Kiwi-Indians in Auckland, protest the arrest of journalists, activists and students in India
Organised by the Facebook group New Zealanders United to Save the Indian Constitution, a small group of protestors gathered on Sunday at Auckland’s Aotea Square, to highlight what they called “arrest and intimidation by instruments of the State of journalists, activists and students”.
Protest organiser Dr Sapna Samant noted how the “crackdowns on media and protestors have intensified as COVID-19 and social division spreads in India, under PM Modi’s failing leadership”.
Anu Kaloti of the Migrant Workers Association added how this “harassment and intimidation didn’t start with the Modi Government. Congress which started all this is equally guilty”. “Thus, we should work towards fighting and changing the entire system,” she said.
Meanwhile, as part of the protest, Prateek Vadgaonkar, who has been in New Zealand for the last eight years, read the name of the students imprisoned in India for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019.
And Richard Pamatatau, who teaches journalism at AUT, read the names of the journalists either arrested, or are constantly facing harassment in India due to the work they have been doing exposing the shortcomings of the Indian Government.
Radhika Reddy who comes from Chennai, brought focus on the issue of transgender rights in India.
Ikhlaq Kashkari, President of New Zealand Muslim Association, talked about the prevailing situation in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the state. “After March 15th Christchurch terror attacks, I made a pledge that I’ll no longer be a part of the silent majority. I will speak up if I see injustice, if I see abuse.”
As has been the norm in such protests all over the world, the gathering also read the Preamble to the Indian constitution.
The protest ended with a rousing rendition of Jana Gana Mana, India’s National Anthem.
The protest organisers distributed pamphlets at the event detailing some of the people, which they said have been “arrested, intimidated by instruments of the Indian state”. As below:
Journalists
Sudhir Dhawale - dalit rights activist, editor of Marathi magazine, Vidrohi
Gautam Navlakha - civil liberties, democratic, human rights activist
Gowhar Geelani - author and commentator
Andrew Sam Rajapandian - arrested for writing about COVID-19 issues
Varavara Rao - activist, renowned poet, journalist, literary critic and public speaker
Masrat Zahra - freelance Kashmiri photojournalist
Peerzada Ashiq - Kashmiri journalist
Damodharan - TV journalist arrested for doing an investigative story on a pharmacy’s malpractice in Chennai
Students
Meeran Haider - student at Jamia Millia Islamia University
Asif Iqbal Tanha - student at Jamia Millia Islamia University
Safoora Zargar - student at Jamia Millia Islamia University
Gulfisha Khatoon - student at Jamia Millia Islamia University
Devangana Kalita - student at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Sharjeel Imam - student at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Natasha Narwal - student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, women’s and human rights defender; a founding member of the Pinjra Tod
Kris Chudawala - trans student at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, arrested for protesting Mumbai Queer Pride in support of Sharjeel Imam
Activists
Surendra Gadling - human rights lawyer and dalit rights activist based in Nagpur
Mahesh Raut - land rights activist working with gram sabhas in the mining area of Gadhichiroli
Rona Wilson - member of Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), against the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
Arun Ferreira - human rights lawyer
Sudha Bharadwaj - trade unionist, communist, and civil rights activist against land acquisition
Vernon Gonsalves - academic and writer, who writes extensively on dalit and advasi rights
Anand Teltumbde - scholar, writer, civil rights activist, management professor at the Goa Institute of Management
Khalid Saifi - activist
Umar Khalid - former student leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University
Ishrat Jahan - activist, ex-Congress Party Councillor, lawyer
Shifa-Ur-Rehman - President of Jamia Alumni Association
Soneswar Narah - human rights activist
Pranab Doley - human rights defender and secreatry of Jeepal Krishak Shramik Sangha, a farmer rights organisation
Akhil Gogoi - peasant leader and Right to Information activist
Sanjiv Bhatt - former Indian Police Service officer, Gujarat riots whistle-blower
Dr Kafeel Khan - doctor
Shoma Sen - professor at Nagpur University and a long-time dalit and women’s rights activist
Chingiz Khan - research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Dr Laifungbam Debabrata Roy - medical practitioner and prominent human rights defender in Imphal, Manipur
Konsam Victor Singh - member of the Manipur People’s Party known for speaking up on social, political, and justice issues
Ardya Narayanan - queer activist arrested for counter-protesting a hate rally against improsoned student Amulya Leona
Parwan Rao Ambhedhkar - dalit activist and mathematician based in Lucknow
-Gaurav Sharma