Anti-fascist activists are not conspirators, says Varavara Rao

Hyderabad: Two days after arresting revolutionary writer Varavara Rao, the Pune police brought him back to the city on Thursday following the Supreme Court directive and placed him under house arrest.  “There cannot be a bigger conspiracy than calling those fighting against “fascist policies” conspirators,” Rao said lashing out at the Centre and Maharashtra government.

“This is a false case. If the fight against fascist policies is called a conspiracy, then there cannot be a bigger conspiracy than this (calling the fight a conspiracy),” Rao, told reporters at the airport. His family members, a few activists, and advocates were allowed to meet him at the house but he was restricted from communicating with any of them.

When the media approached him at his house to talk, he refused saying that he was not supposed to talk as per the orders of the apex court.  He also restrained himself from talking to activists and other relatives. On August 28 during the nationwide searches Varavara Rao was arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad, which reportedly resulted in the violence at Bhima– Koregaon village.

The police also said that Varavara Rao and five others who were arrested earlier in June 2018, conspired to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pune police on Thursday morning brought Rao to Shamshabad in a flight, from where he was escorted to his house amidst high security. At around 6.30 am, Rao reached his apartment block at Jawahar Nagar in Gandhi Nagar and was directly taken to his flat (419) from the basement parking.

The city police have deployed at least 30 policemen at the apartment. Among them, 10 persons including two policemen from Pune were on guard outside his house, preventing the entry of his supporters and activists. However, the daily routine of the other residents in the apartment was not affected by the police bandobast and visitors were allowed after a brief inquiry with their associates living in the apartment. Criticising the restrictions put by the city police at the residential apartment, Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) member and advocate V Raghunath alleged “The Supreme Court asked the police to place only Varavara Rao under house arrest, but not his family. His wife is not involved in the case, and she can at least come out of the house, but the police are not allowing her. 

“They also did not allow any of his friends to meet him or his wife. This is a violation of the basic rights of the public.” He said that the apex court had restricted only Rao’s right to movement and his communication with others, but not his wife’s, that of other members of the family and friends.  “The police cannot stop everyone from entering the residential premises. They should only prevent Rao’s exit from his house, but this is something against the law,” Raghunath said.

Another CLC member, U Sambasiva Rao said “Rao is not allowed to talk to anyone. He himself was not interested in talking, as the Supreme Court has imposed restrictions. His only communication can be with advocates and blood relatives.” “But stopping the residents is also a violation of rights by the police.  Even people who are convicted by the courts are allowed to talk to their family, here it is worse. The police even wanted to restrict advocates,” said Advocate Jella Lingaiah. 

“If the police and government want to restrict people from their basic rights, they will teach a lesson during elections,” he said. Osmania University Professor Gaddam Laxman, Sandhya from POW (Progressive Organisation for Women), Democratic Students Union member E Arunank, and a few advocates who were among the counsels who filed a petition in the High Court of Judicature, Hyderabad, following the arrest of Varavara Rao, were only allowed to see him at his house.