Caste Oppression, CPI-ML New Democracy

Arrest of Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Gawade and Mahesh Raut Condemned

CPI(ML)-New Democracy strongly condemns the arrest of Prof. Shoma Sen, Advocate Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dawade and Mahesh Raut this morning from Maharashtra and Delhi. These arrests are a cruel attack on the growing struggle of Dalits against the Brahmannical order and are part of the offensive of RSS-BJP Govt. against the oppressed sections, Dalits, minorities, tribals and backward castes. This is part of the Govt.’s attempts to disrupt and suppress the struggles of toiling masses, peasants and workers, an overwhelming majority of whom belong to these sections. Communist Revolutionary organizations are among the main targets of attack of the RSS-BJP Govts.

These arrests were made ostensibly in pursuance of the FIR No. 4 of 2018 registered on 8th January 2018 at Vishram Baug Police Station under section 153(A), 505 (1)(B), 117, 120B and 34 of IPC. Later sections of UAPA were added in this case. This FIR was an attempt to cover up the violent attacks by RSS linked activists against Dalits going to Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018. Maharashtra Govt. has been busy in building a fake narrative of the violence to save the RSS linked people, namely Shambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote whose names have prominently figured in the attacks on Dalits. RSS-BJP Govt. is trying to shift the blame of the violence away from RSS-BJP linked activists whose arrest has been demanded by democratic and progressive organizations and people. Now RSS-BJP Govt. is invoking draconian provisions of UAPA to save their people. On the other hand, Dalit youth in their thousands were arrested after January 3 Maharashtra Bandh which showed the Brahmannical upper caste chauvinist character of RSS-BJP Govt.

That all these arrests are part of the offensive of RSS-BJP dispensation is amply proved by incarceration of Bhim Army activists in UP who have been kept in jail since long. First they were arrested abusing various provisions of the IPC and later NSA was invoked against them. First Dalits were subjected to violence in Saharanpur and later their youth were arrested for ‘violence’. RSS-BJP wish to send a clear message that Dalits have no right to even protest against their oppression and against the violence unleashed against them. Dalits are being booked and arrested for such protests in different states.

This was also in evidence on April 2 Bandh observed against the Supreme Court verdict virtually annulling the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A number of people were killed in police firing in RSS-BJP ruled states and a large number of activists were arrested for the Bandh.

These attacks are a part of the violent suppression of all the oppressed sections. In their four year of rule, RSS-BJP have unleashed a reign of terror against Muslims under different pretexts. Tribals too are being targeted under different names but essentially to take over their mineral rich lands to hand these over to corporate.

This suppression and violence against the oppressed sections is aided by increasing fascicization of the state machinery. In the false name of ‘nationalism’ RSS-BJP defended rape accused in Jammu. Total impunity of the security forces was much on display when three protestors were run over by their vehicle in Kashmir. However, this is not confined to any region. 13 unarmed protestors were gunned down in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of people belonging to minorities, Dalits and backward castes have been gunned down in UP in the name of suppressing crimes in the state while big criminals are being patronized by the state.

CPI(ML)-New Democracy appeals to all progressive and democratic organizations and people to protest against these arrests and generally the attacks against the people. We should organize and participate in the protests against these arrests.

CPI(ML)-New Democracy

June 6, 2018