Indian State and the Art of Fabricating False Cases
Convention on July 30, 2011 in Bangalore.
Two spectres are haunting the civil society in India – the spectres of communalism and globalisation.
As a part this invasion on people, minorities are attacked as it happened in Gujarat or Kandhamal and many other places in the recent past. Multinationals, the World Bank, ADB, IMF and other international organisations decide on the policies of the Indian Government today. Land, forests, hills, lakes, rivers and seas are sold to the corporates. Prices are rising and the corruption level has reached the peak as never before, due to such policies.
While many groups and people's movements are resisting both these tendencies, the Indian State is using its executive machinery in a brutal way to suppress the dissent. Many innocent people are criminalised, branded and made to suffer for long time. Dr. Binayak Sen is the most well known personality in this category of fabricated cases by the Indian State. Due to active resistance of many groups and concerned individuals all over the country and abroad, he is not only out of jail today, but also absorbed by the Planning Commission. However, there are hundreds of similar such fabricated cases in Chattisgarh itself. Many innocent adivasis are languishing behind the bars in Chattisgarh. While POTA seems to be no more, many innocent muslims are still in jail in Gujarat for no crime. The lesson from Kandhamal is also no different.
Moreover, the growing tendency of the Indian state is to frame false cases on those who are organising and leading peopole's movements in this country. Many false cases are framed on those who are resisting POSCO. Similar false cases are framed on activists who respond on a number of other issues. When evidences are missing for their guilt, efforts are being made to create false evidences. The real issue is that when they are released without evidences, a part of their lives would already be over.
The mainstream press, predominantly follow the version of the police, politicians and the bureaucracy in all these cases. When genuine investigative reports are being made by some journalists, attempts are being made to criminalise them also.
It is time that the civil society in this country wakes up against this process and say `No' to the process of fabricating cases by the Indian State. For unless, we say `No' to this process, the vested interests will silence all dissent in this country, threatening the very pillars of Indian democracy.
Therefore, over 20 organisations in Bangalore have come forward to organise a one-day Convention on the `Indian State and the Art of Fabricating False Cases'. We request you to participate, support, mobilise and contribute to this process.
Venue: NGO Hall, Cubbon Park, Bangalore
Date: July 30, 2011
Time: 9.30 am to 6.30 pm
Programme:
9.30 am – Inauguration
First session:
False charges on people's movements: Globalisation, Development and People's Movements
Chairperson: Leo Saldanha, Environment Support Group
Speakers:
- Prafulla Samantarai (Well known activist/intellectual from Orissa)
- Prashant Paikray (Official Spokesperson, Anti-Posco Movement, Orissa)
- Swami Vishua Bhadrananda Shakti Bhodi (Director, Alathoor Siddha Ashramam/Editor, Ethir Disha Magazine)
Second session:
Communalism and Branding
Chairperson: Gauri Lankesh, Editor, Lankesh Patrike
Speakers:
- K.L. Ashok (State Secretary, Karnataka, Communal Harmony Forum, A coalition of over 90 organisations
- Teesta Setalvad (Well known anti-communal activist, writer and editor of Communalism Combat)
- Fr. Ajay Singh (The main initiative from Kandhamal for raising the Kandamal communal issue at a national level)
- Dr. K. Muhamed Najeeb (Solidarity Youth Movement)
Lunch Break: 1. 15 pm to 2 pm
Third Session: 2 pm
War on Terror or War on People?
Speakers:
- Sebastian Paul (Former Member of Parliament)
- U.S. Kumar (Mangalore Human Rights Forum)
- Sherif Kottapurath (Former CTO of Sun Microsystems)
- Bhasurendrababu (Media Critic/Political Observer)
Fourth Session:
Approaches of the Indian State, Media and Civil Society Responses:
Speakers:
1. S.A.R. Gilani (Professor, Delhi University)
2. Kavita Srivastava (General Secretary, PUCL)
3. Satya Sagar (Journalist/Activist)
Organised By:
Environment Support Group, PDF, PUCL, Pedestrian Pictures, SICHREM, Karnataka Vidhyarthi Sangha, Samanatha Mahila Vedike, Janasakti, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, Indian Social Institute, Students Christian Movement, New Socialist Alternative, Department of Women's Studies – UTC, Concern, Moving Republic, Stree Jagruti Samiti,Solidarity Youth Movement, Visual Search, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Ambedkar Pilosophy Foundation, Swabhimani Dalit Sangha, INSAF, Human Rights Law Network and Open Space.
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