Fight Corona, Not Activists: SFI
Student Struggle Editorial Team
The BJP-led central government has continued to witch-hunt activists even during a time when the entire world, including the nation, is reeling under extreme distress due to the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, the intensity of this has risen during lockdowns, which provided the state an appropriate opportunity to carry out its extremely questionable activities.
Last month, Jamia students Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar were booked by the Delhi Police, charging them with UAPA, for allegedly hatching a “conspiracy” to incite the Delhi violence that took place in February. Haider and Zargar, against whom there is absolutely no evidence, are under judicial custody.
Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid has also been booked by the Delhi Police, under UAPA in the same case.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), which had condemned the act then, had also produced an official statement regarding the issue and demanding that the police take necessary action against those who actually instigated the violence in North East Delhi. The statement also urges the government to not “misuse” the lockdown for its own political purposes.
We republish here its entire text.
Read the statement below:
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) condemns the act of the Delhi police who have arrested two students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and charged draconian UAPA on them.
Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar, both current students of Jamia, were taken into custody on April 2 and April 10 respectively. Safoora was granted with bail initially, but she was again arrested adding additional charges on her. Both of them have been arrested for the charges which does not have any material basis. They, as members of the Jamia Coordination Commitee (JCC), were active in the peaceful protest organised in Jamia against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens(NRC).
Different sources says that more students from Jamia are under investigation. The possibility of charging the same evil laws remains high in their cases as well. Police is also intimidating students who have gone back to their houses due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The nation is in a fight against COVID-19 and the institutions including Jamia is closed. The selection of this period, to implement the arrest cannot be identified accidental. This certainly raises doubts and concerns among the Student community and general public regarding the purposefulness of the Police. The police is also trying maintaining severe mystery over their actions. They are trying to misuse the lockdown situation for political purpose.
It was evident that the attacks happened primarily targeted the Muslim population in the area. But there is no clear action taken against the perpetrators of violence, instead police is consciously targeting the student activists. This should be identified clearly biased approach of Police in this issue.
The JCC also has made it clear that it played no part in the riots. It is nothing but an act to threaten the student activists in the campus and to ensure the suppression of the protest that has been happening in the campus and outside against the divisive policies of the government.
VP Sanu (President)
Mayukh Biswas (General Secretary)
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