Revolutionary Writer’s Association: Letter for release of Saibaba, Varavara Rao and other Intellectuals

An Open Letter to the Contesting Political Parties

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

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 theVoiceof 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.

  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

April 10, 2019
Revolutionary Writer’s Association

C. Kistler

Also editor of Nouvelle Turquie.