Indo-Canadian community organizations said in a joint press release.

 

“We are deeply disturbed that journalists, writers, poets, lawyers, trade unionists, academics, and human rights activists such as Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bhardwaj, Varvara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, and Arun Ferreira have been arrested under patently false terrorism-related charges, Ferreira having already served five years in prison on false charges that were dismissed in court,” a group of activists, academics and Indo-Canadian community organizations said in a joint press release.

 
 
 

 

SURREY –

The Indo-Canadian community came forward to protest against the arrest of Human right activists in India. This Human right activist includes poets, writers, and lawyers. Simultaneous raids took place on the homes of these people. The incident took place at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Goa, and Ranchi on August 28, 2018.
 
Along with the Indo-Canadian community, these communities also take part in the protest. The protest was held at the University of British Columbia joined this protest. The list is here:
  • The Planning Committee of the Annual Dr. Ambedkar Memorial
  • Lecture instituted in Vancouver
  • British Columbia in 2017 by Chetna Association of Canada
  • Hari Sharma Foundation
  • Institute for the Humanities at Simon Fraser University
  • Centre for India and South Asia Research
  • University of British Columbia
  • Department of Asian Studies
  • Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism Contemporary Society
“We are disturbed to hear that there is a regular raid on the houses of these people. There is a false terrorist-related charge on these people. Some of the names are here – Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bhardwaj, Varvara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, and Arun Ferreira. Arun Ferreira is already in jail for the false charges that got dismissed in court”, said in a joint press release.
 
“It is quite disturbing that Anand Teltumbde’s home in Goa was raided in his absence. He has delivered some of the lectures at Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture. We deplore this attack on a critical thinker and spokesperson for the rights of Dalits.
 
“We also deplore the raid on the home of Father Stan Swami in Ranchi on the ground of his work on the rights of Adivasis.”
 
“We demand the immediate release of all who are in jail. Also, we demand to return all the material confiscated in these unjust raids.”
 
These declarations were made in the presence of the following members. The list is here:
 
  • Jai Birdi, General Secretary, Chetna Association of Canada Coordinator, Planning Committee
  • Annual Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture Samir Gandesha Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Director, Institute for the Humanities.
  • Simon Fraser University Chinmoy Banerjee, President
  • Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation Harinder Mahil, Secretary-Treasurer
  • Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation Anne Murphy, Associate Professor
  • Department of Asian Studies UBC and Co-Director
  • Centre for India and South Asia Research
  • University of British Columbia Sare Shneiderman, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
  • School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, UBC and Co-Director
  • Center for India and South Asia Research, University of British
  • Columbia Jessica Main, Associate Professor, Department of Asian Studies, UBC, and Director
  • Robert H. N. Ho and Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Studies
  • University of British Columbia Ajay Bhardwaj, Ph.D. Candidate Department of Asian Studies
  • Prabhjot Parmar University of Fraser Valley, BC