Letter for releasee of Saibaba, Varavara Rao and other Intellectuals
April 10, 2019
Revolutionary Writer’s Association
An Open Letter to the Contesting Political Parties
Give an assurance for the Release of Prof. Saibaba, Varavara Rao and other Intellectuals and for the safe guard of Peoples Democratic Rights
An Appeal from Poets, Writers, Artists, Journalists, Intellectuals and Different Democratic Organisations
The gradual shrinking of democratic space day by day, the voice of the people and the intellectuals being muffled is distressing us a lot. Prof. G. N. Saibaba, a social activist, with 90% disabled body and 19 severe ailments is denied of the needed medical aid and his appeal for medical bail is rejected. Saibaba who was voicing for thousands of adivasis kept under imprisonment, far from any legal aid and about their rightful struggles, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Gadchiroli court, a year back. But his appeal against it in High Court is yet to be heard. Many national, and international human rights organisations, including United Nations Human Rights Commission, and Intellectuals all over the world appealed for his unconditional release. But all the appeals fell on deaf ears. Moreover it is pathetic that the court says that there is no danger to his life and he is getting medical aid regularly, while the medical reports and his health conditions appear contrary.
If that is the most inhuman treatment meted out by the wheeled chaired Professor, we are shocked to learn of the incarceration of 79 year old VaravaRao, a well-known Telugu writer, and activist and the voice of the voiceless on charges of criminal conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister. We can’t imagine the telugu literary and intellectual areas along with peoples movements and movements for democratic rights without his contribution since 50 years. The pity is that VaravaraRao, who met many politicians with an appeal for the release of Prof. Saibaba, himself is jailed.
politicians with an appeal for the release of Prof. Saibaba, himself is jailed.
Even the same fate struck to another intellectual, a lawyer, Surendra Gadling, who has been representing the Professor in Courts. Another seven intellectuals, who demanded the release of the Professor are in jails now. All these intellectuals are the rights activists fighting for the cause of the dalits, women and adivasis. All these actions are nothing but strangling the voices, which demand justice.
It appears that the Conspiracy theory suits to the Police rather than the intellectuals, imprisoned. At first they were charged with the their involvement in the Bhima Koregaon riots. When that appeared ludicrous, the charges were reframed and the intellectuals were charged with the conspiracy. For that the police created false and fake letters to support their theory. All politicians of many hues, including Rahul Gandhi, and some of the retired police officers, judges openly condemned these false allegations. The more heinous act of the machinery is that they were arrested under the draconian UAPA. These nine intellectuals, who are jailed, are theVoiceof the voiceless. Thus by muffling their voices the government is denying them their fundamental Right of Expression. It is nothing but strangling the voices of crores of Women, Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis. It is not only the above mentioned intellectuals, but thousands of Adivasis,Dalits and Muslims have been languishing in jails for decades without trial.
Inregard of Prof. Saibaba and VaravaraRao, they belong to our telugu society and have been active in public life for decades. VaravaraRao, who is in Pune jail now is 79 years old and needs constant medical attention. Saibaba, the wheeled chaired professor with umpteen diseases needs constant medical care, which is denied in Nagpur Anda cell . We are very much worried about the condition of both.
It is not these specific cases that panic all peace loving people. It is the atmosphere of fear and terror prevalent in the present society in which the intellectuals are being threatened, attacked and also being for their dissenting voices. Violence on Dalits and minorities has grown specifically in the recent years. This atmosphere of fear and panic is not good to democracy and is against the spirit of our constitution.
As candidates to be elected as people’s representatives under the oath of our constitution, we need not say that it is your bounden duty to safe guard democracy and rule of law and see that all institutions including the police, abide by the constitutional values both in action and spirit. For democracy to survive it is essential that the Right to expression, dissent is honoured. Once the voice of dissent is strangled, there is no chance for democracy to survive.
For you and your political parties the guiding spirit and light is Indian Constitution. The Congress party already promised to repeal the sedition law. More over when the basic fundamental Rights are curtailed, no amount of your proposed welfare measures and development programs can safeguard the democracy. It leads to chaos.
Hence, we request all contesting political parties to put your policies on safeguarding the democratic rights in public and give a clear assurance to the people.
We appeal you to strive for an impartial and just enquiry in the above cases and see that Prof. Saibaba, VaravaraRao and others are granted bail immediately.
1. K Sivareddy, poet
2. Vasanthalakshmi, writer, journalist
3. R.Bharadwaja, writer
4. Vimala, writer
5. Vasireddy Naveen, writer
6. Kuppili Padma, writer
7. N. Venugopal, author and editor, Veekshanam
8. Devakidevi, writer
9. Katyayini, writer
10. Kondepudi Nirmala, author and writer
11. Shivalakashmi, writer
12. Bandaru Vijaya, Prajaswamya Rachaitrula Vedika
13. Shikhamani, poet, editor, kavisandya
14. Usha S Dani, author, Muslim Thinkers Forum
15.Ramesh Babu, poet, journalist
16. Bummdi Jagadishwara Rao, Author
17. Y. Karunakar, author, painter
18. Krupakar Madiga, poet
19. KY Ratnam, Professor, Central University of Hyderabad
20. Pro.Haragopal, Civil Liberties Commitee
21. K.Sajaya, social activist
22. Padmaaja Shaw, retired professor
23. Kakarala, Film Artist
24. Dr. Samunnatha, Associate Professor, Osmania University
25. Bhupathi Venkateshwarlu, Editor, Modugupulu
26. Sandhya, Progressive Women’s Association National Convener
27. Venepalli Panduranga Rao, a former sarpanch
28. Malliswari, Prajaswamika Rachatrula Vedika
29. Prathima, author
30. G. Laxminarsaiah, Author
31. Dr. Kasula Reddy, poet
32. Indravelli Ramesh, poet
33. Sabir Hussain Syed, poet
34. Ravinder Mettu, Author
35. Avunuri Sammaiah, Janasahithii, Hujurabad Convener
36. D. Subramaniam, Theater and Civil Liberties Activist
37. Siddhartha Katta, poet, journalist
38. S. Naresh Kumar Sufi, poet
39. Kalyani SJ, Writer
40. AK Prabhakar, writer
41. M. Pragati, the writer
42.Kavini aluri, writer
43. Jugashvili, poet, artist
44. RK, Publisher
45. Moshes Diane, Artist
46. V.Padma, Journalist,
47. k.ravi, Raithu Swarjya Vedika
48. Y. Ashok Kumar, Telangana Progressive Teachers Federation
49. B.Ramakrishna, Democratic Teacher ‘s Federation
50. N Ravi, Anti Hindutva Fascist Forum
51. B.Sanjeeva
52. D. Balamuni Reddy, a democrat
53. Bandi Durga Prasad, Telangana Democratic Forum
54. Dandem John, Praja Kala Mandali
55. Chikkudu Prabhakar, Telangana Democratic Forum
56. Iqbal Pasha, Virasam
57. P. Vijayarama Raju, Democratic Teachers Federation
58. Ramachandram, Virasam
59. Devadasu, Praja Kala Mandali
60. Balasani Rajaiah, Virasam
61. Y.Ratnamala, Virasam
62. Chandramouli, Patriotic Democratic Movement
63. M Venkanna, Indian Association of People’s Lawyers
64. P. Shyamala Rao, Civil Liberties Committee
65. V.Parusharaj, SC, ST Students Union
66. P. Vishnu Vardhan Rao, Journalist
67. P. Manjula, Virasam
68. k.Ravi Chander, Telangana Praja Front
69. A. Nageshwara Rao, Osmania University
70. Harish Azad, AISF, Osmania University
71. David, Ou Research Scholars
72. Anil, Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika
73. Aluri Lalitha, Virasam
74. BS Raju, Visthapan Virodh Jana Vikas Andol
75. KV Kurmanath, Virasam
76. Dr. Ramdev, Patriotic Democratic Movement
77. C.Rarmohan, Palamuru Adyayana Vedika
78. A.Rajendra Babu, Palamuru Adyayana Vedika
79. Sandhya, Virasam
80. Bhavani, Amarula Bandu Mitrula Sangham
81. Sadhyarani, Chaitanya Mahila Sangham
82. Ancestor, writer, social worker
83. Ushajyothi, Scholar
84. Ranga Rao, Nellore
85. Yadagiri Gundoju, retired Teacher
86. B. Narasimha, OPDR Secretary, Telangana
87. Satish C.H.
88. N. Bhimarjun Reddy, Nallagonda Praja Vedika
89. K.Balreddi, Malupu Publications
90. Harish
91. P. Chinniyaiah, Writer
92. Ramki, Editor, Arunatara
93. P.Varalakshmi, Virasam
94. Nandigam Krishnarao, Writer and Advocate
95 K Jagan, Virasam
96. M. Aravind, Virasam
97. Kranthi, Author, Journalist
98. C.H Lakshmaiah, retired employee
99. Pani, Virasam
100. Kaseem, Virasam