New Delhi, 11 August 2019

CPIML strongly condemns the manner in which social activist and Magsaysay awardee Sandip Pandey and NAPM secretary Arundhati Dhuru were put under illegal house arrest for some time in Lucknow. They were supposed to attend a candle light march in solidarity with Kashmir today evening. They were prevented to go outside of the house, with heavy police presence at the premises. This is in utter violation of law by the UP administration which later has falsely denied of any restriction imposed on them.

Md. Shoeb, who is among organisers of Kashmir solidarity event in Lucknow was also under pressure by the police to cancel the event, as per reports. This kind of blatant attacks on democratic voices are being reported from other parts of the country too.

The Modi-Shah government is trying to muffle voices of democratic opposition violating the constitutional rights of the citizens. This amounts to a direct attack on democratic framework of the country. Modi government in centre and Yogi gov. in UP must not resort to repressive tactics and must allow the Kashmir solidarity event which is reportedly been cancelled owing to the imposition of Section 144 in that area.