Jignesh Mewani: Leader of the Una Resistance Detained by the Gujarat Police.

Gujarat police has detained Dalit Activist Jignesh Mewani soon after his arrival in Ahmedabad after attending the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Rally in New Delhi. His whereabouts are not known. Mewani, who has been spearheading the Una movement, was detained because Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on his two-day Gujarat tour from tomorrow. The detention is being seen as a measure to stop Mewani from raising his voice at the prime minister's rally tomorrow. Various Groups have called for protest against such blatant attacks on democratic rights and efforts to stifle political dissent. 

"I had a Dream that Tables were Flung at PM Modi’s Rally": Jignesh Mewani vowed to protest at Modi’s Rally in Gujarat on September 17

Reactions have started coming in on this move of the BJP led Gujarat Government. Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau Member of the CPI( M) has said that, " we strongly condemn this move. Modi proxy can not tolerate criticism of Gujarat model. It will invite anger. Voices for Justice can't be suppressed." 

Teesta Setalvad, civil rights activist and co-editor of Sabrangindia.in in a statement has said  that, "Yesterday Jignesh challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly. There is no doubt that the Government of Gujarat is trying to silence this challenge." 

Subhasini Ali, another senior leader and Polit Bureau Member of the CPI (M) called it a shocking display of intolerance. She said that it will be resisted all over the country

Umar Khalid, student from JNU- who was arrested on charges of sedition said in a Facebook post,  "I strongly condemn the illegal detention of Jignesh Mewani by the Gujarat Police, which is nothing short of a kidnapping. The fact that it comes on the eve of the PM's birthday, for which he is going to Gujarat, shows the morbid fear of the present ruling dispensation to the oppressed people's struggle for justice and dignity. The una movement in the den of the Hindutva forces had shaken them immensely, and these are just desperate measures to break that movement which is spreading like wildfire across the country. But little do they realize that through such actions the end of their oppressive regime comes near. In complete solidarity with Jignesh Mewani" 

The Students Federation of India has called for a protest demonstration at Janatar Mantar on 17th September at 11:00 AM. In a press statement they said, "  Jignesh Mewani has been arrested by Gujarat Police when he returned from Delhi after participating in the rally of Dalit Swabhimaan Sangharsh Morcha. Unite against the muzzling of Democracy by RSS-BJP!  We appeal all democratic organizations and individuals to join this protest.

Rihai Manch, Lucknow in a press statement has condemned the move. It said, "दिल्ली में दलित स्वाभिमान संघर्ष रैली में जिग्नेश मेवाणी के 1 अक्टूबर को रेल रोको के ऐलान से घबराई मोदी सरकार ने मेवाणी को गिरफ्तार करवाकर अपनी दलित विरोधी राजनीति को एक बार फिर से उजागर किया। उन्होंने कहा कि आज जब गुजरात के दलित अपने हक-हुकूक और अधिकार के लिए खड़े होकर मोदी के गुजरात माॅडल का पोस्टमार्टम कर रहे है जिसने संघी ताकतों का मंसूबा ध्वस्त कर दिया है। मंच प्रवक्ता ने कहा कि जिग्नेश की गिरफ्तारी ने साफ किया है कि ‘गाय की पूंछ तुम रखो, हमको हमारी जमीन दो’ के नारे से आक्रोशित दलित चेतना से मोदी सरकार कितनी भयभीत है। यह गिरफ्तारी जहां पूरे देश को आंदोलित करेगी वहीं यह मोदी सरकार की ताबूत में आखिरी कील साबित होगी।" 

Jignesh Mewani had addressed the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Rally this afternoon and had exposed the Modani- Ambani Model which is in operation in Gujarat. He had called for taking forward the message of Una.

Also Read: https://sabrangindia.in/article/badbu-gujarat-ki-greetings-amitabh-bachchan