Gathering protests arrest of activists

The meeting in Calcutta on Sunday to protest the arrest of the rights activists

TT, Sep 03, 2018, Calcutta: The culture clan of Calcutta assembled on Sunday to condemn the "fascist" regime's arrest of five rights activists in the Bhima-Koregaon case.

The gathering was held at Sisir Mancha under the banner of the Artists, Writers, and Conscious Citizens.

Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonzalves, Arun Farreira, Sudha Bhardwaj and Gautam Navalakha had been arrested by Maharastra police last week.

"Our plan is to create more space, bring more sun, more view and give a natural feel of the place, along with addressing public safety and conveniences in a futurist manner," said Lama.

In the first phase, cobbled stones would be laid from Keventers to the tri-junction below Darjeeling SP's bungalow. "The water fountain would be improved, horse stable will be redesigned so that ponies do not loiter in the square and better seating arrangements would be put in place," said Dipang.

Poet Sankha Ghosh, theatre personalities Rudra Prasad Sengupta, Bibhas Chakraborty and Kaushik Sen, film director Tarun Majumdar and writer Debesh Roy were among those present at the event. The meeting condemned the move to arrest prominent Left-wing activists and raid their homes in several states for suspected Maoist links.

Although poet Ghosh did not speak, a poem - Teesra Jhanki - penned by him was recited to protest against the arrests under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Sengupta shared his experience when Bengal governor Dharma Vira had dismissed the United Front Government of Ajoy Mukherjee in 1967 and the CPM and other Left partners had brought out big rallies in protest.

"People should not fear protestors. Reign of terror is prevailing on the land. I remember a protester who was beaten up with a lathi by police in one of the protest rallies and despite his hand being broken, he did not shout threats at the police to retaliate like others," said Sengupta who had taken part in the 1967 protest rallies.

Describing the present government at the Centre as a "fascist regime", writer Roy said: "We don't want to face any fascist force. We need to unite against it."

Koushik Sen said: "We all should organise in small groups and record our protests against all acts of fascism."

Around 200 people of the civil society also signed a resolution at the two-hour programme on Sunday against alleged attempts to "take away the rights of the civil society protests".

The five were arrested as part of a probe into the violence between Dalits and the upper caste Peshwas at Koregaon-Bhima village near Pune.