Release Saibaba & Varavara Rao: Letter to Political Parties (2019)

An Open Letter to the Contesting Political Parties by Revolutionary Writer’s Association

Give an assurance for the Release of Prof. Saibaba, Varavara Rao and other Intellectuals and for the safe guard of Peoples Democratic Rights

An Appeal from Poets, Writers, Artists, Journalists, Intellectuals and Different Democratic Organisations

April 10, 2019

The gradual shrinking of democratic space day by day, the voice of the people and the intellectuals being muffled is distressing us a lot. Prof. G. N. Saibaba, a social activist, with 90% disabled body and 19 severe ailments is denied of the needed medical aid and his appeal for medical bail is rejected. Saibaba who was voicing for thousands of adivasis kept under imprisonment, far from any legal aid and about their rightful struggles, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Gadchiroli court, a year back. But his appeal against it in High Court is yet to be heard. Many national, and international human rights organisations, including United Nations Human Rights Commission, and Intellectuals all over the world appealed for his unconditional release. But all the appeals fell on deaf ears. Moreover it is pathetic that the court says that there is no danger to his life and he is getting medical aid regularly, while the medical reports and his health conditions appear contrary.

If that is the most inhuman treatment meted out by the wheeled chaired Professor, we are shocked to learn of the incarceration of 79 year old VaravaRao, a well-known Telugu writer, and activist and the voice of the voiceless on charges of criminal conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister. We can’t imagine the telugu literary and intellectual areas along with peoples movements and movements for democratic rights without his contribution since 50 years. The pity is that VaravaraRao, who met many politicians with an appeal for the release of Prof. Saibaba, himself is jailed.

Even the same fate struck to another intellectual, a lawyer, Surendra Gadling, who has been representing the Professor in Courts. Another seven intellectuals, who demanded the release of the Professor are in jails now. All these intellectuals are the rights activists fighting for the cause of the Dalits, women, and Adivasis. All these actions are nothing but strangling the voices, which demand justice.

It appears that the Conspiracy theory suits to the Police rather than the intellectuals, imprisoned. At first they were charged with the their involvement in the Bhima Koregaon riots. When that appeared ludicrous, the charges were reframed and the intellectuals were charged with the conspiracy. For that the police created false and fake letters to support their theory. All politicians of many hues, including Rahul Gandhi, and some of the retired police officers, judges openly condemned these false allegations. The more heinous act of the machinery is that they were arrested under the draconian UAPA. These nine intellectuals, who are jailed, are the voice of the voiceless. Thus by muffling their voices the government is denying them their fundamental Right of Expression. It is nothing but strangling the voices of crores of Women, Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis. It is not only the above-mentioned intellectuals, but thousands of Adivasis, Dalits and Muslims have been languishing in jails for decades without trial.

Inregard of Prof. Saibaba and VaravaraRao, they belong to our telugu society and have been active in public life for decades. VaravaraRao, who is in Pune jail now is 79 years old and needs constant medical attention. Saibaba, the wheeled chaired professor with umpteen diseases needs constant medical care, which is denied in Nagpur Anda cell . We are very much worried about the condition of both.

It is not these specific cases that panic all peace loving people. It is the atmosphere of fear and terror prevalent in the present society in which the intellectuals are being threatened, attacked and also being for their dissenting voices. Violence on Dalits and minorities has grown specifically in the recent years. This atmosphere of fear and panic is not good to democracy and is against the spirit of our constitution.

As candidates to be elected as people’s representatives under the oath of our constitution, we need not say that it is your bounden duty to safe guard democracy and rule of law and see that all institutions including the police, abide by the constitutional values both in action and spirit. For democracy to survive it is essential that the Right to expression, dissent is honoured. Once the voice of dissent is strangled, there is no chance for democracy to survive.

For you and your political parties the guiding spirit and light is Indian Constitution. The Congress party already promised to repeal the sedition law. More over when the basic fundamental Rights are curtailed, no amount of your proposed welfare measures and development programs can safeguard the democracy. It leads to chaos.

Hence, we request all contesting political parties to put your policies on safeguarding the democratic rights in public and give a clear assurance to the people.

We appeal you to strive for an impartial and just enquiry in the above cases and see that Prof. Saibaba, VaravaraRao and others are granted bail immediately.

Signed by

1. K Sivareddy, poet

2. Vasanthalakshmi, writer, journalist

3. R.Bharadwaja, writer

4. Vimala, writer

5. Vasireddy Naveen, writer

6. Kuppili Padma, writer

7. N. Venugopal, author and editor, Veekshanam

8. Devakidevi, writer

9. Katyayini, writer

10. Kondepudi Nirmala, author and writer

11. Shivalakashmi, writer

12. Bandaru Vijaya, Prajaswamya Rachaitrula Vedika

13. Shikhamani, poet, editor, kavisandya

14. Usha S Dani, author, Muslim Thinkers Forum

15.Ramesh Babu, poet, journalist

16. Bummdi Jagadishwara Rao, Author

17. Y. Karunakar, author, painter

18. Krupakar Madiga, poet

19. KY Ratnam, Professor, Central University of Hyderabad

20. Pro.Haragopal, Civil Liberties Commitee

21. K.Sajaya, social activist

22. Padmaaja Shaw, retired professor

23. Kakarala, Film Artist

24. Dr. Samunnatha, Associate Professor, Osmania University

25. Bhupathi Venkateshwarlu, Editor, Modugupulu

26. Sandhya, Progressive Women’s Association National Convener

27. Venepalli Panduranga Rao, a former sarpanch

28. Malliswari, Prajaswamika Rachatrula Vedika

29. Prathima, author

30. G. Laxminarsaiah, Author

31. Dr. Kasula Reddy, poet

32. Indravelli Ramesh, poet

33. Sabir Hussain Syed, poet

34. Ravinder Mettu, Author

35. Avunuri Sammaiah, Janasahithii, Hujurabad Convener

36. D. Subramaniam, Theater and Civil Liberties Activist

37. Siddhartha Katta, poet, journalist

38. S. Naresh Kumar Sufi, poet

39. Kalyani SJ, Writer

40. AK Prabhakar, writer

41. M. Pragati, the writer

42.Kavini aluri, writer

43. Jugashvili, poet, artist

44. RK, Publisher

45. Moshes Diane, Artist

46. V.Padma, Journalist,

47. k.ravi, Raithu Swarjya Vedika

48. Y. Ashok Kumar, Telangana Progressive Teachers Federation

49. B.Ramakrishna, Democratic Teacher ‘s Federation

50. N Ravi, Anti Hindutva Fascist Forum

51. B.Sanjeeva

52. D. Balamuni Reddy, a democrat

53. Bandi Durga Prasad, Telangana Democratic Forum

54. Dandem John, Praja Kala Mandali

55. Chikkudu Prabhakar, Telangana Democratic Forum

56. Iqbal Pasha, Virasam

57. P. Vijayarama Raju, Democratic Teachers Federation

58. Ramachandram, Virasam

59. Devadasu, Praja Kala Mandali

60. Balasani Rajaiah, Virasam

61. Y.Ratnamala, Virasam

62. Chandramouli, Patriotic Democratic Movement

63. M Venkanna, Indian Association of People’s Lawyers

64. P. Shyamala Rao, Civil Liberties Committee

65. V.Parusharaj, SC, ST Students Union

66. P. Vishnu Vardhan Rao, Journalist

67. P. Manjula, Virasam

68. k.Ravi Chander, Telangana Praja Front

69. A. Nageshwara Rao, Osmania University

70. Harish Azad, AISF, Osmania University

71. David, Ou Research Scholars

72. Anil, Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika

73. Aluri Lalitha, Virasam

74. BS Raju, Visthapan Virodh Jana Vikas Andol

75. KV Kurmanath, Virasam

76. Dr. Ramdev, Patriotic Democratic Movement

77. C.Rarmohan, Palamuru Adyayana Vedika

78. A.Rajendra Babu, Palamuru Adyayana Vedika

79. Sandhya, Virasam

80. Bhavani, Amarula Bandu Mitrula Sangham

81. Sadhyarani, Chaitanya Mahila Sangham

82. Ancestor, writer, social worker

83. Ushajyothi, Scholar

84. Ranga Rao, Nellore

85. Yadagiri Gundoju, retired Teacher

86. B. Narasimha, OPDR Secretary, Telangana

87. Satish C.H.

88. N. Bhimarjun Reddy, Nallagonda Praja Vedika

89. K.Balreddi, Malupu Publications

90. Harish

91. P. Chinniyaiah, Writer

92. Ramki, Editor, Arunatara

93. P.Varalakshmi, Virasam

94. Nandigam Krishnarao, Writer and Advocate

95 K Jagan, Virasam

96. M. Aravind, Virasam

97. Kranthi, Author, Journalist

98. C.H Lakshmaiah, retired employee

99. Pani, Virasam

100. Kaseem, Virasam

By Revolutionary Writer’s Association