Bhima-Koregaon

In the land of Bhima-Koregaon,

Where voices of dissent are known,

Stood brave souls, imprisoned without proof,

For years they've endured, seeking justice's truth.

Under the pretext of Maoists' name,

Social activists suffer, trapped in a game.

For five long years, behind bars they stay,

While a BJP MP{brij bhushan singh) roams freely, they say.

On this day, five years ago, it began,

Pune police raided, executing their plan.

In Mumbai, Nagpur, and Delhi's embrace,

They arrested those who dared to raise their voice.

Sudhir Dhawale, the progressive journalist,

Inspiring the Bhima-Koregaon pride amidst.

And with him, lawyers and educators bold,

Suren Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, we're told.

But it didn't stop there, the repression grew,

Political prisoners detained, their rights askew.

Rona Wilson, the secretary of the committee,

Fighting for the release of prisoners, his plea.

Charged under the draconian UAPA,

These intellectuals face an unjust display.

Their lives suspended, their futures uncertain,

Denied access to evidence, a government's curtain.

Yet, they continue to live behind bars,

Victims of false accusations, their scars.

And the copies of alleged proofs, you see,

Remain hidden from them, a travesty.

On August 28, 2018, more were taken,

Poet Varavara Rao and activists shaken.

Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira in that plight,

Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha, the fight.

They were imprisoned, confined in Taloja's cell,

For standing up for justice, in truth they dwell.

These noble souls, associated with rights,

Silenced by incarceration, oppressive nights.

Bhima-Koregaon, a symbol of resistance,

Where voices rise against unjust existence.

Let us stand in solidarity, for truth and grace,

For the incarcerated, seeking their rightful place.

In the days to come, in this series of events,

Dalit writer Anand Teltumbde, Father Stan Swamy, Honey Babu,

Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, and Jyoti Jagtap,

Each one, the police arrested, their freedom trapped.

Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, on April 14, 2020,

Surrendered before the NIA, their hearts steady.

Honey Babu's arrest came on July 28,

Followed by Ramesh Gaichor, Sagar Gorkhe, and Jyoti Jagtap.

Father Stan Swamy, on October 8, 2020,

Taken into custody, his fate met with sorrow.

On July 5, 2021, his life met its end,

While still awaiting justice, the government's bend.

These arrests stirred discussions nationwide,

Questions arise about the NIA's stride.

The progress of the case, without chargesheet,

Keeps the transparency aspect incomplete.

According to advocate Vrinda Grover's claim,

Crucial evidence remains, a cause for disdain.

Copies of proof, not handed to the accused,

Leaving their defense unjustly confused.

The NIA special court, in May 2022,

Directed investigation agencies to pursue,

Hand over copies of evidence to the accused,

But this task, still pending, remains unused.

Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Shetty,

Claims most evidence has been handed over already.

Though some might be missing, it is said,

The majority has been shared, so it is spread.

In the realm of underground prisoners,

Most beyond the age of sixty,

Struggling with various grave illnesses,

Their public lives intertwined with

Civil rights movements and

Protection of the land, water, forests,

And tribal communities.

Yet today they know not

The basis of the allegations

Leveled against them.

These arrests took place on 31st December 2017,

In Bhima-Koregaon near Pune, Maharashtra,

During a massive public gathering,

Where thousands of people from

Various regions of the country, including Maharashtra,

Participated.

Bhima-Koregaon, where 200 years ago,

On 1st January 1818,

During a battle against the British Army,

A symbolic celebration of victory

Took place on the battleground,

Where a few hundred Mahars,

Outnumbered by the 20,000-strong

Peshwa army, stood their ground.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution,

First held a meeting in Bhima-Koregaon,

Which later became an annual event.

It is estimated that during the 200th anniversary

Of the Bhima-Koregaon battle,

Nearly 50,000 people participated in the event.

The Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Inspiration Campaign,

Led by retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,

P. B. Sawant, saw the participation of

260 organizations.

Prominent political figures like Prakash Ambedkar

And retired Judge of the Maharashtra High Court,

Justice Kolse Patil, were present.

This event was portrayed as an effort

To establish a strong hold on power

By the rising forces of neo-Brahminism

And was deemed "anti-national" and "casteist"

By organizations like the All India Brahmin Mahasabha,

Rashtriya Ekta Manch, and Hindu Aghadi,

Including the descendants of the Peshwas.

The government and right-wing groups

Were alarmed and shaken by the gathering

Of this massive crowd, composed mostly of Dalits,

Who were returning with saffron flags,

Inciting violence against them.

In response, Maharashtra witnessed widespread protests,

And on 3rd January, a call for a state-wide bandh

Received substantial public support.

This was the starting point

Of crafting a narrative against the entire event,

Although during this period, a priority was given

To the cases against Sambhaji Bhide and Eknath Ekbote.

Meanwhile, Sambhaji Bhide was also portrayed

In newspapers as the mentor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Currently, he runs an organization called Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan,

Based on staunch Maratha Hindu nationalism,

Although his initiation into politics was through the RSS.

Cases against Bhide and Ekbote are pending in court,

But the government has not taken them into custody.

The FIR filed against them for inciting violence

And displeasing the forces of Hindutva

Also included Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid.

On 8th January, Sudhir Dhawale

And five others were given priority in the FIR.

Based on the same FIR,

On 6th June 2018, Sudhir Dhawale,

Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson,

Shoma Sen, and Mahesh Raut were arrested,

Although only Sudhir Dhawale's name appeared

In the initial FIR filed on 8th January.

From this very point, where the narrative against this entire event began,

With the intention to weave a narrative against the grand arrangement,

Although amidst this, Sambhaji Bhide and Eknath Ekbote were also given priority.

During that time, Sambhaji Bhide was portrayed in the newspapers as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mentor.

Based on the staunch Maratha Hindutva ideology, Sambhaji Bhide currently runs the organization called "Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan," but his journey also began with the RSS.

The case against Bhide and Ekbote is in court, but the government did not think of arresting them.

Their FIR had angered the powers of Hindutva, leading to the inclusion of two speakers, Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid, in the Elgar Parishad FIR.

On January 8, Sudhir Dhawale and five others were also listed as primary accused.

Building on this FIR, on June 6, 2018, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen, and Mahesh Raut were arrested, although only Sudhir Dhawale's name appeared in the subsequent FIR.

In the arrest on June 6, 2018, Pune Police linked them to the Maoist groups associated with Elgar Parishad and alleged a plot to assassinate PM Modi by leaking a document.

This elevated the entire case to a high-profile level, citing a grave threat to the country's security.

If social activists could be arrested for five years without any legal action through the NIA and UAPA, forcing them to be imprisoned or die in captivity, what remains for the common citizen?

Further revelations have since emerged, which are extremely serious and concerning.

It can be alleged that malware was planted through the accused's laptops to infiltrate their inboxes and issue desired orders in the name of the accused.

An American forensic analysis group found in April 2021 that Rona Wilson's computer had an externally planted document.

Wilson challenged his arrest in the High Court, demanding an SIT investigation, but nothing came of it.

Today, a women's wrestling champion, along with several international female wrestlers, has been sitting on a protest in the capital since January, garnering support from millions of people.

A minor athlete has also accused Brijbhushan Sharan Singh of sexual assault before the Delhi Police, and a case of sexual harassment is registered against a Member of Parliament.

Not only in Delhi and Haryana, but demonstrations are taking place in various regions of the country, including Mumbai and Kolkata, demanding the immediate arrest of Brijbhushan.

Despite all this, the BJP and the central government are either removing their accused member from the party or evading police action.

Today, June 6, is a day to compare these two events and understand the true character of power and the reality of the world's largest democratic nation.