Latest news with #BhimaKoregaon
Hindustan Times
12-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
ABVP's accusations on Stan Swamy ‘totally unfounded': Ex St. Xavier's principal
MUMBAI: The cancellation of the annual Fr Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture by St Xavier's College drew an anguished response from the late priest's close associate, and former principal of the college, Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, who called it 'saddening, more so because it took place in a Jesuit college'. Ranchi: Civil rights activist Father Stan Swami with other social activists after Maharashtra Police conducted a raid at his residence in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence, in Namkum near Ranchi on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018. (PTI Photo) (PTI8_28_2018_000140B) (PTI) He argued that there are petitions filed in the Bombay high court (HC) which are yet to be heard, leading to the delay in clearing his name of the 'anti-national' charge. The lecture, that was to be delivered virtually on Saturday, was cancelled after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a letter to the principal saying that holding a lecture in Fr Stan Swamy's name amounted to 'glorifying' a person accused of 'anti-national activities'. The late priest was an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, in which 16 intellectuals and activists have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, for allegedly instigating the violence that took place on January 1, 2018, at Bhima Koregaon. Describing the ABVP's accusation as 'totally unfounded,' Fr Frazer pointed out that the Pune police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had only made allegations against Fr Stan. 'The case has not yet begun and may be delayed eternally for fear of being thrown out as fabricated,' he added. Fr Frazer was appointed Fr Stan Swamy's 'custodian' and 'next of kin' when the 84-year-old priest was admitted to Holy Family hospital, in Bandra. It was Fr Frazer who spent the maximum time with him in his last months. After Fr Stan Swamy died in hospital in July 2021, nine months after his arrest, the Jesuits, represented by Fr Frazer, filed two petitions in the HC, asking it to inquire into the circumstances of his death (the priest had been ill for long and was admitted to hospital only after the court ordered it); to exonerate his name, and for compensation for the 'ill treatment in jail'. 'We believe this ill-treatment cost him his life,' said Fr Frazer. However, neither of the petitions have been listed for hearing yet. One of the reasons for the delay in hearing cases involving the Bhima Koregaon accused is the recusal of as many as five benches from hearing the matter. Fr Frazer added: 'Fr Stan's unique contribution towards the empowerment of the Adivasis, who have been given special status by the Constitution, must be publicized far and wide. But to be effective, such provisions require the rule of law, not rule of the mob.'
Indian Express
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
St. Xavier's College cancels annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture after protest by ABVP
St. Xavier's College on Saturday called off its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the event, alleging it glorified a person who was an accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case. The decision came days after the right-wing students' group wrote to the college administration. The lecture, hosted by the department of inter-religious studies (DIRS), was to have been delivered virtually by Fr Prem Xalxo, associate lecturer, faculty of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was scheduled to speak on the topic – 'Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Miseries.' But, earlier this week, the ABVP wrote a letter to the college administration, strongly opposing the event, and demanded action from the state government against the event. 'This lecture glorifies a person who was declared as the main accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, and against whom charges have been filed under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967,' said the letter. Father Stan Swamy was a Jesuit priest and a tribal rights activist based in Jharkhand. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 7, 2019, and stayed in state custody till he died at a Mumbai hospital in 2021. Stating that these lectures are usually held on August 9 on the occasion of World Indigenous Day, Rector Fr. Keith DSouza, from St. Xavier's College, said, 'Our annual Stan Swamy memorial lecture has been delivered by reputed scholars who have done research in the area of history and development of indigenous peoples across the globe. The topic this year was on the theme of migration. While the lectures are on several themes related to indigenous life—which no one has objected to—we understand that the contentious issue is mainly about the nomenclature of the lecture series, named after Stan Swamy. However, from a Jesuit point of view, Fr Stan Swamy was an Indian citizen who was accused, but not as yet convicted of his alleged crimes till his demise. As per our Indian criminal jurisprudence, a person is innocent unless proven guilty.' Highlighting that the underlying motif of the DIRS is 'respecting the other', Fr D Souza further said, 'While we respect other perspectives and concerns, we hope to elicit a reciprocal attitude of respect from others as well. A controversy like this does not augur well for international higher educational relations.'
Scroll.in
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Mumbai: St Xavier's College cancels Stan Swamy lecture after ABVP protests
St Xavier's College in Mumbai has cancelled its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture, which was to be held on Saturday, after protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, reported The Free Press Journal. The ABVP is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Swamy was among a group of 16 lawyers and activists who had been accused of instigating caste violence between Maratha and Dalit groups in the Bhima Koregaon case in 2018 and was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He died on July 5, 2021, nearly nine months after he was arrested. The 84-year-old had suffered from several ailments, including Parkinson's disease and had contracted the coronavirus infection at the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai. In December 2022, a report by a United States-based digital forensics firm said that a hacker planted evidence on a device owned by Swamy. On Tuesday, the ABVP unit in Mumbai said a group of its workers had met with the principal of St Xavier's College and submitted a letter demanding the 'immediate cancellation' of the Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture. 'ABVP firmly believes that organising a lecture in memory of a person accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case, facing UAPA charges for links with banned Maoist groups, is an attempt to glorify urban Naxalism on campus,' said the Hindutva group. It also urged the authorities in Maharashtra to take 'strict action' against such events being held under the 'guise of academic freedom'. Of the 16 persons who have been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, seven have secured bail over the last six years, namely Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Teltumbde, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Varavara Rao and Shoma Sen.
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC declines urgent listing for clarification plea by Bhima Koregaon accused Hany Babu
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing to a plea filed by former Delhi University professor Hany Babu, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, seeking a clarification that he could approach the High Court for bail after withdrawing his earlier plea in the top court. A vacation bench comprising justices KV Viswanathan and NK Singh directed that the matter be listed after the court reopens following the summer break, and declined to entertain the application during the limited working days of the vacation. During the mentioning, the counsel for Babu argued that several co-accused in the case had been granted bail by the Supreme Court either on merits or due to prolonged incarceration. The application was filed seeking a clarification following a May 2 observation by the Bombay High Court, which stated that Babu should seek clarity from the Supreme Court about his liberty to approach the High Court for bail after withdrawing his special leave petition. Justice Viswanathan questioned the delay in filing the application. 'The order was passed on May 2. The court was fully functional till May 23. Why was the application not moved earlier?' he asked. In response, the counsel submitted that obtaining certified copies of the court's orders took time. However, Justice Viswanathan remarked, 'Even in urgent matters, we have filed and got cases listed without certified copies.' Babu was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in July 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged Maoist links in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. His bail plea was rejected by the Bombay High Court in September 2022. In May 2024, he withdrew his bail petition from the Supreme Court stating a change in circumstances, intending to move the High Court afresh. However, the High Court noted that the Supreme Court's order did not explicitly grant him liberty to re-approach the lower court, prompting the present application for clarification. The Supreme Court's refusal to list the matter urgently means the issue will now be heard only after the court's summer recess concludes. UNI SNG PRS
Scroll.in
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Bhima Koregaon case: Court rejects activist Gautam Navlakha's plea to live in Delhi
A Mumbai court on Thursday rejected human rights activist Gautam Navlakha's petition seeking permission to live in Delhi during the pendency of his trial in the Bhima Koregaon case, reported Live Law. The trial in the case is yet to begin. Navlakha, 72, is among 16 academicians, activists and lawyers who have been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for their alleged role in instigating caste violence at Bhima Koregaon near Pune in January 2018. He was arrested in August 2018 and placed under house arrest in November 2022 after the Supreme Court granted his request to be shifted from jail on the grounds of ill health and poor facilities in prison. In December 2023, the Bombay High Court granted him bail, which was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in May 2024, following which he was released. However, one of the bail conditions prohibits him from leaving Mumbai without the permission of the special court, where the trial of the case will be held. On Thursday, Navlakha was directed by the special National Investigation Agency court not to leave the jurisdiction of the Mumbai court, PTI reported. The court reportedly told the activist that 'allowing him to reside permanently beyond the jurisdiction of the court is an entirely different thing'. 'This unnecessary application deserves to be rejected,' special judge CS Baviskar was quoted as saying by PTI. Navlakha, a Delhi resident, had approached the court in April seeking permission to move as it had become 'extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle' in Mumbai. He told the court that he had been unemployed and thus had to financially depend on friends and family since he was released in May 2024. The activist pointed out that the trial in the case will take a long time to conclude and hence it is 'crucial for him to be employed and financially stable' to be able to meet legal expenses.
