Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Association (APCLA) State general secretary Pothuri Suresh Kumar has alleged that human rights violations were on the rise across the country, of late. Blaming it on the ruling parties, he said those questioning the violations or expressing their views on the issues were either being killed or false cases were being foisted upon them.
Speaking at a debate on ‘Democracy – civil rights’ organised at the Visakhapatnam Public Library here on Sunday, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that writers, poets and artistes, who were expressing their reservations were being targeted. “Poets and writers such as Dabholkar, Pansare and Journalist Gouri Lankesh were murdered in Karnataka and now cases are being booked even for postings on social media,” he said.
Bhima Koregaon case
Referring to the victims of the Bhima Koregaon case, he said they could not get justice till the Supreme Court had intervened in the matter. “An FIR was registered in January. It is surprising that arrests were made in September. As there was no evidence against the human rights activists, they were charged with hatching a plot to kill the Prime Minister. They were placed under house arrest only after the intervention of the Supreme Court,” Mr. Suresh Kumar alleged.
Human rights
He further said that the governments were trampling upon the rights of expressing views, pursue various professions and others guaranteed by the Constitution. He alleged that lands in Scheduled Areas were being acquired without the consent of tribal people. Referring to Polavaram project, he alleged that compensation was being paid to non-tribals.
APCLA State secretary M. Venkateswara Rao presided over the meeting. APCLA Visakhapatnam convener Purnima, State committee member Malleswara Rao and Visakha Consumers Forum Visakhapatnam district convener P. Rama Rao were present.
