Civil liberties activist G. N. Saibaba languishes in jail, seeks medical attention as he confined to a wheelchair but the government of Maharashtra does not relent, courts have not helped, international refrain has been dismissed. WSO protests the treatment and seeks urgent intervention.

In a rather huge humanitarian move, the World Sikh Organisation of Canada has come out in support of detained civil liberties activist G. N. Saibaba, who since his conviction under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, has been spending time in pain at the Nagpur Central prison in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

In a statement released to the media, WSO President Mukhbir Singh has said, “G.N. Saibaba’s detention and treatment is shocking.  Draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act are a violation of basic human rights and the rule law.”

With 90 percent disability, dismissed Delhi University lecturer in English, civil and human rights activist G. N. Saibaba, despite all legal efforts and deep concerns about his deteriorating health has not been able to awaken the Indian system out of stupor as he suffers in the Nagpur Central jail with serious health issues. Sadly, his wife has been running from pillar to post to no avail.

“The police from Maharashtra had abducted G. N. Saibaba in May 2014 when he was on his way home from the Delhi University and whisked away to Maharashtra, alleging that he was a Naxalite ideologue.”

Many human rights organizations -Indian and international have expressed deep concern saying that he has been targeted because of of his human rights advocacy work  and convicted on false pretences.

World Sikh Organisation (WSO) has called upon the “Indian government to ensure that Saibaba is provided adequate facilities and treatment, particularly given his serious medical issues.”

Confined to a wheelchair, Saibaba  suffers from several other serious health ailments including acute pancreatitis, cardiac complications, hypertension and a spinal disorder that inhibits use of his left shoulder and hand.

Convicted and sentenced by a Maharashtra court to life in prison under Indian anti-terror laws on March 7, 2017 after being accused of “unlawful activities”, Saibaba is a diehard leftist who unflinchingly espoused and supported the cause of human rights of the poorest of the poor.  As he was able to obtain true facts of atrocities of the Indian security forces in the areas dominated by the tribals and other poor, he presented devastating details of fact-finding missions in Jharkhand, Kashmir, Assam and Manipur.

The police from Maharashtra had abducted him in May 2014 when he was on his way home from the Delhi University and whisked away to Maharashtra, alleging that he was a Naxalite ideologue.

Since being imprisoned, Saibaba’s health has continued to deteriorate and jail authorities have not provided necessary updates to his family, despite repeated requests.  Saibaba has been held in solitary confinement, in the infamous “unda cell” (egg cell), without adequate light or ventilation. He lacks necessary medical treatment and is unable to use the toilet without severe pain and discomfort, being forced to crawl on his hands and elbows.

Amnesty International has categorically stated that it believes the charges against G N Saibaba are fabricated and that the law under which he was tried and his trial did not meet international fair trial standards.

“The charges against G N Saibaba are fabricated and that the law under which he was tried and his trial did not meet international fair trial standards”

Amnesty International

According to Amnesty International, “The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is a draconian law that has been abused, with the use of fabricated evidence and false charges, to detain activists that are peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Parts of the UAPA do not meet international human rights standards and are likely to lead to human rights violations. For example, the UAPA dilutes the evidentiary requirement for terror convictions and uses sweeping definitions of ‘acts of terrorism’ and ‘membership’ of ‘unlawful’ organizations, and does not comply with India’s international legal obligation.”

Activist writer Arundhati Roy too has forcefully protested the detention and conviction of Saibaba and ridiculed the undemocratic nature of the Indian government.

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70-year old Ratli Bai of Bhairamgarh village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district was gifted a pair of slippers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the Charan Paduka Scheme (Free Slippers Scheme) of the Chhattisgarh government. She got it 12 years after the scheme started in 2005.  Such are the people, who have not worn slippers, who do not get two square meals a day, yet fight for their rights to their tribal lands who have activists like Saibaba as their protagonists, but who listens?