Condemning the arrest of CPIML and other leaders en route to a loan waiver conference in Uttar Pradesh’ Kushinagar, party state secretary Sudhakar Yadav said that the BJP government under CM Yogi Adityanath is running a police state. He denounced the police's actions as a direct assault on democracy and freedom of expression, likening the crackdown to an undeclared emergency.
On January 12, Uttar Pradesh Police detained Manoj Singh, National General Secretary of the Jan Sanskriti Manch (JSM), farmer leader Shivaji Rai, CPI(ML) State Standing Committee member and State Secretary of the AIARLA Rajesh Sahni, and other prominent leaders who were going to address the conference in Kushinagar. The conference, organised by AIALA, was scheduled to take place at Suraji Bazaar in Dudahi Nagar Panchayat, Tamkuhi Tehsil. Preparations and public mobilisation for the event had been underway for two weeks, and formal written intimation had been sent to the administration. Despite this, the Tamkuhi Raj Police, in a blatant attempt to disrupt the event, raided the Pandeypur residence of CPI(ML) district in-charge Paramhans Singh on Sunday night.
The debt waiver conference was intended to discuss the exploitation by microfinance companies and demand debt relief for the poor. It sought to ensure adherence to RBI guidelines, call for debt waivers, demand the waiving of electricity bills and other debts, and oppose the privatisation of electricity sector in the state.
Despite police intimidation and arrests, hundreds of villagers gathered at the conference site, shared their grievances, and resolved to continue their struggle under the leadership of local organisers. They vowed to intensify their movement and carry the fight to its rightful conclusion.
The detained leaders were later in the day.
