Author Arundhati Roy has condemned the arrests of human rights activists which occurred across the country on Tuesday. Roy termed the arrests carried out under the Narendra Modi government as an “attempted coup against the Indian constitution”.
In a statement, Roy said, “The simultaneous state-wide arrests are a dangerous sign of a government that fears it is losing its mandate and is falling into panic. That lawyers, poets, writers, Dalit rights activists and intellectuals are being arrested on ludicrous charges while those who make up lynch mobs and threaten and murder people in broad daylight roam free, tells us very clearly where India is headed.
Murderers are being honoured and protected. Anybody who speaks up for justice or against Hindu majoritarianism is being made into a criminal.
In the run up to elections, this is an attempted coup against the Indian constitution and all the freedom that we cherish.”
Writer and Activist Arundhati Roy’s updated statement on nationwide arrests of activists,’ in the run up to elections this is an attempted coup against the Indian Constitution and all the freedoms we cherish ‘ @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/nUvPw9yJu0
— Rupashree Nanda (@rupashreenanda) August 28, 2018
Several human rights activists, lawyers and poets were detained and arrested following raids by police officials. Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Varavar Rao, Gautam Navlakha, Kranti Teluka and Naseem are among those who have been arrested.
Also Read: Undeclared Emergency: Many Lawyers & Activists Across The Country Raided And Arrested