Pinjra Tod activist Natasha says 'struggle will continue'

In an exclusive chat with ETV Bharat, Activist Natasha Narwal who recently secured bail in the north-east Delhi violence case said that the law (UAPA) violates the basic structure of the criminal justice which says 'you are innocent until proven guilty'.

Hyderabad: Pinjra tod activist Natasha Narwal, who was arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in a conversation with ETV Bharat, said that there is a difference between a 'protest against the system' and a 'protest against the country', which the current 'draconian law' failed to distinguish.

Narwal, who was granted bail along with Devangana Kalita and Jamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, in connection with the north-east Delhi violence case, said that the law (UAPA) violates the basic structure of the criminal justice which says 'you are innocent until proven guilty'.

"I am not saying that the law should be scrapped. Rather, my concern is regarding a provision of bail, which is violated in this case. Specifically, the power to designate an individual as a terrorist before being proven guilty by trial should be rechecked," told Narwal to ETV Bharat.

A recent amendment in the UAPA has provision to consider any individual booked under the law a 'terrorist', even if there are no links which tie the accused to a terrorist organisation. "The burden of proof of innocence is on the accused, which makes the law more vulnerable," added Narwal. She further maintained that the provision of bail should be there as it violates fundamental rights.

"We have seen many of the innocent people who are facing UAPA charges and spent 10 to 20 years to prove their innocence. Who will return the precious time to the person who was acquitted of all charges after facing a trial of 10 to 20 years," said the Pinjra tod activist.

Pinjra tod movement will continue: Kalita

When asked about the allegations against JNU students for indulging in anti-national activities, another student activist Devangana Kalita said if raising a voice against the government policies and ideology is termed as anti-national activities, then "it is very wicked that we are still following a law which was imposed during the colonial era."

"Recently, there were protests in JNU against a steep hike in college fees. Students come from diverse background. A hike in the fees would hamper the education of poor and female students who are already struggling with the financial and social stigma. I am a girl. I have been facing the social pressure of marriage. So, rising fees would hamper the students like us. Since education is a fundamental right, it should be accessible to all," Kalita told ETV Bharat.

Further, the activist noted that education should not be limited to 'career', rather it should focus on all aspects of life. "We are not getting an education just to build a career. We are getting education also to change society. If we will not talk about the social injustice that the Muslims, poor, Dalits and woman are facing, then who will?" added Kalita.

Elaborating about the Pinjra (Cage) tod movement, Kalita said that there are thousands of cages that oppressed women have to face. So, the basic principle of this movement to break all these barriers and brings equal rights for all. "It is ironical that we had initiated a Pinjara tod movement in the college in order to break all those Pinjras which act as a hurdle for many of us, but unfortunately, we had landed in the biggest Pinjra," said Kalita attributing Pinjra as 'Tihar jail'.

"The movement will not stop. The struggle will continue," signed off Kalita after narrating her ordeal.