Anyone can be branded Urban Naxal: activist Anand Teltumbde

Bengaluru: Dalit activist Anand Teltumbde has warned that the recent action against civil rights activists and labeling them as 'Urban Naxal’ can happen to anyone, and the country was going through a phase worse than Emergency.

At a session titled - 'Questioning the Foundations of the Indian Republic' at the Bangalore Literature Festival here on Saturday, Teltumbde said the government has all the resources and is using them to fabricate evidences to fix those who oppose its anti-people policies.

He, however, lamented that people are yet to understand the gravity of the problem. They think their everyday business will run as usual, Teltumbde remarked.

He called for opposing this dangerous trend of silencing the civil rights activists. "These forces which believe they can fabricate cases to terrorise those opposed to the current government should be fought and defeated during the elections. With the Opposition neutralised, the BJP-led government is projecting itself as the savior with no alternative."

The current regime is worse than emergency and can be compared to fascists’ era, he said and added that his arrest was imminent. He said was not sure of attending the literature festival and added that he is free till November 1, as the Bombay High Court on Friday restrained Pune police from arresting him.

He stated that his hope lies in the struggle against oppressive regime and will fight for a better India.