Skip to main content
Sabrang
Sabrang
Freedom

Jharkhand MP writes to President demanding Fr. Stan Swamy's release

Alleging that the NIA was using under-handed methods to imprison innocent activists, MP Vijay Hansdak demanded the release and closure of the case against Fr. Stan

Sabrangindia 16 Nov 2020

Image Courtesy:newsrediff.com

Seeking the immediate release of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, Jharkhand’s MP Vijay Kumar Hansdak wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 10, 2020.

“Father Stan Swamy’s arrest by the NIA [National Investigation Agency] is malicious and spiteful as he and his associates have been constantly denying any link with Maoists. The allegation against him about his links in the Bhima Koregaon case is also false and fabricated. I, on behalf of people of Jharkhand, would like to appeal to take immediate concrete action to stop the proceedings of all the false allegations against Father Swamy and release him. I also appeal to release all those innocent social activists and intellectuals who have been arrested on false allegations,” Hansdak wrote in his letter.

The Rajmahal representative and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hansdak is the first parliamentarian from the state to voice support for Fr. Stan. Hansdak demanded the closure of the case that led to his arrest for alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence.

“The 83-year-old Fr. Swamy is suffering from multiple ailments … and, for close to five decades, has been working on forest rights of tribal communities. Through his arrest, NIA is yet again sending a message to the rest of the human rights community that they can stoop to any level to silence and crush dissent,” wrote Hansdak.

Unable to hold a glass long enough to have a drink, Fr. Stan had filed an application requesting the officials at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai to let him use a straw and a sipper. The hearing for this shall take place on November 28 because the prosecution sought 20 days to respond.

Meanwhile, as per the activist’s medical plea, he nearly lost his hearing ability, fell multiple times inside the jail and has been operated on twice for hernia. Fr. Stan continues to suffer pain in his lower abdomen. A special NIA court denied Fr Swamy’s interim bail petition on health grounds on October 23.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan, senior Opposition leaders, MPs of the Congress, the DMK, the NCP along with human rights activists have condemned the arrest and demanded the priest’s immediate release. Peaceful protests have been held across the country seeking the release of Fr. Stan.

Related:

A birthday behind bars: P Varavara Rao turns 80 years old
Stand with Stan, Now!
Bhima Koregaon case: Stan Swamy's bail plea rejected
Hunger fast against Stan Swamy's arrest: Ranchi

Jharkhand MP writes to President demanding Fr. Stan Swamy's release

Alleging that the NIA was using under-handed methods to imprison innocent activists, MP Vijay Hansdak demanded the release and closure of the case against Fr. Stan

Image Courtesy:newsrediff.com

Seeking the immediate release of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, Jharkhand’s MP Vijay Kumar Hansdak wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 10, 2020.

“Father Stan Swamy’s arrest by the NIA [National Investigation Agency] is malicious and spiteful as he and his associates have been constantly denying any link with Maoists. The allegation against him about his links in the Bhima Koregaon case is also false and fabricated. I, on behalf of people of Jharkhand, would like to appeal to take immediate concrete action to stop the proceedings of all the false allegations against Father Swamy and release him. I also appeal to release all those innocent social activists and intellectuals who have been arrested on false allegations,” Hansdak wrote in his letter.

The Rajmahal representative and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hansdak is the first parliamentarian from the state to voice support for Fr. Stan. Hansdak demanded the closure of the case that led to his arrest for alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence.

“The 83-year-old Fr. Swamy is suffering from multiple ailments … and, for close to five decades, has been working on forest rights of tribal communities. Through his arrest, NIA is yet again sending a message to the rest of the human rights community that they can stoop to any level to silence and crush dissent,” wrote Hansdak.

Unable to hold a glass long enough to have a drink, Fr. Stan had filed an application requesting the officials at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai to let him use a straw and a sipper. The hearing for this shall take place on November 28 because the prosecution sought 20 days to respond.

Meanwhile, as per the activist’s medical plea, he nearly lost his hearing ability, fell multiple times inside the jail and has been operated on twice for hernia. Fr. Stan continues to suffer pain in his lower abdomen. A special NIA court denied Fr Swamy’s interim bail petition on health grounds on October 23.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan, senior Opposition leaders, MPs of the Congress, the DMK, the NCP along with human rights activists have condemned the arrest and demanded the priest’s immediate release. Peaceful protests have been held across the country seeking the release of Fr. Stan.

Related:

A birthday behind bars: P Varavara Rao turns 80 years old
Stand with Stan, Now!
Bhima Koregaon case: Stan Swamy's bail plea rejected
Hunger fast against Stan Swamy's arrest: Ranchi

Related Articles

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Theme

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Campaigns

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Videos

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

IN FACT

Analysis

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Archives