“Indian Trump, down! down!”, “Indian Trump, down! down!” rang through Kasturba Gandhi marg as students, activists, academics and other citizens gathered together outside Delhi’s Maharashtra Bhawan. Despite the sultry weather, people had come together to protest against the arrest of human rights lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Arun Fereira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves.

On August 28, simultaneous police raids were conducted in Delhi, Faridabad, Goa, Mumbai, Ranchi and Hyderabad. Subsequently, five people were arrested for their alleged involvement in organising a cultural programme to mark the 200th year of the Battle of Koregaon. Citizens had come together to protest these arrests.

Nearly three months earlier, police had also arrested Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling and Mahesh Raut for their alleged involvement in a plan to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Newslaundry spoke to several protestors about the reason behind the protest, the timing of these arrests, what the arrests mean for dissent in the country and more.

Dr Sunilam, former Madhya Pradesh MLA and national convenor of National Alliance for People’s Movement, said citizens had gathered to protest the illegal arrest of their colleagues. “An environment of fear is being created, logo ko bhaibhit krne ki koshish ki ja rahi hai (an effort is being made to terrorise people),” Sunilam added.

One of the protest posters

He also added that these arrests were a way to censor criticism against the Sangh, and Modi. “Jo log bolenege unko jail mai band kr dia jaega, toh ap Sangh ke khilaaf mat bolo, ap Modiji ke khilaaf mat bolo (Those who speak up will be jailed, so don’t speak against the Sangh, don’t speak against Modiji).

Sunilam also said these arrests were an attempt to finish people’s movement in the country. “By arresting people who are able to support the disenfranchised, by arresting those who can stand up to the government, the support system will be finished,” Sunilam explained.

Author and academic Shamsul Islam, who also addressed the protest, spoke about the timing of these arrests. He said these arrests are timed in the run-up to the elections and could be used to serve the purpose of the governing party.

Another protestor, Shipra Nigam, agreed with Sunilam about the environment of fear that is being perpetuated. Emphasising the need for such protests, she said, “We need to show that there are enough students, academics, activists who are concerned.” To which, Rituparna Borah, another activist, added, “[Such protests] are needed to counter the social media campaign being carried out against activists.”

Citizens and activists are also planning to take to Twitter to protest the charges against Bharadwaj and others. The hashtag to be used is #NoMoreFakeCharges.

But it isn’t just social media, activists and protestors also criticised the role played by a section of the media.

Media and media trial

Addressing the gathering, labour activist Rakhi Sehgal, called out “propaganda” by a news channel. She said, “You are aware which channel had earlier run a false ‘letter’ propaganda.” It was for the same channel that the convoy of Pune police who had come to arrest Sudha was halted, she added. “Humari gaadi phir chowk pe rok di gai thi, because iss channel ki gaadi phir peeche chutt gai thi (our vehicle was stopped at the intersection because this channel’s vehicle was left behind). Only when the channel caught up that the Pune police moved the convoy to the CJM court,” Sehgal said, as she explained the sequence of events.

Sehgal was among the few people who were with Bharadwaj when she was being arrested. And it was Republic TV that Sehgal was referring to earlier. Sehgal also stated that the sequence of events was itself testimony to a collusion that exists, “Ye ap samajhiye ki kya sazzish chal ri hai, pura fabricate kiya ja raha hai, we already know this is a fabricated case, but this sequence of events show kiski kiske sath sath gath hai (This is for you to understand the conspiracy, this is completely fabricated, but the sequence of events) .”

Sunilam, on the other hand, says media’s role has been that of a “pet dog” when it comes to the coverage of the raid and arrests connected to the alleged plot to kill the prime minister. Sunilam, however, in specific called out Republic TV and Arnab Goswami, and added that there are exceptions as well.

At the time of the protest, a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court was hearing a petition against the said arrests. As matters stand now, the apex court had said that only house arrest of those accused would be permitted.

The National Human Rights Commission has also issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Maharashtra Police calling for a factual report in the matter within four weeks.