The PUCL demands, the immediate withdrawal of letter conducting surveillance of the leaders of the BTP and other Adivasi organisations and demand an apology from both the ADG Intelligence who is putting all Adivasi outfits under the scanner and trying to present them as a militant group with the SP Udaipur reiterating it.
The Udaipur and Dungarpur police filed FIRs in dozens and booked thousands of Adivasis and took more than 200 Adivasis in custody, these cases need to be withdrawn, if we want to have a harmonious relationship with Adivasis in this region.
Instead of surveilling the leadership of the organizations, the police and bureaucracy should urge the CM Mr. Ashok Gehlot, to do a dialogue with all Adivasi organisations and political parties of the area, including the BTP, resolve their pressing issues of jobs, hunger, migration, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and PESA, 1995. Incidentally, no dialogue has happened in this regard in the last twelve months with the Adivasi leaders.
PEOPLE'S UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES, RAJASTHAN
Jaipur, 5th September 2021
Sh. Niranjan Arya,
Chief Secretary,
Government of Rajasthan
Jaipur
Sh. Abhay Kumar,
ACS Home,
Government of Rajasthan,
Jaipur
Sh. ML Lather,
DG police, Rajasthan Police,
Jaipur
Sh. Kuldeep Ranka
Principal Secretary to CM
GOR, Jaipur
Subject: withdrawal of the letter dated 2nd September 2021 by SP Udaipur regarding surveillance of BTP and other Adivasi organisations.
Dear Sir,
Please refer to my what’s app message on the attached letter, sent on the 5th September 2021.
We are shocked with the letter issued by Udaipur SP regarding conducting surveillance of the leaders of the BTP and other Adivasi organisations. Quoting the DG Intelligence’s letter of 1st September,2021, the language of the SPs letter is deriding of the Adivasis. It is shocking to see how the BTP as a party is being targeted. This letter puts across a false understanding “that the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and other Adivasi organisations are provoking the tribals to turn to violence and militancy, in order to get their legitimate and illegitimate demands accepted by the Government”.
This line reflects the fear of the present Rajasthan Government, towards Adivasis having their own representation through a political party. After all the BTP has returned two MLAs from Dungarpur district. (Raj Kumar Roat from Chorasi and Ram Prasad Dindor, Sagwara)With the people rejecting the Congress and the BJP, in these constituencies in the State Assembly elections, 2018 and in the Dungarpur local body elections, where the BTP was short of one seat to take control of the municipal body.
We are shocked that the letter damns the Adivasis further, it tries to divide the communities, when it says that “apart from using these methods to pressurize the administration and the government to give in to their demands, this modality is also causing insecurity amongst the other communities in the society”, such divisive language is being used to create alienation between the Adivasis and other communities, which has never existed.
This condemnable letter indulges in more lies to defame the Adivasi youth by stating that, on 24th September 2020, the prospective candidates demanding the recruitment of primary school teachers against vacant posts, had taken law into their hands and their sit in at Kakri Doongri, Kherwada, had become violent by burning down vehicles on NH 8, attacking the police personnel and indulging in the loot of Trucks. This is highly objectionable as the PUCL had also gone into the facts of the provocation of violence, which speak otherwise, instead the role of the police in mercilessly assaulting, beating, and firing at the Adivasis is what stands out. The PUCL has amply documented this part of the September 24th violence.
The main thrust of this letter is in the last paragraph, where it is upfront about tracking and putting under surveillance the leaders of the BTP and other Adivasi organistions. The letter states “since the 24th of September, 2021 is fast approaching, the youth and Adivasi organisations will commemorate the first anniversary and indulge in wrongful actions, which needs to be brought to check….”.
The letter gives directions that all Circle Officers of Sarada, Rishabdev and Salumbar and all the SHOs of police stations must start monitoring the activities of the BTP and the leaders of other Adivasi organisations. Especially monitoring the social media posts affecting law and order and that higher authorities should be informed of any situation which will cause a fall out of the law-and-order problem. Further adds “……In the meanwhile collect the name, phone number, mobile and other details of the leaders of all Adivasi organisations including the BTP”.
The PUCL demands, the immediate withdrawal of this highly objectionable, defamatory and divisive letter and an apology from both the ADG Intelligence who is putting all Adivasi outfits under the scanner and trying to present them as a militant group with the SP Udaipur reiterating it.
You are well aware that the problem is not that of a law-and-order problem. Instead there has been a constant demand for Government jobs in South Rajasthan, especially in Adivasi areas, when there are vacancies of the post of teachers. The demand was not unreasonable, that general seats, for which the board had failed to select candidates, should be converted to seats for STs.
After the 24th September, 2020 altercation, the Udaipur and Dungarpur police filed FIRs in dozens and booked thousands of Adivasis and took more than 200 Adivasis in custody, these cases need to be withdrawn, if we want to have a harmonious relationship with Adivasis in this region.
Instead of surveilling the leadership of the organizations, the police and bureaucracy should urge the CM Mr. Ashok Gehlot, to do a dialogue with all Adivasi organisations and political parties of the area, including the BTP, resolve their pressing issues of jobs, hunger, migration, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and PESA, 1995. Incidentally, no dialogue has happened in this regard in the last twelve months with the Adivasi leaders.
In September 2020 too, the fall out of the peaceful dharna happened when the supposed meeting and announcement to be made by the CM regarding the demands of the Adivasis did not happen and was postponed a second time. This uncertainty had caused turmoil in the over two-week dharna at Kakri Doongri, NH 8 and the Adivasis then blocked the highway for only that day. The police terrorized the people by using, lathis, bullets and making out cases and arresting the demonstrators and villagers who were non-participants in the dharna.
The aspiration of the Adivasis needs to be dealt with urgently by treating them as respectable citizens, ensuring that their constitutional rights are actualized, and not use such language which shows scorn for them and hate for the Adivasis.
We hope you will act on this and not only withdraw the letter but also ensure that a dialogue happens at the highest level with the leadership of the Adivasi organizations, all political parties including the BTP.
With regards,
Kavita Srivastava, President PUCL Rajasthan and National Secretary
Ramesh Nandwana, PUCL Udaipur District President
Dharam Chand Khair, PUCL Udaipur member
Arun Vyas, State PUCL Executive member and VP Udaipur District PUCL
Ashwani Paliwal, National Council & State PUCL Executive member
Anant Bhatnagar , General Secretary, PUCL,
Bhanwar Meghwanshi, Vice President PUCL
Pragnya Joshi, National Council & State PUCL Executive member
Madhulika, State PUCL Executive member
