On 3rd September, a protest was held at Plaza
Sector-17, Chandigarh, against the growing attacks on the people’s
artists by the State-backed Saffron Brigade goons and Police.
Within few days there
surfaced many incidents of attack on people’s artists. On 21st august, the students of FTII- Pune were
attacked by the ABVP goons after a documentary viz. “Jai Bheem Comrade” was
screened there and the cultural group “Kabir Kala Manch” performed there. The
Maharashtra Police arbitrarily arrested cultural activist Hem Mishra (who is
also a student of JNU), who have gone to Gadchiroli for his medical treatment,
on false charges. Similarily cultural-activists from Jharkhand, Utpal, Ispat
and Vishvanath, were arrested by the police on false charges.
These incidents clearly expose the fascist and reactionary face of Indian State, which cannot tolerate any effort by the people to change this rotten social, economic and political system.
Various members of civil society, students and theatre & cultural groups came together and raised their voice against the ongoing attacks on the people's artist and freedom of expression and expressed their solidarity for the victims.
Demand was put forward for immediate and unconditional release of the
cultural activists and the culprits responsible for the attack on FTII students
be put to justice.
We appeal all the progressive sections of the society to raise their voice and stand against the ruthless suppression of people’s artist and stand for freedom of expression.
Below is the Press release by Gumphan
for Arts, Chandigarh School of Drama, Alankar Theater, Students For Society
(SFS), Lokayat, Chandigarh.
Press Release
3 September, 2013: Artists, intellectual and students assembled in sector 17 to protest against suppression of people’s artists. This protest was organized by Punjab Lok Sabhyachar Manch, Gumphan for Arts, Alankar Theaters, Students for Society and Lokayat.
3 September, 2013: Artists, intellectual and students assembled in sector 17 to protest against suppression of people’s artists. This protest was organized by Punjab Lok Sabhyachar Manch, Gumphan for Arts, Alankar Theaters, Students for Society and Lokayat.
