Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji and other Leaders of AAM AADMI PARTY

By Dilip -
Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji and other Leaders of AAM AADMI PARTY,
It is quite worrying to hear the news that your party has withdrawn the nomination of Narendra Mohanty as Lok Sabha (Kandhamal Constituency, Odisha) Candidate on the ground of pending ‘serious’ criminal cases against him. Human rights activists working in communally volatile areas and Maoist influenced areas are always targeted and victimized by both the Police and non-state violent groups such as Sangh Parivar and Maosits. Narendra Mohanty is a senior dedicated activist has been working for the rights of adivasis, dalits and minorities since last 24 years in a very sensitive district like Kandhamal of Odisha. 
Because of his long standing struggles against corruption (exploitation of adivasis and dalits by police personnel and other government officials) in remote areas of Kandhamal, his involvements in democratic and peaceful mass movements, particularly his loud voice against police atrocity on local people on the ground of false accusations; the police and administration has been trying to project him as a Maoist/Maoist sympathizer and to entangle him with Maoists related violent activities, even if he is being threatened by Maoists for his opposition to them. We know how the state police and violent forces treat with serious activists and falsely implicate them with serious charges such as murder, rape, dacoity, burning, possessing illegal weapons etc. Persons with honesty, dedication, fearless and selfless social engagement should not be treated the way it is done. We are afraid how you will treat with Soni Sori, Udaya Kumar, Dayamani Barla and other activists.
We are very sorry that Aam Aadmi Party - supposedly to be able to understand the political dynamics in those areas (so called Maoist corridor areas) seriously (where police abuse , arrest, torture aam aami on each alternative day and non-state violent forces and many activists don't dare to work in the area) – failed to differentiate between criminals and activists like Narendra Mohanty and withdrew nomination from him. This will not only discourage such activists to join with AAP, but also will raise doubts over the understandings/approaches of AAP (like Congress and BJP) about the problems of adivasis, dalits and minorities in Maoist-influenced and communally sensitive areas like Kandhamal.

We do request to consider the issue sensitively and revoke your decision on Narendra Mohanty.
Yours’ Sincerely,
Prashant Paikray, Spokesperson, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Sami
ti (PPSS), Odisha and President, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
Dhirendra Panda, Convener, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights(CSFHR)

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