Centre trying to silence dissenting voices: Hemant

Ranchi: A day after the National Investigation Agency arrested Ranchi-based social and tribal rights activist Stan Swamy and flew him to Mumbai for interrogation for his alleged links with Maoists allegedly involved in the violence at Bhima Koregaon in Pune in December 2017, chief minister Hemant Soren took to social media around midnight on Friday, defending the 83-year-old Jesuit priest and condemning the BJP-led government in the Centre for the central agency’s action.
In a post in Hindi on his personal Twitter page around midnight on Friday, Hemant questioned, “Why is the Centre bent on silencing those speaking out for the poor, deprived and adivasis in the country? What exactly is the message the BJP-led government wants to send out by arresting Stan Swamy, who has been among the strongest voices of all those marginalised in the state and country? What kind of obstinacy is this to suppress voices of dissent?”
The statement came hours after more than 2000 activists and civil society members issued a statement demanding the state government to intervene and ensure Swamy’s release.
JMM and Congress leaders also expressed anger over the “vindictive” use of central agencies. State finance minister-cum-state Congress president Rameshwar Oraon said the way a crusader of tribal and dalit rights was arrested was unfortunate. “He was branded as urban naxal and efforts are being made to falsely implicate him,” he said, reminding that under the BJP rule, Maharashtra Police had twice raided Swamy’s residence, but could not find any evidence linking him to the Bhima Koregaon incident.
JMM central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya also accused the BJP government at the Centre for misusing central agencies against people who raise voice against their wrongdoings. He said, “The erstwhile BJP government in Maharashtra targeted tribals and dalits in Bhima Koregaon in January 2018 and they have been going after intellectuals from across the country ever since, branding them as urban naxals.”
“Investigation is going on for more than two years and still remains inconclusive,” he said, adding that the income tax department, the Enforcement Directorate and the NIA have become tools in the hand of Centre to harass people. “These agencies are using CRPF and not even taking the state police into confidence, ignoring the concept of cooperative federalism under which law and order is a state subject,” he said.
Siraj, an activist and a member of Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, welcomed the stance taken by ruling parties in the state and appealed to all non-BJP MPs and MLAs to take up the matter and protest against the use of central agencies to stifle voices of dissent. “We want the people’s representatives from all other states to understand the underlying threat and protest against the arrest of the tribal activist,” he said.
Swamy was born in Kerala, but has spent nearly half of his life in Jharkhand working for the rights of tribals and dalits. He is a member of Jharkhand Organisation Against Radiation (JOAR), which fights for the people living around the uranium mines in Jaduguda, and Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)’s Jharkhand unit.
Swamy was active during framing of Forest Rights Act and questioned the government for not implementing it. He has also been vocal against the state government’s land bank scheme and protested against the amendments made to Land Acquisition Act. Stan has also helped getting innocent tribals arrested under the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) released from jails soon after the state was carved out of Bihar.