The Welfare Party of India (WPI) is launching a three-day nationwide campaign from 19-21 August 2022 for the release of political prisoners.
The campaign will collect signatures from the public from all districts in India demanding immediate intervention to release all political prisoners. The other programmes during this campaign include press conferences, seminars, and letters to the department of human rights.
Nearly 80% of the 6.10 lakh inmates in India, according to Chief Justice N V Ramana, are undertrials. Among them, many are political prisoners who are languishing in prison for years under draconian laws like the UAPA, NSA, Sedition etc.
Over half of the under trails are in district jails, which are overcrowded (136%). Marginalised communities are most affected. Two in three under trails belonged to either SC, ST or OBC. They are vulnerable to illegal detentions, false confessional statements and arrests, WPI said in a statement.
Habibullah Khan Karnataka State Gen Secretary, WPI said that through the campaign the party wants to demand the repeal of laws like UAPA, Sedition law (124A), NSA, AFSPA, MOCCA, GUJCOCA and other draconian laws, the release of all political prisoners, and compensation for political prisoners among others.
As part of the campaign, WPI will be organising a seminar on 20th August in Bangalore on the “The plight of political prisoners-A Human right Crisis” at the Institution of Agricultural Technologists at 11 am.
Justice V Gopala Gowda, Rtd judge of Supreme Court Of India will deliver a key note address, Shivsundar columnist and social activist, P Usman High court lawyer and state President APCR will present their thoughts. Advocate Taher Hussain State President Welfare Party will preside over the seminar.
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