मोर्चा
सीमा-विश्वविजय रिहाई मंच
संपादक/ ब्यूरो प्रमुख/ प्रधान संवाददाता, दिनांक:
इलाहाबाद,
महोदय/महोदया,
हमें यह सूचित करने में हर्ष हो रहा है कि इसी शहर की जानी-मानी पत्रकार सीमा आज़ाद और उनके सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता विश्वविजय के विरुद्ध प्रदेश की पुलिस द्वारा लगाये गये झूठे और मनगढंत आरोपों को यहाँ के सत्र न्यायलय के स्तर से सिद्ध माने जाने का देश भर के लोकतंत्र-पसंद संगठनों, कानूनविदों एवं गणमान्य व्यक्तियों ने विरोध किया है. सत्र न्यायालय स्तर के इस आदेश को अन्यायपूर्ण और सामान्य विवेक एवं तर्क के विरुद्ध करार दिया गया है और माननीय उच्च न्यायालय में इसके विरुद्ध अपील भी दाखिल करा दी गयी है.
सीमा-विश्वविजय के विरुद्ध न्यायालय के इस फैसले ने देश भर में जो तीखी बहस पैदा कर दी है, उसी क्रम में फिलहाल उत्तर प्रदेश स्तर पर इस मंच – 'सीमा-विश्वविजय रिहाई मंच' का गठन होने जा रहा है. मंच के औपचारिक गठन हेतु हम आगामी 6 जुलाई 2012 को इसी शहर में एक सम्मलेन आहूत कर रहे हैं. इसी सन्दर्भ में चर्चा हेतु कल दिनांक 4 जुलाई 2012 को दोपहर 12:30 को करिअर कोचिंग, निकट हनुमान मंदिर, सिविल लाइन्स में आयोजित हमारी प्रेस वार्ता में आप सादर आमंत्रित हैं.
हाल में PUCL के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री प्रभाकर सिन्हा की ओर से सीमा आजाद को लिखे बहु-चर्चित पत्र को लेकर सर्वश्री संदीप पांडे, ज्यां द्रेज, रवि किरण जैन, सुहैल अकबर, जीपी मिश्र, प्रशांत राही एवं सुश्री नीलम शंकर सहित एक प्रतिनिधि मंडल इसी सिलसिले में सीमा और विश्वविजय को नैनी केन्द्रीय कारागार में मिल आया. इस बारे में भी उपरोक्त प्रेस वार्ता में खुलासा किया जाएगा. आप स्वयं उपस्थित रह सकें, तो हमें प्रसन्नता होगी. अन्यथा कृपया अपने सुयोग्य प्रतिनिधि को भेजने का कष्ट करें.
डा पद्मा सिंह, जी पी मिश्र,
मीडिया प्रभारी (तदर्थ) अध्यक्ष (तदर्थ)
+919415636106; padmasingh@gmail.com +919415303425; gpdhruvtara@gmail.com
Anti Emergency Day &
In Solidarity with Seema Azad and Vishwa Vijay
WITHDRAW THE UNDECLARED EMERGENCY
JOIN THE CONVENTION ON
THE ATTACK ON LIFE AND LIBERTY OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE
26th JUNE, 2012
5pm onwards
Gandhi Peace Foundation, N Delhi
| CALL TO DEMAND THE · REPEAL OF DRACONIAN LAWS · UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF SEEMA AZAD & VISHWA VIJAY & · ALL ARRESTED UNDER SUCH LAWS |
Dear friends,
26th June, 2012 it will be 37 years since the emergency was imposed in 1975. If we see out present times, it is clear that an undeclared emergency persists with life and liberty of the people of India being the biggest casualty.. The increase is not only on the attack on the life and liberty of ordinary people but also human rights defenders wherein a large number of people find themselves booked on false charges and inside the Jail without bail being granted to them. . The use of the IPC and over fifty draconian laws legislated by the centre and various States has made such violation very easy, legitimising the police acts.
Disappearances, False cases and illegal detentions have become rampant in the name of fighting Maoism and Terrorism. It is as though a new wave of counter terrorism has been launched to terrorize poeple belonging to Minorities, Tribals and Dalit communities and those fighting to save their land, water and forests. Men and women are picked up, some times snatched by one agency from another and presented to the world as dreaded Maoists or Terrorists. A section of the judiciary too refuses to see the fabrication of cases or the profiling that is happening and ends up endorsing the decision of the police and the Government.
The most recent and shocking example is the conviction for LIFE of Seema Azad (Journalist, editor Dastak and the PUCL Uttar Pradesh Organising Secretary) along with her husband Vihwa Vijay, by a district court in Allahabad against charges of Waging War against Government of India which is Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code. She has also been punished under sec 121(A) of the IPC-conspiracy of waging war, criminal conspiracy sec 120 (B) of the IPC along with section 13, 18, 20, 38 and 30 of the UAPA, 2004 and 2008 amended. In all these sections except section 13 they have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of a minimum of ten years.
It is all the more shocking that this harsh punishment was delivered when the entire evidence in this case was based on heresay and on the basis of supposedly possessing incriminating materials along with the seizure of mobiles.
Seema who is only 36 years of age, a student of astronomy and social change has been condemned by the lower court to be behind bars all her life.
This decision is completely uacceptable and has to be fought tooth and nail on all fronts. The criminal appeal will be filed shortly, however, it should also be our effort to expose this judgement and demand their release.
Many of us organisations have decided to observe anti emergency day this year as one demanding the unconditional release of Seema Azad and Vishwa Vijay and other prisoners who have been wrongly booked and detained under these draconian laws in the various jails of the country. We would also like to raise our voice demanding the Repeal of all draconian laws. A campaign towards this end would be announced in the meeting.
We would like to request all of you to join us for the Convention on the Attack on the life and liberty of People taking place on the 26th June at 5 pm at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in Delhi.
We also take this opportunity to give a call to all PUCL branches and other Human Rights Organisations to make similar demands on the Anti Emergency day whether it be the 25-26 of June.
We are,
People's Union for Civil Liberties, Jan Hastakshep, Confederation for Democracy (CFD), People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Champa – The Amiya & B.G. Rao Foundation, Jan Saskriti Manch, Samkaleen Teesri Duniya, NAPM, HRLN, AIPWA, NFFWFP, Safai Karamchari Andolan, INSAF, FFPHRD, AISA, Samyantar, Pratirodh.com, Vihaan, PDFI along with several writers, thinkers and activists,
Contact Persons:
Mahipal Singh: 09312206414
N D Pancholi: 09811099532Anand Swaroop Verma: 09810720714
Bhasha Singh: 09818755922
Chittranjan Singh: 09415249770
June 18, 2012
Seema-Vishwavijay Rihai Manch
Respected colleagues and friends,
It would be an understatement to say that I was delighted to read the letter from Mr. Prabhakar Sinha, President, PUCL to my dear friend, colleague and comrade-in-arms, Seema. I am, in fact, moved..........
It could turn out to be a major event if this important letter be delivered by an eminent delegation, comprising or on behalf of the respected PUCL President, to Seema and Vishwavijay, personally, at Naini Central Jail. It would indeed embolden the spirits of the spirited couple/activist duo in this difficult phase of incarceration. My friends and I would only be too happy to facilitate such an event.
I also take pleasure in finally, though belatedly, announcing our long-nurtured plan to form a Seema-Vishwavijay Rihai Manch, based in UP, which should grow into an all India, if not sub-continental or international, platform for all of us as well as for those beyond. As a humble start, we intend to hold a meeting of the Manch with the onset of July in Allahabad, soon after my dear colleague, Sandeep Pandey returns to Lucknow and the gem of an advocate Ravi Kiran Jain to Allahabad. Plans for a series of programmes and demonstrations as part of the campaign in UP are already being discussed. The exact date and venue of the meeting would be notified before the end of June, possibly by the time of the PUCL Convention in Delhi.
I take immense pleasure in inviting Mr Banwari Lal Sharma of the Azadi Bachao Andolan to preside over theSeema-Vishwavijay Rihai Manch, in consonance with his exemplary role in standing by Seema and Vishwavijay from the time they were handcuffed and all roped up at the police station following their formal arrest, and the magnificient poet from Allahabad, Mr Anshu Malaviya; Seema-Vishwavijay's close friend, relative, litterateur and social activist, Mr. Anjani Kumar; a name which needs no introduction among the Hindi-using intelligentsia, Mr.Neelabh Ashk; the prominent columnist and social activist, Mr. Mudrarakshas; the media activists, Mr. Rajeev Yadav, Mr. Shahnawaz Alam, Mr. Abhishek Srivastava, and a host of other social activists, political activists, lawyers, journalists, writers, teachers, students, worker-peasant activists, and all our friends to join in making theSeema-Vishwavijay Rihai Manch a platform to launch a steadily growing movement of the democratic people of democratic India.
Let us all pool in our mite to ensure the speedy release of Seema and Vishwavijay, even as we take up the challenge of encountering the ruling elite's desperation to throttle their dissenting ideas and politics.
Please be so kind as to respond by way of suggestions, advice, support, help, participation, and above all unstinted criticism.
Sincerely yours,
Prashant Rahi
June 15, 2012
Press conference of PUCL
 |
| Anand Swaroop Verma, Justice Rajinder Sacchar, Advocate Ravikiran Jain and Neelabh (L to R) |
Founder: Jayaprakash Narayan
270-A Patparganj, Opposite Anandlok Apartments, Mayur Vihar- Phase I,
Delhi 110091
New Delhi,
15th June, 2012
'Conviction of Seema Azad is a glaring travesty of Justice'
Convention on 26th June, on the anniversary of Emergency
Press Release
New Delhi, 15th June 2012: "The conviction of civil rights activist Seema Azad for terrorism, unlawful activities, sedition and waging war against the state is a glaring travesty of justice." This was the view shared by all the speakers at a press conference today. Justice Sachar argued that judgment of the session'scourt is based on little evidence and little application of mind. The only allegation against her is that she was in the possession of literature that the prosecution argued was illegal. But between possessing literature and committing an offence is a wide chasm that cannot be bridged by the flimsy arguments brought forth by the prosecution and accepted by the judge.
Senior Advocate Ravi Kiran argued that filing of the criminal case against Seema Azad was premeditated. This is clearly visible from even a cursory reading of the FIR. Even after the arrest of Seema Azad, the prosecution continued with its sinister motives. The literature ostensibly seized from Seema Azad which had been sealed as evidence, was opened by the prosecution without any authorization. In normal circumstances this would make the entire evidence suspect. But the judge continued to rely on this evidence. Furthermore, he argued that Seema Azad was given on police remand after the completion of the statutory period of 90 days. It is in this illegal custody that the police claim to have two cell phones which are also being used as evidence against her. Given the delay and the circumstances of this custody, the possibility of wrongdoing by the prosecution cannot be ruled out.
Senior Journalist Anand Swaroop Verma has been spearheading a campaign against the verdict in the Seema Azad case and arguing for her release. He argued that the judgment was prejudiced and is an attempt to silence protest against government policy. He argued that Seema was being targetted since she was a bold voice against the takeover of farmer's lands and livelihood and exposing the reality of the witch-hunt of Muslim youth promoted by the government and its security establishment in Azamgarh.
Writer and poet Neelabh, who met Seema more than 6 times since her incarceration urged all writers and cultural activists to come together and put their weight behind this unjust conviction and ensure that Seema and Vishwavijay are released urgently. He also said that Seema Azad's case should become the rallying point for all to come together and begin a discussion on how we can prevent the State from becooming vindictive.
A large number of academics, journalists, and representatives of various social organisations have already pledged their support to campaign for the immediate and uncinditional release of Seema Azad and her husband. Justice Sachar pointed out that it is within the powers of the state government to withdraw prosecution. He urged the new government in Uttar Pradesh to nullify the wrongdoings of the predecessor government and withdraw the false charges against activists' lodges by that government.
Mahipal Singh & Kavita Srivastava ( national secretaries)
For further details contact: Kavita Srivastava – 09351562965
June 14, 2012
Letter sent to Seema Azad (in Naini Jail, UP) on 14.6.2012 by Prabhakar Sinha, President PUCL
Dear Seema Azad,
Our heart goes out to you as one more victim of the ruthlessness of the Indian rulers. I am not writing this to condemn the court which convicted you nor to pass a judgment on its verdict because doing so would be barking up the wrong tree and walking straight into the trap laid down by the powers that be. The wily ruling elite of India maintains two sets of laws in its arsenal: one purportedly to punish the enemies of the nation comprising the corrupt politician, the big business and the corrupt bureaucrats while in reality it is to provide them with an impregnable shield, and the other for the rest of the people. While the former continues to be effectively used to save them, the latter is a trap for the people from which escape is well neigh impossible. While they, who should be in the prison, rule the roost, the common man is caged in hordes with a lightning speed regardless of their innocence. There are laws to keep secret the names of the enemies of the nation who have stolen and stashed away hundreds of billion in foreign banks and there is maximum resistance to any law which may hurt the ruling elite. The phenomenon is not new, only the weapon and their targets have been changing. They enacted PDA, 1950 within weeks of India being declared a Republic followed by the MISA, 1971, TADA, 1985 and POTA, 2001 in addition to UAPA, 1967 and a large number of their siblings. Several lakh innocent citizens have been victimized since 1947 without the slightest sign of remorse in the ruling elite. Thirty five thousand were detained under MISA during the emergency. Seventy six thousand were detained under TADA all over the country including Gujarat where there was no trace of terrorism in the 1980s. POTA was similarly let loose on the countless innocent without judicial let or hindrance. It is the rulers who decide who we are and what can be done with us.Jaya Prakash Narayan and the thousand others detenues during the emergency were 'Fascists' because Indira Gandhi said so. Thousands became 'terrorists' because the rulers branded them so (under TADA), and Vaiko, an NDA M.P. from Tamil Nadu became a terrorist because Jayalalitaa, the TN C.M. said so. Under the lawless laws of the land, it is the ruling elite which decides what we are and what should be done to us. Indira Gandhi decided that the people of India should be without the right to life and personal liberty during the emergency and the government should be free to kill, maim and cage them at its will and the Supreme Court said 'be it so.' So, you must be as good a 'Maoist' as J.P. was a Fascist and Vaiko a terrorist.
It is not our (PUCL) agenda to change the rulers, and we do not have the might to compel them to yield, but we have the spirit of a crusader and must go on relentlessly exposing the sins of the ruling elite and exhort the people to fight for their life and liberty till the end. This is our goal and we will pursue it relentlessly and tirelessly.
Yours affectionately,
Sd/-
(Prabhakar Sinha)
National President, PUCL
Update in the Seema Azad Case
13th June 2012
This is short note to give you a quick update in the Seema Azad case.
At a few hours notice a meeting was called on the 13th of June, 2012 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation against the conviction by a trial court sentencing the Seema Azad and her husband Vishwa Vijay to life imprisonment. the meeting was called to share the travesty of justice in the flawed judgement condemning Ms Seema Azad and her husband Vishwa Vijay for life in prison on ridiculous grounds. Seema Azad the organising secretary of PUCL, Uttar Pradesh is a cultural and literary activist based in Allahabad. She was the editor of Dastak, a monthly magazine.
The Delhi meeting was attended by more than 35 persons who included Justice Rajinder Sachar, ex chief justice of the Delhi and Sikkim high Court, and former president of the PUCL, Ravi Kiran Jain, Vice President PUCL and Senior Counsel Supreme Court & Allahabad High Court and was her lawyer for Seema; Shri Anand Swaroop Varma, Editor of Teesri Duniya and writer; Neelabh, poet and writer, Harish Dhawan of the PUDR, Chhittranjan Singh, Mahipal singh and Kavita Srivastava from the PUCL, Harsh Dhobal from HRLN, Madhuresh from NAPM, Roma and AShok Chowdhary from the National Forum for forest workers and forest people, journalist Bhasha Singh, Literary critic Ajay Singh, Adiyog from Lucknow, ND Pancholi from PUCL Delhi, Mahtab Alam from the CPHRD along with several other activists, lawyers and literary persons.
The meeting began with Mr. Chittranjan Singh welcoming all and stating the two fold agenda of the meeting, which was mainly sharing of the critique of the judgment and planning the campaign activities.
Mr. Ravi Kiran jain presented the critique. the 70 page judgement, showed no evidence. According to Mr Jain the case at no stage went never went beyond the FIR. Infact the incriminating piece of evidence that the police had tried to show, were mainly books and pamphlets and other "Maoist" literature that they were supposed to be carrying and had on their body at the time of their arrest on the 6th of February, 2012, Mr, Jain clarified that under no circumstance any of this could be counted as evidence, as the police had broken the seals of the packets without taking the magistrates permission and therefore tampering and planting of material could not be ruled out.
Secondly, the police had taken Seema's remand illegally after the completion of ninety days, which is not permissible. During this two day remand they had taken her to her house, where they showed the recovery of two mobiles and some more literature. Apart from the fact that the remand itself was illegal and had been challenged in the Allahabad High Court where a recall application was pending. The proper search was not carried out as according to CrPC rules and therefore planting of material was possible. .
Apart from this there was no other shred of evidence, although the prosecution tried to string together Seema's case with one other case made out in Gorakhpur and 2 cases of Kanpur, where according to the police they picked up several Maoists, who were actively involved with the CPI (maoist) party. They tried to show how they had seized the same literature and there were some confessions of some other prisoners which showed that they were Maoists. Which goes against the Indian jurisprudence where confession in front of police is not addmissable as evidence.
It was shocking to read that Seema had been convicted for sec 13 (punishment for indulging in unlawful), 18( punishment for conspiracy), 20 (being a member of a terrorist gang), 38 (membership of a terrorist gang), and 39 (providing support to a terrorist organisation ) of the UAPA amended 2004 and 2008, and u/s 120, 121 and 121(A) of the IPC.
It also came as a rude shock to all that that Seema had been sentenced to 10 year rigorous imprisonment in most of the above sections along with fines of 5000 to 10 thousand rupees. except in 13 where is it was 5 years rigorous imprisonment. She was also sentenced to life u/s 121, waging war against state.
For those who are not aware rigorous imprisonment means working in either the factory of the jail or in the kitchen
Mr Ravi Kiran Jain shared with all that the criminal appeal would be filed in the Allahabad High Court very soon. Although they have sixty days but they would not wait in this case.
Mr Anand Swaroop Varma and Neelabh Ashk shared the possible campaign that we could undertake.
It was decided that
1. 15th June: Press conference exposing the travesty of justice condemning Seema to life, will be addressed by Justice Sachar, Ravi Kiran Jain, Anand Swaroop Varma and Neelabh Ashk will address, Ravi kiran jain will present the legal critique.
2. 26th June: Emergency Day : PUCL Convention against the judgement in the Seema Azad case, all groups will be invited to participate . Along with condemning the judgement a campaign for the release of Seema Azad will also be planned. A poster will also be released for this purpose. A critique of the judgement will be presented which will be prepared by Ravi Kiran Jain, Harish Dhawan, Neelabh Mishra and Anand Swaroop in English and Hindi and will not be longer than 5-6 pages.
3. 25th June: Delhi activists to protest against UAPA and sedition.
4. The entire judgement will be translated in English, which is being coordinated by Harish Dhawan.
5. It was also planned that Allahabad and Lucknow must have protests, probably several groups are already planning this. Also a letter to Akhilesh Yadav against this conviction.
Case of Seema Azad: Crushing Voices of Dissent
The conviction of civil rights activist Seema Azad and her husband Vishwavijay under provisions of UAPA for allegedly waging war against state by the lower court of Allahabad has once again proved that this system is adamant at crushing voices of dissent. A penalty of Rs. 70,000 has also been imposed upon this couple besides life imprisonment order on8th of this June. These former student union leaders and active social activists have been alleged of being a member of CPI(Maoist) and involvement in 'illegal activities'.
Seema Azad and Vishwavijay were arrested by UPSTF in Allahabad on Feb 6, 2010 when Seema returned from World Book Fair in Delhi and Vishwavijay had gone to receive her at railway station. STF claimed to have recovered maoist literature from their possession and also claimed that both were related to maoist party. STF then transferred this case to UP anti-terror squad.
Seema Azad is the editor of bimonthly 'Dastak' magazine, organisation secretary of PUCL-UP and social activist involved with civil rights movement. Her husband Vishwavijay has been a student union leader and activist of Inquilabi Chhaatra Morcha. Seema Azad and Vishwavijay have consistently raised their voice against human rights violations in Eastern UP repectively through their journalistic writings and political activism. They have mostly worked in the plains of Allahabad and Kaushambi where politico-mafia-police nexus is illegally mining sand, hoarding black money and in the proces exploiting and harassing workers. The couple raised their voice against politico-mafia-police nexusthat put them at the establishment's target. Their activities could not be termed as illegal in any sense, never did they involve in any activity that was outside the perview of constitutional right to freedom of expression accorded to citizens of this country. The bimonthly 'Dastak' edited by Seema Azad investigated the Ganga expressway project in detail that was looming large upon the farmer's livelihood and shelter. This magazine published detailed reports on the witch-hunting of muslim youth coming from Azamgarh. The arrest and recent judgement is basically prejudiced and an attempt to create a precedence that whosever will raise voice against wrongdoings of establishment and stand with the oppressed will be dealt with in the same fashion. It is noticeable that the court has no evidence whatsoever to prove the conviction charges.
We strongly condemn this judgement and appeal to the masses that they uncover the whole episode thoroughly and expose the anti-people face of governments. We demand to scrap the colonial laws under which arrest of social activists and charging them with sedition or waging war against state has become a daily routine, after which they are cursed to pass years behind bars without being given the legitimate right of hearing. Thousands of youth charged with sedition and toiling in jails are in this impasse. The case of Seema Azad and Vishwavijay is a challenge upon all the democratic minded citizens and has to be dealt with great fervor.
सीमा आज़ाद के बहाने विरोध की आवाज़ को कुचलने की साजि़श: हस्ताक्षर अभियान
न्याय की बैसाखी पर मौत की इबारत
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