New Delhi: In a gathering organized by Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on Tuesday, noted human rights activists, journalists, politicians, artists, students, and concerned citizens united under the theme “Curtailed Freedoms: A Travesty of Justice” to demand the immediate release of political prisoners who have been jailed for dissenting against the ruling government. The event focused on the growing crackdown on civil liberties, with several speakers calling for justice and the restoration of democratic freedoms.
Dr. SQR Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid, strongly criticized efforts to allow laws that indiscriminately target citizens while protecting real perpetrators. He questioned the accountability of police and denounced absurdity of using code names such as “Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta” for witnesses. Ilyas highlighted the damage caused to the nation by imprisoning brilliant minds and urged citizens to speak up against the state’s growing authoritarian tendencies.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, referred to today’s jailed activists as the “freedom fighters of this era” and “soldiers of democracy.” He noted that even the Chief Justice of India had questioned lower courts’ reluctance to grant bail, wondering what fear was preventing hearings in the Supreme Court. Bhattacharya also criticized opposition parties for failing to elevate the issue of political imprisonment to a national level.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh stressed the need for unity among citizens in opposing the violence inflicted by the state on ordinary people. He pointed out that protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) had brought together Muslims and others alike, because this was “a fight for the whole country.” He also warned against the false narrative that “Hindus are in danger” (Hindu khatre mein hai), a divisive tool used to manipulate public opinion.
Hartosh Singh Bal, Editor-in-Chief of Caravan, drew a chilling comparison between the current targeting of Muslims in India and the treatment of Jews under Hitler. He lamented the weak response from civil society and argued that the real fight is against the RSS ideology, which he claimed had been nurtured by Congress Party and is now fully exploited by BJP. Bal further condemned the misuse of public funds for the protection of RSS leaders and criticized the police for merely following government orders.
Comedian Kunal Kamra, speaking as a Hindu, explained his presence at the event by condemning the systemic discrimination against Muslims. He recounted personal experiences of being threatened in Gujarat, where both the police and venue owners discouraged his performances. Kamra emphasized the importance of alternative media in countering the misinformation spread by mainstream outlets, which often label dissenting voices like Umar Khalid as “anti-national.”
Sanjay Rajoura expressed his disappointment at the intellectuals being imprisoned in India today. He suggested that had justice been served after the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the 2002 Gujarat violence might have been prevented. Rajoura called the BJP a “psychological disorder” driven by hatred and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “diabolical.” He urged attendees to fight bigotry and praised their courage in standing up for justice.
Farzana Yasmeen, sister of jailed activist Meeran Haider, and Noorjahan, mother of Athar Khan, emotionally recounted their loved ones’ prolonged imprisonments and the challenges they continue to face. Farzana shared how her brother has been imprisoned for five years for standing up for the rights of the people. Noorjahan detailed her son’s four-year imprisonment and the frustration over being denied video calls with him.
Actor Swara Bhasker also spoke at length, expressing her frustration over the continued incarceration of Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, and others. She noted that despite significant national and global events in recent years, their cases remain unresolved, and the judiciary appears indifferent. Bhasker shared personal stories of meeting Fahad Shah, building relationships, and celebrating life milestones, all while the judiciary seemingly neglects these cases. She warned that if this situation persists, both mainstream media and the judiciary will bear responsibility for undermining democracy.
The event concluded with heartfelt testimonies from the families of political prisoners, including Nargis Saifi, SQR Ilyas, Farzana Yasmeen, Noorjahan, and Shakra Begum, who shared the agony they have endured during their loved ones’ imprisonment.
The APCR and all gathered citizens strongly condemned the government’s crackdown on dissent, the prolonged incarceration of political activists, and the shrinking space for free speech. They called upon civil society, the judiciary, and the international community to recognize the growing threat to democratic freedoms in India and to take a firm stand against the suppression of dissent.
