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1600 Days in Prison: 160 Intellectuals and Activists Call for Umar Khalid’s Release

Concerned Citizens

A number of artists and scholars have issued an open letter seeking the release of Umar Khalid, a student activist and former research scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Khalid, who has been incarcerated for over three years, is still awaiting a trial after being charged with alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots and accused of sedition. Khalid’s 1600th day in Tihar Jail coincides with the 77th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This has prompted a strongly-worded letter, signed by more than 160 intellectuals, filmmakers, and activists, demanding his immediate release. Among the prominent signatories are renowned authors and intellectuals such as Amitav Ghosh, Naseeruddin Shah, Romila Thapar, Jayati Ghosh, Harsh Mander, and Christophe Jaffrelot.

Full Statement, 30 January 2025

Today, 30th of January, 2025, is the 1600th day that the historian and activist Umar Khalid has spent in Delhi’s Tihar prison. It also happens to be the 77th anniversary of the assassination of Mohandas Karmachand Gandhi at the hands of a Hindutva fanatic.

We, the undersigned, are not unaware of this synchronicity. Nor do we wish to see it pass un-noticed. In a speech preceding his arrest Umar Khalid had asserted that the same forces that had killed Gandhi had also brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which he and many others had protested against.

He had said – “They are destroying the values of Mahatma Gandhi, and the people of India are fighting against them. If those in power want to divide India, the people of India are ready to unite the country.”

Umar and many others like him are in prison charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), without bail, without trial, for years at an end. Not because they motivated or instigated anybody to commit any act of violence, but because they stood in defence of peace and justice and advocated non-violent dissidence against unjust laws.

In the end, this is not just about Umar Khalid.

It pains us, for instance, to read Umar Khalid’s fellow-detenu Gulfisha Fatima’s poem – as she writes about the “silent walls” of the prison. A bright young student activist, an MBA graduate and a history enthusiast, Gulfisha is spending her fifth year in prison. Similarly, one wonders if Khalid Saifi is being “punished” simply for reciting the Preamble of India’s Constitution that speaks of secularism and equality. Sharjeel Imam, a bright scholar of history and student activist, in fact has expressed that while he did know that dissenters run the risk of arrest under this regime, he did not expect to be accused of “terrorism”,

especially for riots that occurred a month after he had already been arrested. The list goes on to include Meeran Haider, Athar Khan, Shifa Ur Rahman and others. A predatory regime first brought in a law that discriminated against Muslims vis-a-vis the right to Indian citizenship, and then selectively persecuted those who raised their voices against this measure, especially if they were Muslim.

Umar Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020, under the draconian UAPA in connection with the Delhi riots of February 2020. These riots, which caused significant loss of life and property, was a macabre episode that resulted in 53 deaths, 38 of whom were Muslims.

However, instead of holding accountable those who incited and perpetuated the violence, the state has targeted activists and protestors who peacefully opposed the CAA. Umar Khalid, known for his eloquent speeches advocating for pluralism, secularism, and constitutional values, has been falsely accused in the most brazenly twisted manner of conspiring to incite violence. In one of his speeches that has been used against him, he in fact is heard saying, “We will not respond to violence with violence. We will not respond to hate with hate. If they spread hate, we will respond to it by spreading love. If they beat us with lathis, we will hold aloft the tri-colour. If they fire bullets, then we will hold aloft the Constitution in our hands.” And yet, the authorities have gone out of their way to frame him using the most devious lies and distortions of facts.

This repeated denial of bail and prolonged incarceration without trial, in fact, is one of the most distressing aspects of Umar Khalid’s case and that of the others in this case. This is despite the fact that the High Court in 2021, while granting bail to three of the accused, had made strong observations about the arguments put forth by the state. The bench had in no unambiguous terms stated that “We are constrained to express, that it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the state, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy.” And yet, the state continues to bank on draconian laws like the UAPA that makes obtaining bail notoriously difficult. Such laws along with inordinate judicial delays have created a situation where individuals are effectively punished through prolonged detention, without any trial, without being proven guilty.

We, the undersigned, are deeply disturbed to witness how a bright and compassionate young man like Umar who is trained as a historian and nurtured as a critical thinker, has repeatedly been targeted, vilified and branded by an authoritarian regime.

We sincerely hope to see Umar and these equal citizenship activists to be free so that they may contribute towards an equal and just future.

Release Umar Khalid and all Equal Citizenship Activists Endorsed by

More than a hundred and fifty activists, academicians, film makers, artists, and intellectuals

(Courtesy: Countercurrents.org. Full list of signatories available on Countercurrents.org website.)

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Press Release, 29 January 2025

A Brief Note on Recent Events in the Tijmali Region, Odisha

Randall Sequeira and Ranjana Padhi

Since May-June 2023, the Adivasi and Dalit communities of Tijmali, Kuturumali and Majhingimali, in Kashipur and Thuamal Rampur blocks in Raygada and Kalahandi districts, respectively, have been protesting against the proposed bauxite mining project of Vedanta Ltd. The struggle is for the protection of their lands, forests, streams and sustenance. They have been facing repression from both the police and the company. In recent months, the repression has intensified although the local people had hopes that the newly appointed Adivasi Chief Minister would be able to understand the grievances of the people living in scheduled areas and take steps to protect their constitutional rights. In this context, we bring to you some recent events in the Tijmali region.

Gram Sabhas Resolutions against Bauxite Mining

From August 30 to September 4, 2024, people organized gram sabhas in eight villages of Kashipur block and two villages of Thuamal Rampur block to assert their constitutional right to their land and natural resources.

Some of the highlights of the gram sabhas are as follows:

1. There has not been any awareness programme about Mo Jangal Jami Yojana in the villages nor has anyone been invited to any such awareness programme at the block or district level. This scheme had been initiated by the state government to ensure proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006.
2. On 8th December 2023, the administration and company personnel with the aid of the police had coercively arranged gram sabhas for purpose of record only without the consent of the people. People condemned the “fake” gram sabhas in unison.
3. Filing an RTI also revealed that a gram sabha was supposedly held on 8th December 2023 and a total of 211.26 acres of forestland was consented by the gram sabha for conversion to non-forest purposes. However, as per the Forest Conservation Act 1980, a gram sabha does not have the right to propose or consent for the conversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
4. There has been no reconstitution of the Forest Rights Committee (FRC) in the villages.
5. According to the notification for Mo Jangal Jami Yojana, 31st March 2024 was the cut-off date set for submission of claims for individual forest rights (IFR), community forest rights (CFR) and community forest resource rights (CFRR). No process was initiated by the district administration for filing these claims.
6. Villagers pointed out the gross violations of provisions of the Forest Rights Act 2006 such as the process for consent to the conversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes has not been taken in the gram sabha; the gram sabha was not given any notice regarding the above process; and villagers do not have any knowledge of any gram sabha being conducted in the village.
7. Villagers clearly opposed the handing over of any of their forests, common lands, rivers, farmlands and sacred sites to any mining company or for conversion for any non-forest purposes.
8. Villagers demanded a judicial enquiry into the fake gram sabhas of 8th December 2023 and prosecution of the state and district authorities involved in carrying out the fake gram sabhas through the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
9. Villagers expressed how the people living around Tijmali worship Tij Raja and perform rituals round the year on the hill top. Therefore, any harm to Tij Raja will also lead to harm of the people living around Tijmali. Since they believe that Tijmali sustains them, they will not allow any destruction of Tijmali.
10. Villagers expressed that if the mining project is executed then it will lead to the failure of law and order situation in villages around Tijmali, will lead to spread of various diseases, will produce severe air and environment pollution and finally will result in gross injustices towards peoples of the region.
11. Villagers demanded the cancellation of the bauxite mining lease given to Vedanta company by the central and the state governments and full recognition of the constitutional and traditional rights of the Adivasi, Dalit and Mulnivasi peoples of Tijmali.

These resolutions along with a memorandum by Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Manch were presented in a press conference held in Bhawanipatna on 25 October, 2024.

Police Repression in Tijmali

Over 40 villagers have been implicated in two incidents that occurred on January 12, 2024 and November 12, 2024. In January, they are alleged to have attacked the personnel of Maithri Infrastructure while in November, they are alleged to have attacked personnel of Vedanta. The names of those implicated are largely leaders and leading members of Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Manch barring a few.

• On September 19, 2024, Kartik Naik, a leading member of Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Manch was picked up from his village Bantej.
• On December 10, 2024, Pabitra Naik from Bantej village was picked up from a night bus on his way back from Cuttack. Both have been denied bail at the Sessions Court.
• On January 6, 2025, Hiramal Naik from Majhigaon village and Kumeswar Naik of Kantamal village were picked up by the Kashipur Police at an event in Raygada being addressed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

On January 6, 2025, through video-conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Rayagada Railway Division in Odisha. Hiramal Naik and Kumeswar Naik were part of the delegation of Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Manch, the forum spearheading the campaign against the proposed bauxite mining project by Vedanta Limited and its contract company Maithri Infrastructure.This delegation from several villages was stopped on the way to the event at Shikhar Pai village. A few of the members of the delegation managed to reach the event on their motorcycles. But they were prevented from getting their memorandum accepted and were instead detained and later arrested.

As reported in the media, the January 6 event was heralding the development being ushered into the region and upholding the richness of Odisha and its natural resources that will link Odisha to international trade. However, this development is not only being imposed on people of the region but also by foisting dozens of criminal cases.

These arrests are part of a series of repressive measures being taken by the administration and police of both districts in Odisha. Examining each case reveals that the “accused” have several cases against them. Charges include grave sections like attempt to murder and dacoity.

As the number of arrests increase and litigation proceeds, there is constant police surveillance in the areas preventing people from their daily activities or stepping out to their block or district headquarters. Thus, one might ask some pertinent questions:

• How and why the various appeals made to the district administrations, concerned state ministers, Governor and even the President of India have gone unheeded?
• How and why the overwhelmingly unanimous rejection of the proposed mining project in two public hearings set up by the Odisha Pollution Control Board for environment clearance in October 2023 is not regarded as the mandate of the people who live on this land?
• How and why the resolutions of the Gram Sabhas held following the due process under the Forest Rights Act & PESA act are not deemed as the mandate of the people?

(Courtesy: Countercurrents.org, an India-based news, views and analysis website, that describes itself as non-partisan and taking “the Side of the People!” It is edited by Binu Mathew.)