Fwd: [lokayat.pune] Fwd: An Appeal to Implement Programme of Solidarity with Prof. Anand Teltumbde
Dr Ram Puniyani
From: AIFRTE <aifrte.se...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2020 at 18:07
Subject: An Appeal to Implement Programme of Solidarity with Prof. Anand Teltumbde
Dear Friends:
As you know that Prof. Anand Teltumbde is facing impending incarceration on 6th April not with standing the danger to his life due to Covid-19 infection. It clearly appears to be the attempt of the Government of India to persecute an intellectual whose voice it finds to be discomforting. Prof. Teltumbde is one of those rare intellectuals who synergized caste-class analysis (Ambedkar and Marx) quite on the lines of Shahid Bhagat Singh. He is himself a member of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s family who was not only the most important leaders of Dalits and oppressed masses but who also drafted the Indian Constitution. Beside his affiliation with other organizations, Prof. Teltumbde is a member of the Presidium of the All-India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE). Therefore, AIFRTE issued a notice on 23/03/2020 to launch a vigorous public campaign in solidarity with Anand and against government’s move to incarcerate him. Of course, certain points of this programme, particularly those requiring physical mobilization cannot be implemented due to the Covid-19 generated nation-wide lock down. However, a lot of other measures are possible and you are requested to ensure their implementation whilst remaining safe at home under national lock down.
1. Online Petition: As One Component of this campaign, AIFRTE launched an online petition at Change.org (and its translations are uploaded in different Indian languages, such as Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu at AIFRTE’s website). The petition is addressed to the President of India, Chief Justice of India and the Home Ministry of the Government of India appealing them to drop false case against Anand Teltumbde filed on trumped up charges. Your support is requested not only to sign it, but also to further promote it. Please do the needful even if you have signed any other petition. We look forward to your crucial support in this regard. The petition will be delivered on 03/04/2020 to the concerned authorities. Hence, please do the needful immediately. Subsequent Campaign (including online signatures) will be conducted at other platforms.
2. Hunger Strike: You are requested to observe a one-day hunger strike (Satyaagrah from 7 AM to 7 PM) in support of Prof. Anand Teltumbde on 6th April 2020.
3. FB Page-I Stand with Anand: AIFRTE has created the following Facebook page in Solidarity with Prof. Teltumbde and you are requested to widely share the same: -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046051042081801/
4. Protest Through social media Profile: AIFRTE is requesting everyone to update their profile pic on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc. with this slogan “Main bhi Anand Teltumbde”/“I am also Anand Teltumbde” and Prof. Teltumbde's photo. A poster is uploaded at the following link:
http://aifrte.in/sites/default/files/AIFRTE%20docs/Poster%20of%20I%20Stand%20with%20Anand.jpg
5. Web Page-I Stand with Anand: As part of this campaign to creat public awareness, AIFRTE has also created a web page with the view to inform people about Anand’s contribution to scholarship and social movements; and also about the false case filed against him by the government. This page also includes AIFRTE’s English statement as well as its translations in different Indian languages. The page can be accessed at the following link:
http://aifrte.in/i-stand-anand
6. Press conferences: AIFRTE is appealing all like-minded organizations to organize press conferences (if required in online mode) in important cities or state capitals on or before 6th April 2020 (Tuesday) to express their solidarity with Prof. Teltumbde and to register their protest against government’s move to incarcerate him.
7. Cultural programs of resistance in different parts of the country: Even whilst being in house confinement due to national lock down, you may organize cultural resistance programmes through social media and either live-stream them or upload them on social media pages on or before 6th April 2020.
In solidarity
Prof. Jagmohan Singh Dr. Vikas Gupta
(Chairperson, AIFRTE) (Organizing Secretary, AIFRTE)
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