On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024 JNUSU and progressive student organisations called for protest meet to bring attention to the unlawful incarceration of innumerable political prisoners. Students, teachers, members of parliament and family members of these prisoners attended this event in solidarity with the cause and all those who continue to be imprisoned under draconian laws such as UAPA, AFSPA, NIA and PSA.
Addressing the event in Delhi, Raja Ram Ram Singh CPIML MP from Karakat highlighted the interconnected nature of all social struggles, bringing up the genocide in Palestine, the farmers protest and the recent massacre in Sambhal in this context. He said "the people will not accept this exploitation and injustice as the history and future of this world, but rather, in our struggle for justice for all, we will shape both."
Dhananjay, the president of JNUSU, addressed the gathering, remarking that every fascist leader always believes that they are the first of their kind, while the reality is that the rise and fall of authoritarian leaders is scattered all over history. Shashikant Senthil, Congress MP, expressed the disheartenment he feels when speaking at these events, considering the kind of injustice that is spoken about. He does, however, feel hopeful when he sees the youth coming to street and raising voices against these fascist forces and he ended his address on the note that he firmly our struggle will be successful.
V. Sividasan CPIM MP said, "the struggle of activists in the streets and campuses is in conjunction with the members of parliament who express their dissent within the parliament as well and fully support this struggle."
UAPA, a law where 97 percent of the convictions are made with no evidence, and the aqcuital rate shows this, will not be silently accepted by the public at any cost. UAPA and similar undemocratic laws such as AFSPA, NIA and PSA are being used tools of political vendetta, and disproportionately target people from minority communities such as Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis who raise their voice against inequality. The fight for the freedom of all political prisoners and against this authoritarian onslaught live on!
- Press release issued by JNUSU on December 10, 2024
