Gautam Navlakha: I cannot forget those who remain falsely accused under UAPA

The Delhi High Court had on Monday, October 2, ordered the release of human rights activist Gautam Navlakha from house arrest, saying his detention was "untenable" under law.

A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel also set aside a lower court order allowing the Maharashtra Police to take Navlakha to Pune and said Navlakha's detention had exceeded 24 hours which was "untenable" in law.

The bench also noted that the top court had extended the house arrest by four more weeks to allow the petitioner time to "avail the legal remedies".

Navlakha was among the five rights activists arrested by the Maharashtra Police in a series of raids across the country on August 28 for their alleged links with a banned Maoist group.

Soon after his release, Navlakha put out a statement, which can be read here:

Statement of an Urban Naxal

I wish to thank the majority and dissenting Justices of the Supreme Court for their judgment, which allowed us four weeks to seek relief in this matter, and the public-spirited citizens & lawyers of India for putting up  a spirited fight on our behalf, whose memory I will cherish. I am humbled by the solidarity, which crossed borders, rallying in our support.

From Delhi High Court I have won my freedom. It thrills me no end.

My dearest friends and lawyers led by Nitya Ramakrishnan, Warisha Farasat, Ashwath, along with others in the legal & logistics team, literally,  ‘moved heaven and earth’ to win me my freedom. I don’t know if I can ever repay this debt.  Nor to the senior lawyers who argued in our favour in the apex court. The period of house arrest, despite the restrictions imposed was put to good use, so I hold no grudge.

However, I cannot forget my co-accused and tens of thousands of other political prisoners in India who remain incarcerated for their ideological convictions, or on account of false charges filed against them, and/or wrongful conviction under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - UAPA. Fellow accused in the same matter have gone on hunger strike against the maltreatment inside the jails and demanded that they be recognised as political prisoners/prisoners of conscience. Other political prisoners too have time and again sat on hunger strike and demanded the same. Their freedom and their rights are precious to Civil Liberties & Democratic Rights movement.

But, there is reason to celebrate.

I salute the LGBTQ comrades for their monumental victory recently after a relentless and stubborn struggle, which has opened the door for as significant a social reform movement as the one fired by Babasaheb Ambedkar for the annihilation of caste, exhorting us all to ‘educate, organise and agitate’. Our solidarity was slow in coming, but your perseverance forced us to change. You brought a smile back on our faces and rainbow colours in our lives.

Also, freedom won by Bhim Army’s Chandrashekhar Ravan and his comrades Sonu and Shivkumar from preventive detention is particularly reassuring because it shows the power of indomitable resistance against a socially entrenched casteist tyranny, from ground below.

My Salaam to friends in JNUSU for the historic victory of the United Left panel which proves yet again that united resistance is the need of the hour - only thus can we face persecution and struggle so that it gathers critical mass support.

Friends, sacchai aur imandari se lade shabd goli aur gaali se zyada takatvar hote hain, aaj yeh saabit ho raha hai. Hamare geet aur kavitayon mein josh hai, aur hamare kaam aur lekhni ka aadhar reason aur facts hain.

To all my nearest and dearest, let us continue to speak up for the enforcement of our constitutional freedoms and against oppression & exploitation in all forms.

Let’s recall Pash ke yeh anmol bol:

‘Hum Ladenge Saathi
Ki ladne ke baghair kuch bhi nahi milta
Hum ladenge
Ki abhi tak lade kyon nahi
Hum ladenge
Apni saza kabulne ke liye
Ladte huey mar jaane walon ki
yaad zinda rakhne ke liye
HUM LADENGE SAATHI

Lal Salaam!

Gautam

Monday, October 1, 2018