setalvad in an interview with National Herald.

"His legacy is jail.", added veteran journalist John Dayal. "Stan Swamy is a martyr" in the fight for the democratic values of this country.

Teesta Setalvad pointed out that "His lawyers have asked the Bombay High Court to order a judicial enquiry into all aspects of his incarceration and death".

As his bail application came up for an early hearing on Monday afternoon, the hospital told the bench that Fr Stan Swamy had passed away. His lungs were impacted by COVID he had contracted in jail. The judges expressed their shock. They said they had no words.

Ms Setalvad, John Dayal and the All India Catholic Union reaffirms this demand for a Judicial enquiry and also demands the repeal of the UAPA and such draconian laws under which thousand of people, old and young have been put in jail and denied rudimentary justice.
Ms Setalvad in an interview with us asked "What was the use of UAPA in free and independent India? She also asked why the opposition, the media and other citizens don't ask why human rights defenders should be incarcerated?"
"He was a simple man. A tall man with a jhola, a basic shirt and a pair of loose pants. It is when he spoke that people knew he sought nothing for himself and was fighting for them"
His religion was his people, added Teesta Setalvad. We don't know what we have lost.