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HomeIndia'India being ruined' to Redemption Song: Teltumbde, Navlakha's open letters before surrender

‘India being ruined’ to Redemption Song: Teltumbde, Navlakha’s open letters before surrender

Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha, booked under UAPA for the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence, surrendered before NIA Tuesday.

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New Delhi: Activists Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha surrendered before the National Investigation Agency Tuesday for their alleged role in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence.

The activists have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Supreme Court had refused to grant them further protection from arrest.

Before surrendering, Teltumbde and Navlakha penned open letters explaining their state of mind and their hopes from the future.


Also read: Nothing illegal about NIA taking over Bhima Koregaon case but state police still holds key


Speak out: Teltumbde

Teltumbde, a noted scholar, management guru and civil rights activist, penned his open letter Monday, writing that while he was aware that his voice might get drowned in “motivated cacophony of the BJP-RSS combine and the subservient media”, it was worth talking to people as it could possibly be his last chance.

Teltumbde said the police raid on his home in 2018 had turned his life “topsy-turvy”, adding: “Never in my worst dream could I imagine the things that began happening to me.”

He spoke about the time when he realised his phone was being tapped, but didn’t change his SIM as there was no “element of illegality” in his conduct.

Teltumbde went on to explain why he was being charged under the UAPA, and said it could happen to anyone. Explaining the extent of damage to his life, he said: “Your job gone, family losing house, media defaming you, about which you cannot do a damn thing.”

“I have been a simple person who has been earning his bread honestly and helping people to the extent possible with my knowledge through writings. I have an unblemished record of service for nearly five decades to this country in various roles in the corporate world, as a teacher, as a civil rights activist and a public intellectual,” he wrote, adding that he was being charged with a heinous crime “at the fag end” of his life.

Teltumbde ended the letter by saying “as I see my India being ruined, it is with a feeble hope that I write to you at such a grim moment”, and urged people to speak out until it was their turn to be incarcerated.


Also read: Anand Teltumbde fought the anti-national called caste. His arrest marks a black day


UAPA turns jurisprudence upside down: Navlakha

Navlakha, a noted journalist and rights activist, penned his letter just before surrendering Tuesday, and said despite Modi calling Covid-19 a national emergency, he was being made to surrender to the NIA. He expressed disappointment at the “terse” order of the Supreme Court, which had no mention of the coronavirus.

“However, I am affected by the fear that my near and dear ones harbour about my captivity amidst Covid-19,” Navlakha wrote.

Navlakha said of the UAPA that such acts turn the normal jurisprudence upside down as an accused is guilty unless proven innocent and the process becomes the punishment.

“My hope rests on a speedy and fair trial for myself and all my fellow co-accused. This alone will enable me to clear my name, and walk free, having also used the time in jail to rid myself of acquired habits,” he said.

He ended the letter with words from Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.

Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom
’Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs.
These songs of Freedom.


Also read: Historians’ silence on Bhima Koregaon allowed BJP to brand it as ‘urban Naxalism’


 

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8 COMMENTS

  1. These so called simple persons managed their escape from police for two years whereas a real simple person is first arrested then case is registered. It is strange while granting protection SC didn’t direct them to share the password of laptop. After evading their arrests for two years and delaying investigation they want speedy trial lol

  2. Any one who fights for poor and dalits are branded as urban naxals or other names… Government will do whatever it wants and everyone will have to just shut up and accept.. Shame on democracy… Return of Brahmanism…

  3. He hopes for “speedy justice”, knowing fully well that the Indian left destroyed our judicial system. What he really wants is bail and then the lawyers will stop appearing, the judges will be on vacation, the investigators will retire, and no witnesses will be left. He may well be innocent but the destruction of our judicial system is a result of left wing activism that has infected the bar council and the judiciary for decades.

  4. RSS inspired cases like this will take India into the dark ages. The day is not far off when these repulsive behaviour of muting the voices of down trodden will result in decimation of the fine balanced fabric of Indian ethos.

  5. When you commit act of treason you have to be prepared to face the consequences. Do these people not have trust in the Supreme court of India ? It is wrong to call them civil rights activists. They teamed up with the maoists and we’re planning anti national activities. There was even a reference on how to physically attack Narendra Modi which was found from the material siezed from them. Now having been made to face the music they are trying to gain sympathy with such meaningless rants. The fact is that there is a anti India lobby in this country. They have backing for anti India forces and are indeed very dangerous for the unity and integrity of the country. The case against these people should be taken to its logical conclusions and they should be severely punished. They deserve nothing less. Anyone acting against country’s interest has to be treated by the rule book.

  6. Who Gives a Flying F….?

    Demented old commies think their existence matters one whit to anyone are deluding themselves and Wasting our time….

  7. Navlakha’s actions hv invited,at last, to redeem his anti national stance. How can & how long can SC rescue if their deeds r speaking loud and clear.

  8. People who are charged to conspire against nation, whom supreme court refused to give any relief are talking like neltion Mandela

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