On April 17th the Pune (Maharashtra) police raided several houses of activists. Many of them are members of the „Kabir Kala Manch“ (KKM), a progressive cultural organization that fights against the caste-system and denounces the terror of the old Indian state. Also they raided the homes of Surendra Gadling (who has been the lawyer of G.N. Saibaba and many other activists) and the secretary of the Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), Rona Wilson. The reason for the raids was their alleged involvement in the uprising in December while the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon (where the untouchables castes fought) was commemorated. Furthermore, they are accused of being connected to the Maoist movement and for holding "inflammatory speeches“.As Gadlin points out, this was an attempt to repress those who are fighting against the “fascist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)”. The RSS is a fascist organization, which is bound to and supported by the government in various ways (e.g. the PM Modi is a member, too).
Further Gadlin claims: “Our country is divided into two faction. One is the RSS and the other the anti-RSS. Those who are standing up to the RSS or helping others who are fighting this fascist organisation are being crushed with the help of government agencies. The message is loud and clear. They won’t touch you if you do not say anything against the RSS, but they will trouble you if you say a word against it.”
For sure, such repression against progressive and democratic activists and organizations can be considered as terror against the people and as attempt to silence any protest against the old Indian state. And above all, it’s the reaction trying to crush the struggle of the Dalits (indigenous and casteless people) at a time when they are gaining strength and the contradictions between the people and the old state are sharpening.
The CRPP additionally notes in their statement condemning the raids: „It must also be highlighted that this arbitrary and illegal search has come at a time when CRPP has been able to gather public opinion against the conviction of Dr. GN Saibaba, Hem Mishra, Prashant Rahi, Vijay Tirki, Mahesh Tirki and Pandu Narote. The Gadchiroli Sessions Court, in its 827 page judgment, inadvertently exposes the workings of a national security state which uses the instrument of law to thwart dissent. It is not a coincidence that when retired judges and prominent lawyers have agreed to speak at a convention (proposed for April 22, 2018) condemning the Gadchiroli Sessions Court judgement, the state machinery has used the pretext of the Bhima Koregaon incident to harass Wilson in order to divert the attention of the public and stop their mobilisation against the judgement of Gadchiroli Sessions Court.“
The urge of the people for revolution won’t be broken by repression. These actions of the reactionary forces will only make the masses stronger and let them grow together because the old Indian state makes it obvious to everyone that it stands against the people, against the broad masses, against all the poor, created by imperialism and bureaucratic capitalism in India. As a result, the People’s War will be strengthened.
