Tag: NIA elgar parishad

NIA Cites Kabir Kala Manch’s Songs That Parody Modi, BJP to Justify Arrest of Singers

Along with the songs, the agency has also relied upon evidence from 2011 and 2012 and has claimed that the activists were in touch with absconding Naxal leader Milind Teltumbde.

Mumbai: Singing parodical songs against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been presented as one of the grounds for arresting singers and activists of the cultural troupe Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) in the Elgar Parishad case. In its response to a petition filed in the Bombay high court by the vocalists of KKM, Sagar Gorkhe (32) and Ramesh Gaichor (38) challenging their arrest, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has cited their songs which critique Narendra Modi and certain BJP policies as one of the grounds for arrest.

The NIA produced a translated version of their songs in its response. The songs, apart from mocking Modi also deliver a stinging commentary on so-called ‘cow vigilante’ groups, the BJP’s political agenda around Ram Mandir and the Brahmanical order.

“…My name is Bhaktendra Modi. My speech is simple. My living is simple. And the coat is also one in lakhs. Hey, who is here? Don’t pay attention to the opposition… So, my speech is simple, my living is simple, but, if anybody comes after me, his elimination is certain,” the NIA translates one of KKM’s songs.

In another song, taking a dig at Modi’s monthly radio programme “Mann ki Baat”, the cultural troupe asks those following Modi to drink gaumutra (cow urine) when thirsty and cow dung to satiate hunger. “Be vegetarian… vegetarian meal is the best meal. You will have achche din, achche din, achche din,” the song concludes.

While the songs were originally sung in Marathi, the central agency has provided only a translation of the songs in its application. The Wire, however, was not able to confirm if the agency’s translation remains true to the original version of these songs. KKM is popular for its confrontational songs and sharp takes on the government and its anti-people policies. In the past, KKM had not spared the Congress government from criticism either.

Along with the songs, the agency has also relied upon evidence from 2011 and 2012 and has claimed that the KKM activists were in touch with absconding Naxal leader Milind Teltumbde. Interestingly, that evidence is already a part of the earlier chargesheet in which both Gorkhe and Gaichor were named as accused. In the case registered by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the duo had been jailed for four years, from 2013 to early 2017. While the trial in the earlier case is still pending, the NIA has also used the allegations of the past case against the two singers, citing the purported ‘conspiracy and arms training’ in the forests of Gadchiroli. To back this claim up, the NIA has attached a witness statement from the chargesheet, which claims that the duo had met Milind Teltumbde and “discussed” their plans to spread Naxalism in urban spaces.

Also Read: Birds in the Prison Barracks: An Interview with Kabir Kala Manch’s Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor

Gorkhe and Gaichor were arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case on September 7 after being interrogated for several days at the NIA office in Mumbai. The duo, through their friends, had got a pre-recorded video released soon after their arrest, which claimed that they were forced by the NIA to give statements against other activists and lawyers already arrested in the case. The NIA, however, in the reply to the plea has claimed that it is their “standard strategy” to make imputations against the lawful authority.

The NIA further goes on to add that the duo was already named as accused in the original FIR filed by the local Pune police and which had investigated the case until January 24 this year, when the case was suddenly handed over to the NIA. The agency has claimed that since they were named as accused, it had never considered making them witnesses in the case.

Gorkhe and Gaichore are among the 16 persons, all activists, lawyers and academics, arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case of 2018. Gorkhe and Gaichor are both well-known singers and anti-caste activists based in Pune. They were part of the ‘Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan’ – a banner under which the Elgar Parishad event was organised on December 31, 2017, at Pune’s Shaniwarwada area, known to be a predominantly Brahmin hub. The police, following a complaint by a right-winger Tushar Damgude, had named six persons in the FIR for allegedly trying to incite violence between two communities – the Marathas and Dalits – in Pune. Eventually, more names were added and arrests were made across the country.

Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the NIA’s submission was in response to a bail petition. It was, in fact in response to a petition challenging the arrest of Gorkhe and Gaichor.

NPR, Bhima Koregaon Case Sow First Seeds of Difference Within Maha Vikas Aghadi

Until now, the coalition partners have so far ensured that any disagreement between the three does not get out of hand.

Differences between the partners in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in the state have emerged over two recent decisions taken by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Though criticism by the partners has remained subdued, the Nationalist Congress Party has left no doubt that it is unhappy with Thackeray’s moves.

Though all the three partners have been keen to proclaim publicly that there is no rift, or any danger to the coalition, both the Congress and the NCP have been getting restive at the Shiv Sena’s initiatives on key issues, on all of which the others have strong opinions.

The NCP and Congress are firmly opposed to the Modi government’s Citizenship Amendment Act and its related processes, which includes the National Population Register drive, which begins in May. The Congress has called the NPR, the “NRC in disguise” and Thackeray too had said earlier that no citizen in Maharashtra would be affected.

A few days ago, the state government did a U-turn over its stand on the Centre’s move to have the National Investigative Agency take over the Elgar Parishad case, as part of which several activists have been held for over a year on charges of sedition.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. Photo: Twitter/@OfficeofUT

Just before the NIA took it over, there was speculation that the accused would get bail; that was effectively stymied by the Centre.

Thackeray and the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece, Saamana, criticised the move but a few days later, agreed to hand it over to the NIA without any objection. Home minister Anil Deshmukh said he had objected to this, but had been overruled.

Also read: ‘Centre’s Decision to Hand Bhima Koregaon to NIA Unconstitutional’: Maha Home Minister

Last week, Thackeray called a meeting of senior bureaucrats for a briefing on the preparation of the door-to-door enumeration process under the National Population Register, which is being assumed to be a key component of the entire CAA-NRC process which has drawn massive protests all over the country. A large rally was held in Mumbai just on Saturday where speakers such as Abu Azmi, an MLA of the Samajwadi Party, declared that people not allow NPR teams to enter their homes.

Thackeray’s open endorsement for it, after indicating he was against CAA-NRC, has upset his partners considerably. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Thackeray and on Saturday, the chief minister made it a point to declare that the BJP’s attempts to destablise his government will not work.

That is not likely for now, since the local BJP is in disarray following it loss in the state elections and the clumsy attempt to form a government with NCP’s Ajit Pawar which failed spectacularly and in full public view.

It has put paid to Devendra Fadnavis’s political ambitions for now and others, like former minister Eknath Khadse, have not succeeded in stepping into the breach, though not for want of trying.

The coalition partners thus have no immediate threat from outside, but have to consolidate their own house.

The three parties come from disparate ideological backgrounds and though each one is making special efforts to make adjustments, there is discomfort in all three at having to do so with others. The NCP and the Congress have an old relationship and overlap on broad issues, but the latter is always wary of Sharad Pawar. The Congress, also, is deeply uncomfortable of supping with the Sena, while within the latter, many influential leaders would rather be back with the BJP.

All three are in an arrangement of mutual benefit, but each knows of the innate problems of such a coalition.

Still, with considerable goodwill and with a common goal of keeping the BJP out, it is likely that they will stick together for the time being. Many observers feel that if they can continue with minimal hiccups for at least two years, they could make a big difference. The social atmosphere has certainly improved and the public protests, which have been held without much problems is a refreshing breath of fresh air in comparison with other BJP ruled states where governments have reacted against protestors with ferocity.

The Shiv Sena is also watching Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena closely.

Also read: Raj Thackeray’s Right Turn is Dangerous. Here’s Why it Is Likely to Fail

After attacking Narendra Modi bitterly during the run up to the May 2019 generation elections, Raj has now gone full saffron, even changing his multi-coloured flag to that colour. He has begun talking in public about Hindutva and his party’s latest vigilante action against Muslims in the northern Mumbai suburbs where residents were asked for their citizenship documents, has set alarm bells ringing.

Uddhav Thackeray, who is aware that many of his followers are pro-Modi and pro-Hindutva, could be worried that his cousin will woo away such partymen. That has to be nipped in the bud and the chief minister’s pro-NPR announcement could be to pre-empt any bid by Raj to criticise the state government.

The coalition partners have so far ensured that any disagreement between the three does not get out of hand – statements are quickly issued to express unity.

But this is no permanent solution – unless there is complete agreement on key policy issues such as the NPR, the differences could tear the coalition apart. The next few months will be crucial.