[Reader-list] Fwd: PUDR condemns threat being issued by CPI (Maoist) to members of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in Jharkhand

[Nagraj Adve]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PUDR Delhi <pudrdelhi at gmail.com>
Date: 29 July 2011 17:48
Subject: [pudr-info] PUDR condemns threat being issued by CPI (Maoist) to
members of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in Jharkhand
To: pudr-info at pudr.org


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*PEOPLE’S UNION FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, DELHI (PUDR)*

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*PRESS RELEASE*

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*29/07/2011*

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People’s Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi (PUDR) condemns the threats
being issued by the CPI (Maoist) party to members of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
and to others investigating and protesting against the killing of Niyamat
Ansari at Manika block in Jharkhand.

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Niyamat Ansari, the convenor of Manika block unit of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and
the MNREGA Support Centre was killed on 2 March this year.

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PUDR expresses concern that posters and printed leaflets had appeared in
Manika  claiming to have been brought out by the CPI(Maoist)  threatening to
punish Gokul Vasant, Nand Lal, Jean Dreze and Aruna Roy for claiming Niyamat
Ansari’s innocence. It also contained a renewed threat to the lives of
Bhukan Singh and members of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

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The CPI(Maoist) party has owned up and justified the killing of Ansari by
claiming he was  involved in corrupt practices. A two member team comprising
Gokul Vasant and Nand Lal from Daltonganj have investigated these
allegations and declared them to be baseless.

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PUDR and many other organisations have condemned the killing and demanded
that the CPI(Maoist) hand over the culprits, that they publicly apologise
and that an assurance be given that no harm should come to Ansari’s
colleague, Bhukan Singh.

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PUDR finds this kind of intolerant behaviour by the CPI (Maoist) wholly
unacceptable. We urge the CPI(Maoist) to recognize that people have a right
to criticize and a right to carry on politics in accordance with their
beliefs. Intolerance of people’s rights to question does not pave the way
for a just society.

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PUDR demands that the CPI (Maoist) withdraw the threat immediately and
respect the right of people to form associations as per their conscience.

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Paramjeet Singh

Harish Dhawan

Secretaries, PUDR