Jharkhand: The Peace and Reconciliation Network, Jesuit Conference of South Asia held a Webinar On Tuesday July 5 at 6.00 pm commemorating Fr. Stan Swamy on his first death anniversary.
Fr. E. P. Mathew in his introductory note regarded Father Stan Swamy as a ‘Jesuit and a man of fire.’
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, Human Rights Activist and Public Interest Lawyer, the Supreme Court of India as a keynote speaker, delivered Commemoration Lecture on “Challenges to Democracy and Human Rights in Contemporary India” at the vent. He shared, ” Stan Swamy was the most generous and egoless person I have ever met. I saw him holding placards with his shaking hands due to Parkinson’s expressing his support to me, when I was undergoing defamation.”
“What we see today is an assault on free speech. All who speak against the politicians run under the risk of unjust incarnation of draconian laws like sedition or UAPA. Media has been well utilised in spreading hatred against minorities so to generate support from majorities in the country. And assault of Judiciary and Election Commission have compromised their independence, he pointed.
“The institute which was beacon for its independence that is Election Commission, has been compromised to the level of fixing election date based on ruling party’s convenience and code of conduct in election being imposed only against opposition party.”
As a solution to all the chaos he said, “A civil society has a major role to play despite the assault and fear of being arrested or put in jail. A ‘truth army’ to counter the abuse, threat and share right information on the role of minorities in making the history of India is the need along propagating multi-cultural, and multi -religious diversity of the nation. He also emphasised that, it is a right time for a major civil society to mobilise the movement on right to employment by the youth of the nation, as they are the victims of the same.”
Dr. P. M. Antony S J, Tribal Activist and Director, Bagaicha, Jharkhand spoke on Late Swamy through tribute, Remembering Fr. Stan. He recalled how Stan Swamy took sides with marginalised in order to bring change in the system. He educated Adivasis and enlightened them on their rights. He has been instrumental in bringing the people’s problem in front of leaders,” shared Antony S J.
Stans expression of solidarity with the oppressed is most appreciable. In the current situation need to take up such initiatives and join hands,” he stressed.
The event was moderated by Dr. Paramjyot Singh, Chairperson, Centre for Peace and Justice, XLRI Jamshedpur. Dr. Binoy Jacob S. J welcomed the delegates and K. M. Mathew expressed the words of gratitude.
