Ranchi: Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, of Ranchi Archdiocese on Thursday said that the church would would take all legal measures to defend the arrested Jesuit priest Fr. Stan Swamy. He also said that the protest tomorrow is a spontaneous response of the Catholic faithful of the diocese.
Addressing a press conference Bishop Mascarenhas, expressed his anguish that a Press Conference had to be organised to place on record the matter of Fr Stan Swamy’s arrest by NIA, who had dedicated his entire life to the service, primarily of the tribals, Dalits and other marginalised sections of society.
He further observed that it was very unfortunate that Fr Swamy was deceptively called by the agency at night under the pretext of interrogation, but in fact was arrested and sent to remand in Mumbai the very next day and put behind the bars along with other prisoners without even the basic facilities of a cot and a mattress. He was reportedly kept in a crowded ward in spite of the fear of COVID-19 pandemic in a total disregard for his age. Bishop further updated the media that Fr Stan, while going to the wash room, had a fall. Bishop asked, “Where is our democracy heading to?” Further, “Why was Fr Stan not presented before the NIA court in Ranchi?”
The prelate thanked the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren for contacting the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, so that a cot, a mattress and other facilities could be made available to Stan Swamy.
The Bishop also expressed his dismay that the voices of the people in the margin were being suppressed. He observed that people were now aware of the injustices done to them and that they would not keep quiet any longer. Bishop also informed the media that the Catholic faithful of Ranchi have decided to keep tomorrow (Friday, 16/10/2020) as the Day of Protest. He assured that all this would be done while fully following the government protocol and advisory during the covid-19 lockdown period. He further said that the faithful numbering 50, would be coming to the Cathedral to have a candle light prayer for Stan Swamy.
Along with Bishop Mascarenhas, Fr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director of XISS and official spokesperson for Jesuits of Central Zone, and Fr Peter Martin SJ were also present at the press meet.
Fr Kujur reiterated that it was indeed ironical that a press conference had to be organised in relation to the arrest of the most harmless person in Ranchi. He emphasized that Fr Stan Swamy was only a “suspect-accused” and not a “convict”. Further, he expressed the conviction of Stan’s supporters in the Constitution and judiciary of India. They believed that at the end the truth would prevail and that Stan Swamy would come back from Mumbai fully exonerated from all baseless and unfounded charges on him.
Fr Kujur observed that Stan spent about 63 years in Jharkhand leaving behind his family and friends in Tamil Nadu and that for the last more than 50 years he was actively involved in working for the marginalised people thereby strengthening, living and honouring the Constitution of India. “This is how Fr Stan Swamy has contributed to the nation building,” he added.
Fr Kujur asked whether such a person who has given his whole life in the service of humanity and made many sacrifices in his life for the sake of others, can be an anti-national. He observed that the arrest of Stand Swamy was a small part of the larger issue of a three-pronged conflict – caste, class and ideology. Stan Swamy was only a symbol of that. There was an effort to target all those who fought for inclusiveness and diversity. Stan was a symbol of fight against those who wanted to eliminate and alienate the natural resources thereby making the poor tribals and Dalits further pauperised.
Stan Swamy was a researcher and it was his task to bring to the fore the realities of life and help those who needed him the most. His study of the undertrials is to help those who were helplessly languishing in the 24 jails of Jharkhand. Whatever he did all his life, never was there an occasion to point finger on him. How is it that only in the last two years it was suddenly discovered that he was an anti-national?
Responding to the media persons, Bishop Mascarenhas said that they would take all legal measures to defend Stan Swamy. Further, we know that when Stan Swamy says, “The evidences are tampered. We believe that he will never tell a lie. We are not running away from investigation. We want honest and accurate investigation because we know that the person who has never told lies all these years has the credibility and we fully believe that he is totally innocent. We pray in a special way to God so that truth prevails and he is released at the earliest.”