Maharashtra: Activists, Lawyers Added to 'Union War Book', Listed as 'Enemies of the State' https://thewire.in/rights/maharashtra-activists-lawyers-union-war-book-enemies-of-state Sukanya Shantha 31 July 2021
The Union War Book, which has existed since the colonial era, is periodically revised, depending on the security concerns of the time.
An annexure to the book, accessed by The Wire, lists 18 different categories of “suspects”.
The list says the lawyers should be profiled for being associated with the Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL). Most lawyers who were arrested and questioned in connection with the Elgar Parishad case are directly associated with the association. During the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, the organisation was accused of being a “Maoist front”. The lawyers have, however, denied the charges.
These activists and lawyers have been added under ‘Category C’ of the Union War Book, which calls for “surveillance at all times for as long as may be necessary”.
From time to time, the “requirements” of the Union War Book are tweaked and the ‘threats’ are redefined. Sources in the state home department said that the recent exercise was done on the Union home ministry’s directive and is being carried out across the state.