Repeal of Unlawful Activities Act: People 's Movement

New Delhi, Mar 6: Ahead of forthcoming general elections, a group of prominent lawyers, activists, intellectuals, social, religious and political leaders from across the country on Wednesday asked the political parties to clear their stand on the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

They warned that if the Congress-led UPA and other political parties do not commit to their demand of repealing the Act, they should be ready to face the music in the forthcoming elections.

More than 5000 delegates and victims from various parts of the country assembled at Talkatora Stadium here under the banner of newly formed platform People 's Movement Against UAPA to voice their strong protest against the misuse of UAPA against minorities and weaker sections of the society.

Sharing their tear-jerking experiences under police custody and in jail with the gathering, many victims said they were falsely implicated in terror cases by the law-enforcement agencies.

Coming down heavily on the government, veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan said the Communist party has been opposing the act from the very beginning.

Assuring the gathering he said that CPI will include the demand in its manifesto, he stressed the need of joint struggle against the dreaded law. While Imam of Delhi 's Fatehpuri Masjid, Mufti Mukarram Ahmed suggested that if the demand is not met, minorities especially Muslims should use the option of NOTA in the coming election.

Veteran journalist and activist John Dayal said not only Muslims but also Sikhs, Christians and tribal are being targeted under the UAPA.  “We should make all efforts that the withdrawal of this black law will become an important election issue,” he added.

State terrorism is more dangerous '

General Secretary of Welfare Party Dr Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas has put the UPA government and its predecessor NDA government in the dock by saying that “terror attacks on the Indian Parliament and Akshar Dham Mandir were stage-managed. Quoting a meeting of Muslim leaders with a senior minister of the UPA government and affidavit of the undersecretary in the Home Ministry, he said that the real problem is State terrorism '.

Why RSS leader Indresh was not arrested? '

Asking the government why senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar was not arrested despite his name cropped up in a charge sheet, Dr Ilyas said   90 percent Muslim youths were arrested under the UAPA only because of their link with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) but no proceedings have been initiated against them.  In order to please the US, the then BJP-led NDA government first banned the SIMI without any evidence that is continued till date, he added.

The resolution passed by the Conference pointed out that “the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 after successive amendments made in 2004, 2008 and 2012 contained clauses that are against the basic tenets of Indian constitution and principles of human rights and natural justice.

By making amendments to the original act in the name of fighting terrorism, the Indian parliament has incorporated the draconian provisions of lapsed special laws such as TADA and POTA into a general law.   Basic democratic rights like freedom of speech and expression and right to form association are being violated by the clauses of this law. The resolution also condemned all types of terrorism by non-state and state actors.

The Conference reminded that the basic reason for arbitrary arrests and continued detention and torture of innocents is the legal sanction contained in UAPA. It is evident that unless and until this law is withdrawn, the terrible stories of jailed innocents will continue as they are even denied statutory bail. And those, who dared to raise voice against it, are being targeted under this draconian act. The Act is detrimental to the plural structure of society and counter-productive.

Many speakers said when people stood up against the repressive laws such as TADA and POTA, the government was forced to abandon these black laws.  They also slammed secular parties for not voicing their protest against the massive misuse of UAPA on innocent minority and weaker section youths.

This may be last conference if fascist forces come to power: Ram Puniyani

Renowned activist and former IIT Professor Ram Puniyani cautioned that the coming elections are having much importance as the fascist 's forces are to grab power by any means. Without taking the name of Gujarat 's controversial chief minister Narendra Modi, he said he is pawn in the hands of fascist 's and corporate forces.  If these forces come to power, the conference will be the last conference as they won 't allow raising any dissenting voice, he warned.

While conducting the proceedings, Convener of the Movement Kamal Faruqui said the central and state government failed to take notice of large scale misuse of UAPA against minorities. The conference was addressed by lawyers, activists and community leaders including Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, Mohammad Adib(MP), Guru Charan Singh, Adv. Ashok Agarwal,. Harsh Mandar, Ravi Nayar, Waman Meshram, Adv. S Balan, Lenin Raghuwamshi, Bhai Tej Singh, Prof Manisha Sethi and others.

Prior to the conference, a meeting of victims was held at the same venue.  A group of lawyers and activists interacted with them and collected details with an intention of follow up support. The People 's Conference was concluded with a firm declaration that the movement will be further strengthened across the country till the black law is scrapped.