The Movement against UAPA and other Repressive Laws (MURL), an umbrella organisation of activists and groups for mobilising public opinion against these laws, called upon all sections of the society, to fight together for the repeal of all repressive laws.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s Crime in India 2020 report indicates that the conviction rate in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has decreased to a rate of 21.1% and in 2019 the conviction rate was 29.2%. Overall 796 cases have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2020, according to the latest data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Besides, 4,071 cases were pending investigation till 2019 and 10 cases were reopened for investigation. In total, 4,827 cases are pending.
Human rights activists and advocates discussed the UAPA, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, National Securities Act (NSA) and sedition law at a seminar ‘Repressive laws under BJP Regime’ held in Chennai on Saturday. The seminar was part of series of activities by MURL to strengthen the efforts towards repealing all repressive laws like UAPA, AFSPA, PSA, Sedition Law, NIA Act, PMLA, and NSA which are grossly misused to suppress the voices of dissent.
E.M. Abdul Rahiman in his introductory speech said that the government is suppressing the voices of the people who are raising their voice against the policies of the government. “The people who have been arrested and kept under trial under these oppressive laws have only very few convictions. These oppressive laws are against the people, against the country and against the Constitution. Now not only Muslim minorities are becoming victims of these repressive laws but other groups like journalists, human rights activists and all those who are raising their voice against the policies of the government are being targeted. There are many organizations that are working in the interest of the country, for the protection of people’s rights. Their ideology and strategy are different, but it does not mean that we can achieve the result by working alone. We should forget all differences and come together and raise our voices against oppressive laws and policies of the present BJP government,” he said.
Prof. A. Marx, chairperson of the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO) said, “It is the duty of every Indian to defend the Constitution by fighting the draconian laws that are against the Constitution.”
Singh Juj a farmer leader from Punjab, felt the farm laws completely violate the rights of the farmers. Efforts are being made to arrest them in false cases under these laws, he charged.
Adv. K.P. Mohamad Shareef (Central Committee member, MURL) highlighted one of the less-discussed laws called the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “The main threat contained in the PMLA is that both powers of investigation and adjudication are being given to a single agency which ultimately leads to deeper misuse as we are now witnessing in present India,” he said.
Ashish Gupta, journalist and social activist from Delhi, said that under the UAPA Act, such people are being prosecuted who raise the voice of the people and write for their rights. Bhima Koregaon and the anti-CA movement are living examples in which the government has put them in jails by making fake cases to suppress the voice of their opponents. All these black laws can be removed only through mass movements. He demanded that the Government of India should immediately abolish all such laws.
Adv. Bhavani B. Mohan, State President of NCHRO said “an individual can be arrested under UAPA even on an accused intention. The sad part is that even our MPs and MLAs are unaware of the dangerous depth of these laws.”
Pallabi Ghosh, a rights activist from Assam said that under AFSPA, many powers have been given to paramilitary forces who indiscriminately violate human rights. “This law is depriving people of their rights in the provinces of the North East. Irom Sharmila sat on a hunger strike for 16 years to remove this law, yet the government remained unmoved. She demanded the Government of India that the black law AFSPA should be removed from the North-East regions with immediate effect.”
Sandeep Nimesh, a rights activist from Uttar Pradesh, explained the manner in which anti-incumbency people are being targeted by imposing sedition sections in the country. “Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront in this matter where the ruling BJP government has imposed sedition cases on protesters indiscriminately as a means of suppression.”
Rajesh Ningthoukhongajam, a rights activist from Manipur highlighted the “blatant misuse” of the AFSPA for the last 53 years in Manipur.
The pendency rate of cases for trial in the courts is 94.4%, the activists said.
“Acquittal rate is five times more than conviction. Out of 142 cases disposed of by the courts, only 27 were convicted with the rate of 21.1 %; 14 cases were abated; in 2 cases, the accused were discharged and 99 cases ended in acquittal,” said A. Mohamed Yusuff, an advocate and central committee of MURL.
The Seminar was moderated by Adv. A. Mohamed Yusuff, Central Committee Member of MURL. Welcome note was given by Sadique Qureshi (Coordinator, MURL). Introductory Speech delivered by E.M. Abdul Rahiman, Vice-Chairperson, MURL. Prof. A. Marx, Chair Person of NCHRO and State President of MURL, Tamilnadu, Gurmeet Singh Juj (Punjab), Adv. K.P. Mohamad Shareef (Central Committee member, MURL), Ashish Gupta, (Delhi) Adv. Bavani Ba. Mohan, State President of NCHRO, Pallibi Ghosh (Assam), Rajesh Ningthoukhongajam rights activist from Manipur and Sandeep Nimesh from Uttar Pradesh spoke in the seminar. Vote of thanks was given by Kasali Meeran (Secretary Taminadu MURL).
