Dear friends

We are all aware of developments in last few
months how the government has progressively grown
not only indifferent but pathetic to the idea of
civil liberties and fundamental rights that we
are guaranteed in our Constitution. As the
economy is growing so are the woes of
marginalized sections of people and subtle
stranglehold on the rights and liberties of the
people. Be it Nandigram, Dadri, Gurgaon, parts of
Orissa, farmers are not only deprived of land but
of the legitimate right to protest too.

There have been reports of “Encounter” killings
on massive scale in different parts of the
country that shakes one’s belief whether we live
in a civilized and rule of law governed society.
We all are aware that these killings have been
made possible because there exists no mechanism
to ensure accountability in the functioning of
the para-military and police forces. Laws like
Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces (Jammu &
Kashmir, Manipur) Special Powers Act, Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Chattisgarh
Special Power Security Act (CSPSA), MCOCA, have
contributed to the functioning of the Army,
paramilitary forces and police with impunity.
And on top of it if one raises one’s voice
against these actions one is termed anti-national
or maoist and is incarcerated.

All this is reminiscent of a state no less
dissimilar than that prevailed during the black
days of Emergency during 1975-77.

You are aware that June 25/26 is an important day
in the movement for Civil Liberties and Human
Rights of the country. Internal Emergency was
imposed on this date in 1975 and it was the
movements by JP to oppose the Emergency that gave
birth to the PUCL. The Constitutional and
technical contents apart, in practice it was
nothing but an attack on the Rights and Liberties
of the people to crush dissent.

On the occasion of commemorating anti-emergency
day PUCL and Jan Hastakshep request you to join
in a public meeting ` EMERGENCY THEN AND NOW’ at
Gandhi Peace Foundation at 5 o’ clock on June 26.

A large number of human rights activist, lawyers,
journalists, intellectuals and people who have
borne the brunt of emergency are expected to
attend the meeting. You are invited to come with
friends.

With thanks

Pushkar Raj

Secretary PUCL