At the recent police conference attended by PM Modi, Gadchiroli DIGP Sandip B. Patil claimed in a paper that 15 cultural and rights organisations are actually “active frontal organisations of Naxals." Behind this claim is little evidence. https://thewire.in/rights/maharashtra-top-cop-accuses-decades-old-cultural-rights-orgs-of-working-as-naxal-fronts
In 2017, the artiste couple Shital Sathe and Sachin Mali publicly announced their decision to split from the cultural outfit, Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) after 15 years of association.
The artistes had claimed that they no longer wanted to be associated with an organisation that had “left-leaning politics”. Subsequently, the two started their own cultural group – Navayana Mahajalsa – aligning themselves with the visions of Ambedkar, Phule, and Shahu Maharaj.
Five years later, despite their work and critical take on the Left movement, the Maharashtra state has classified Navayana Mahajalsa to be an “active Naxal frontal organisation”.
Meanwhile, B.D. Sharma, a retired IAS officer, and one of the key architects of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act or PESA had worked among the Adivasis of Bastar until his death in 2015. Bharat Jan Andolan, an organisation founded by Sharma, has often been lauded for bringing the Fifth Schedule back on the national agenda and highlighting it as a vital instrument for the very survival of tribal people.
Despite the work that Sharma and his organisation have done over several decades in the central India region, the Gadchiroli police have now termed the Bharat Jan Andolan an “active Naxal frontal organisation”.
The 15 organisations, including Bharat Jan Aandolan and Navyana Mahajalsa, are:
- Samata Kala Manch,
- Vidrohi Sanskrutik Chalval,
- Republican Panthers Jatiantachi Chalwal,
- Indian Association of Peoples Lawyers (IAPL),
- Deshbhakti Yuva Manch,
- Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR),
- Chhatra Bharati Vidyarthi Sanghatana,
- Stri Chetna Manch,
- Jatiy Atyachar Virodhi Kruti Samiti,
- Dandkaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdour Sangh (DAKMS),
- Dandkaranya Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangh (DKAMS),
- Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, and
- Committee for Relief of Political Prisoners.
by Sukanya Shanta
03/02/2023
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