NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Covid-19
Politics
India

Modi Govt Using State Resources to Keep Activists Behind Bars Amid Pandemic, Says New Report

The report, prepared by global civil society alliance CIVICUS, recommends that the Indian government must drop the baseless and politically-motivated criminal charges against activists and release them immediately and unconditionally.
Newsclick Report
18 Sep 2020
Modi Govt Using State Resources to Keep Activists Behind Bars Amid Pandemic, Says New Report

File Photo

A report highlighting the ongoing misuse of restrictive laws by the Indian government to keep activists behind bars, at a time when the country is going through the worst phase of the pandemic, has been prepared by CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance. The report “Punished for speaking up: The ongoing use of restrictive laws to silence dissent in India” is an attempt to show how the government has resorted to laws including national security and counter-terrorism legislation to create an increasingly repressive environment for civic freedoms.

The report comes at a time when several human rights defenders, peaceful protesters and critics have been arrested and imprisoned in India, despite the raging pandemic. The latest case of such repressive practices include the arrests of several activists – who were involved in the anti- Citizenship Amendment Act protests – for alleged links to the Delhi riots which had taken place earlier this year in February.

To be released on September 22, the report also highlights the increasing violations in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under extended restrictions for more than a year now following the removal of special status granted to the erstwhile state by the Government of India.

It adds that just a year into Prime Minister Modi’s second term in office, there has been a definite slide towards authoritarianism in the country, with dissent against the government being “conflated with anti-nationalism, often with disastrous results for human rights defenders and activists who have been subjected to damaging smear campaigns”.

Among the laws which are being misused by the government are Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, (UAPA), which is India’s primary counter-terrorism law; section 124A on ‘sedition’ of the Indian Penal Code, a colonial-era relic; and administrative detention laws such as the National Security Act (NSA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), which applies only in Jammu and Kashmir, the report says.

Highlighting the humans rights violations made by such laws, Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Asia-Pacific Civic Space Researcher said, “The Indian government must stop using restrictive national security and counter-terrorism laws against human rights defenders and critics. The authorities must also drop the baseless and politically-motivated criminal charges against activists and release them immediately and unconditionally. The laws are incompatible with India’s international human rights obligations as well as India’s Constitution. Not only are the laws themselves inherently flawed, but their implementation makes it clear that they have become tools for judicial harassment, rather than for preventing or addressing criminality.”

Also read: Draconian Legislations Are Validated in Name of ‘Nation’: Anand Teltumbde Writes Open Letter Before Arrest

Further, CIVICUS has also expressed concerns about the continued persecution of activists, many of whom have underlying medical conditions or are at risk of contracting COVID-19 in overcrowded and unsanitary prisons, even during the pandemic. “It is appalling that human rights defenders are locked up in overcrowded prisons and continuously denied bail despite calls by the UN to decongest prisons and release political prisoners during the pandemic. Holding them at this time puts them at serious risk of contracting COVID-19 and adds another layer of punishment for these activists, who have been detained just for speaking up for human rights,” said Benedict.

However, despite such repressive environment, the human rights defenders and civil society organisations in India have continued to keep up the fight against the increasing use of state resources by the Modi government to sustain its persecution of individuals and journalists who criticise the authorities.

Among the recommendations made by CIVICUS to the government include, drop all charges against human rights defenders, activists and protesters, and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained; review and amend India’s criminal laws to conform to international standards for the protection of fundamental freedoms and take steps to ensure that all human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance or fear of reprisals.

Also read: Denial of Bail to Arrested Activists During Pandemic Is Double Persecution: PUDR

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Arrests of Activists
UAPA
NSA
Activists Charged With UAPA
Umar Khalid Arrested
Sitaram Yechury
Press freedom
Attack on Freedom of Speech
India under Modi Government
COVID 19 Pandemic
Overcrowded Jails
Related Stories
NIA raid.

Civil Society Condemns NIA Raids on Activists in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

Telangana Statehood Activist Arrested For Alleged “Urban Maoist” Activities

Telangana Statehood Activist Arrested For Alleged “Urban Maoist” Activities

‘End Increased Interference, Ensure Dignity for Journalists’: DUJ’s Scathing Letter to MPs

‘End Increased Interference, Ensure Dignity for Journalists’: DUJ’s Scathing Letter to MPs

Justice PB Sawant

A Life of Purpose: Remembering Former Justice PB Sawant

UAPA

5,128 Cases Under UAPA Since 2015, 72% Rise in Last Five Years

 A group photo of all after acquittal

Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and a Journalist Amongst 127 Acquitted of SIMI Links by Gujarat Court After 20 Years

Online News Media and Other Content: Big Leap Towards Censorship

Online News Media and Other Content: Big Leap Towards Censorship

new media rules

New Media Rules: An Over the Top Distraction?

Sitaram Yechury

WB Polls: Mamata to Join Hands with BJP Again in Case of Hung Assembly in Bengal, Says Yechury

IT Rule

‘In Some Places IT Rules Against Principle of News’: DIGIPUB

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

The Leaflet

SC Rules Payment of Extortion Money Does Not Amount to Terror Funding

10 April 2021
THE Supreme Court Friday ruled that payment of extortion money did not amount to terror funding under the Unlawful Activities (Pre
Anees Zargar

Journalist Bodies Fear Increased Curbs on Reporting in J&K after IGP Kashmir’s Remarks

08 April 2021
Srinagar: Media bodies in Kashmir have raised concerns over Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar’s recent remarks over the covera
Ronak Chhabra

DU College Terminates Jailed Prof Saibaba; ‘More Hardships Ahead,’ Rues His Wife

02 April 2021
New Delhi: G.N.

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • Lingaram Uikey (back row centre) who claims to be a police informer was made to surrender under the Lon Varratu scheme along with five others on February 19 this year. The five others included Pandey Kawasi ( on the right of Lingaram) who allegedly died by suicide in police custody four days after the surrender.

    Surrender of Alleged Informers, Villagers as Maoists Raise Suspicions on Chhattisgarh Govt’s Lon Varratu Scheme

  • Farmers Block KMP Highway as Warning to Intensify Struggle

    Farm Laws: Farmers Block KMP Highway as Warning to Intensify Struggle in Coming Days

  • COVID-19 Spreading In Telugu States at Alarming Rate

    COVID-19 Spreading In Telugu States at Alarming Rate

  • Tamil Nadu: Increasing COVID-19 Cases, Govt Struggling on Education Front

    Tamil Nadu: Increasing COVID-19 Cases, Govt Struggling on Education Front

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about