At Karnataka Janashakti conference, calls for united fight against State-sanctioned atrocities

Anti-communal activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad, who was supposed to inaugurate the event, was conspicuous by her absence as she has been put behind bars by the Ahmedabad police.

The third state conference of Karnataka Janashakti, a conglomerate of different social movements, began at Pt. Siddarama Jambaladinni Rangamandir in Raichur on Sunday.

Noted lawyer S. Balan, farmers’ leaders Chamarasa Malipatil, H.R. Basavarajappa, Badagalpur Nagendra and Sidgouda Modagi, progressive writer Rahamat Tarikere, an Adivasi activist from Madhya Pradesh, Madhuri, a trade union leader from Delhi Mrigank, working-class leader Avamsh Mumshi from West Bengal and political activist Akhilesh Pratap Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka Janashkati leaders Noor Sridhar, Kumar Samatala and Mallige Sirimane were among a few leaders who participated in the event. Nearly a thousand delegates of Karnataka Janashakti, apart from a few representatives of different movements across India, participated in the first day of the event.

Anti-communal activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad, who was supposed to inaugurate the event, was conspicuous by her absence as she was arrested and put behind bars by the Ahmedabad police. The event was inaugurated in a poignant way by waving black flags and raising slogans in protest against her arrest. The inaugural address was delivered by Mr. Tarikere.

Referring to the arrest of Ms. Setalvad in his address, Mr. Tarikere expressed concern over the increasing incidents of activists and writers being pushed behind the bars because of their resistance to the State.

“Many people are being pushed behind the bars these days. They are not criminals. They are the ones who opposed and fought the crimes. Writers, journalists, activists, and artists such as stand-up comedians who opposed the State for its anti-people and peace-disturbing governance are subjected to suppression. Threat, assault and jail, and even murder, have become the order of the day. We are in such a pathetic and dangerous situation where journalists who were supposed to condemn the atrocities on their fellow professionals are celebrating the attacks,” Mr. Tarikere said.

Counterpoising the religious hate and the economic development, Mr. Tarikere firmly held that a country whose people were divided along the lines of religion and other cultural identities could never march on the path of development.

“India’s pluralism is in danger. The peaceful coexistence of different communities is under threat. We should remember that the people who are provoking hatred among people and instigating violence in society are not the common people but those who had taken oath in the name of the Indian Constitution. They are the ones who are openly calling for assault and killing,” Mr. Tarikere said.