Coming out in support of Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde, more than 600 scholars from top United States and European universities have issued a joint statement urging the Centre and the Maharashtra government to bring the alleged “witch-hunt” to an immediate halt. Protesting against the “false allegations” against Mr. Teltumbde, the statement issued on Wednesday “strongly” condemned the threat of Mr. Teltumbde’s imminent arrest calling him distinguished scholar, civil rights activist, and one of India’s leading intellectuals. Admired by many as an organic intellectual of the Dalit community, his writings have contributed immensely to critical debates on democracy, globalisation and social justice, the statement said. “Such dangerous allegations against one of India’s leading and most prolific public intellectuals is a grave attack on democracy and civil liberties, and urgent redress is necessary,” it said further. “The 600 odd signatures came in like an avalanche over 72 hours,” said Prof. Raja Swamy, spokesperson for ICW, the North America based group that initiated the petition.

Source: The Hindu February 07, 2019 03:11 UTC