Ambedkarites, scholars flay arrest of Dr Teltumbde

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 14

Ambedkarites, activists, intellectuals and scholars condemned the arrest of Dr Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon case, here today. While intellectuals and Ambedkarites have been seeking his release in the case, today they took to social media platforms to raise the concern amid the lockdown.

Members and functionaries of the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall and conveners of various state cultural platforms and groups condemned Teltumbde’s arrest. They raised questions over his arrest when he is over 60 years of age amid an already initiated process of freeing many prisoners during the Covid-19 crisis. Professor Teltumbde, the grandson-in-law of Dr BR Ambedkar, is an eminent research scholar and passionate Ambedkarite who has penned 30 books. He is among Dr Ambedkar’s handful of relatives who are carrying forward his legacy.

Dr Teltumbde had also been invited to the Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da in 2018, unable to come then, he had addressed crowds at the Yadgar Hall here during an event held to commemorate the foundation day of the Ghadar Party on April 21, 2019. Organisations such as the Sikhiya Abhiyan Manch Punjab, Jamhoori Adhikar Sabha, Punjab Lok Sabhiacharak Manch, Inquilabi Kendar Punjab, Lok Morcha Punjab, Jamhoori Morcha Punjab, Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, and Operation Green Hunt Virodhi Front condemned the arrest.

From their homes, many activists also observed a hunger strike during the day and many posted pictures on social media holding posters reading ‘Supreme Court Must Withdraw its order asking Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumde for the arrest’. Bhagat Singh’s nephew Jagmohan Singh and scholar Prof Chaman Lal also extended solidarity to the protest from their homes.

Amolak Singh, member of the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee and president of the Punjab Lok Sabhyacharak Manch, said: “During the lockdown and on the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, his close relative and a noted scholar is being arrested. We condemn the arrest of Dr Teltumbde during the lockdown.”

“Dr. Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha are eminent and respected scholars who have been raising people’s issues. When no gatherings are being held in the country during the lockdown, they are being arrested at a time when people can’t even take to streets to raise objections against the arrest,” he said.

Gurmeet, general secretary of the yadgar committee, said: “We condemn their arrest as on one hand the country is facing the crisis and on the other the economy is already hit due to the lockdown. The act is an attack on the democracy.”