Stan Swamy on ventilator, Jharkhand rights group appeals to Centre, Maharashtra

Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch asks government to ensure actvist gets all facilities in hospital

Swamy is in judicial custody after the National Investigation Agency arrested him in October last year in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case  causing an uproar among leading tribal and civil rights groups.: File picture

TT   |   Ranchi   |   04.07.21 : Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) has renewed its demand to the Centre  and Maharashtra government to ensure that Father Stan Swamy was given access to necessary specailised medical treatment after the 84-year- old Jesuit priest and social worker was put on ventilator at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai on Saturday night.

JJM, a conglomeration of several rights groups, also called upon the Bombay High Court on Sunday to immediately grant him bail and allow him to return to Jharkhand.

Swamy is in judicial custody after the National Investigation Agency arrested him in October last year in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case  causing an uproar among leading tribal and civil rights groups.

Calling Swamy’s condition as "critical", JJM, in a fresh statement on Sunday evening, held NIA and the Centre accountable for the suffering of the  senior citizen. "The NIA court also played its role by denying him bail on both medical grounds and merit. Assurances of the Maharashtra government regarding support for Stan Swamy are yet to materialise,” said the statement.

Swamy has been keeping unwell since early may at the Taloja jail. He had fever, cough, extreme weakness and a running stomach. “Even though he demonstrated severe Covid symptoms, he was not tested at the prison.  After a public outcry, he was administered Covid vaccine. He also tested positive for Covid. Ironically, he was given the vaccine when he was already severely ill,” said JJM, adding that it was only on May 28 that the Bombay High Court allowed his transfer from Taloja jail to the Holy Family Hospital.

Swamy’s arrest on October 8 last year triggered outcry among adivasis, gram sabhas, civil society, political leaders and parties. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren too has condemned the arrest and expressed his solidarity.