Protests staged in Kolkata against the crackdown on activists

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) activists protest the crackdown on activists for suspected Maoists links. ““At least Indira Gandhi should be given credit because she had formally declared an emergency. Without declaring an emergency, who are the victims of emergency as they claim, are invoking certain laws and methods of emergency to crack down and stifle the voice of the human rights movement,” said an activist at the protest. Lawyer and trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj, poet P Varavara Rao, activist Gautam Navlakha, and lawyers Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves were arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, creating fear and enmity between groups, and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.