Scrap the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

A public meeting was organized on 23rd February to demand the scrapping of the black law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Batla House, Jamia Nagar in South Delhi under the banner of the “People’s Movement against UAPA”.

A public meeting was organized on 23rd February to demand the scrapping of the black law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Batla House, Jamia Nagar in South Delhi under the banner of the “People’s Movement against UAPA”.

The campaign to scrap the UAPA was started on from 23rd January in Delhi. A signature campaign has been carried out across the country to raise the awareness of people about this black law.

Thousands of people participated in the public meeting with great interest and listened attentively to the speakers.

It is a fact that large numbers of innocent people have been accused of being “terrorists” and jailed under this Act. Muslim youth have been the largest victims of this. Adivasis, marginalized from their own land and jungle, who are fighting for their homes and property, are also its victims. Those who have stood up against state terror and oppression and raised questions about State institutions have also been victimized.

Shri Abdullah presided over the meeting. Speakers said that people have been in struggle for the repeal of this Act over the past many years. Justice has been denied despite the struggle for release of those who have been imprisoned. The speakers questioned the necessity for such a black law in the present democracy that criminalises the right to expressing one’s views, holding meetings and establishing organizations.

Speaking on behalf of Lok Raj Sangathan, Birju Nayak said that just recently, the army had declared that the 5 Kashmiri youth who had been killed had been responsible for the Chattisingpura massacre contrary to the CBI, the State police and the parents of the youth declaring them to be innocent. The AFSPA is like the UAPA, using which many innocent youth have been killed, but it does not permit any action against the army. He said that if anyone questions the army, police or present system, then he becomes a terrorist, extremist, separatist or Maoist! All such laws are part of State terror.

He pointed that the most blatant example of State terror is the 1984 genocide. Thousands of innocent Sikhs were murdered on the streets of Delhi, following the death of Indira Gandhi. The perpetrators of this crime have not been punished till date, while under TADA thousands of Sikh youth had been put into jails. Thousands of Sikh lives were snuffed out in encounters. There were non-Sikh victims too whose views did not correspond to that of the State. Another example is the 2002 Gujarat genocide, where Muslims were the main victims.

He pointed out that such black laws have existed since British times. Anyone who challenged the State or questioned it was declared a danger to the ‘unity and integrity of India’ and finished off or suppressed on the pretext of the person being a terrorist, extremist, separatist or Maoist.

All speakers gave a call people to organize into one movement against black laws such as UAPA. Shri Abdulla invited all present who are united in their fight against this Act, to attend the 5th March rally at the Talkatora Stadium.

The speakers included: Dr. I.A. Khan, Delhi Secretary, People’s Movement against UAPA, M.Hasnen of Kaumi Party of India, Pervez Khan of Popular Front of India, Atiya Firdaus from NFW, Iram-ur-Rahman from CFI, Javed Aklak from SDPI, Ansar Dindori from NCHRO.

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