People's Democracy

THE Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have in a statement on May 15 strongly condemned the arrest of students-youth and other activists in Faizabad. These students-youth belonging to All India Students Association (AISA), Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) and other organisations had assembled at Faizabad to participate in the Chalo Ayodhya programme to reclaim the secular history of Ayodhya on the occasion of the anniversary of 1857 sepoy mutiny.

The district administration had not only prevented them from taking out the sadhbhavana march but also arrested them and lodged in jail till date. The SFI-DYFI felt that this is a blatant violation of the democratic rights of the citizens to organise campaigns for communal harmony and peace. "In a situation where the Hindu communal forces led by the BJP are hell-bent on creating a permanent division among the people on religious lines, this police crackdown on youth-student activists clearly shows that they are bent on curbing anti-communal campaign by force", stated SFI-DYFI and blamed the BSP-BJP government of the state for this act. These organisations have demanded immediate release of all the arrested activists and leaders.