GUWAHATI: The father of jailed Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Devangana Kalita, who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, June 15, in connection with the Delhi riots case, is proud of his daughter’s activism.
Devangana is a member of the so-called 'Pinjra Tod’ collective of activist students from Delhi who was arrested in May 2020 for allegedly being part of a premeditated conspiracy behind the violent Delhi riots of February that year. She and fifteen others were charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Her father, cardialogist Dr Hem Chandra Kalita spoke to G Plus on Wednesday. "We are very proud of our daughter. The Indian justice system can be late but justice is not denied. The Delhi High Court's judgement is a success of democracy," he said.
"We are very happy that she got bail after one year of imprisonment. We are extremely pleased with the strongly worded judgement of the Delhi High Court, that there is no prima facie case of terrorism for UAPA to be applied," he added.
Devangana is an MPhil student of the prestigious JNU. She and fellow JNU student Natasha Narwal were accused of mobilising women at the Seelampur Protest site in Delhi, occupying the Jafrabad Metro Station and blocking the Main 66 Foota Road in New Delhi. Delhi Police claimed that they had distributed chilly powder to women and instigated them to attack police personnel and start rioting.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to both students. They have now been granted bail in all four cases brought against them.
Speaking to G Plus, Dr Kalita further said, "I have always taught her that there will be many challenges in life, and the one who converts these challenges into successful activities will be successful. Even while in prison, Devangana continued with activities for upliftment of all prison inmates and the judicial system at large.”
"When she was first arrested last year, we were not aware of it. The family learned about it only from news channels, and only after two days could she give us a call from police custody”, he added.
“The initial months were very difficult for us. But she was always positive and believed in the system. No doubt interrogations were tough, but she remained strong and always had faith in the judiciary. Devangana and Natasha have worked hard to bring several reforms to the prison. Initially, while they were kept in confinement without any contacts with the family and others, the two submitted a writ petition in the court highlighting the isolation procedures amid a pandemic and its psychological impact on the inmates. The court eventually allowed regular audio and video calls for all inmates as physical meets were halted due to pandemic,” he informed.
“Kalita and Narwal raised several issues for prison reforms in the past year and have successfully facilitated better health care facilities for the prison inmates including a cent per cent COVID-19 vaccination for all before her bail. The duo have also started a drawing school for the juvenile inmates. As women’s rights activists, Devangana and Natasha successfully celebrated International Women's day inside jail as well,” Dr Kalita said.
Natasha Narwal lost her father to COVID-19 in May 2021. Her request for bail to see him before he passed away was denied.
A division bench of Justices Sidharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani of the Delhi High Court granted Devangana bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and two local sureties. Both she and Natasha have been asked to surrender their passports and refrain from activities that would harm the case further. The duo asked to remain at their place of residence as mentioned in prison records and provide their cell phone numbers to the local Station House Officer (SHO).
While the Delhi police contended that the duo were part of a larger conspiracy that threatens the unity, harmony and integrity of India, the divisional bench responded while granting bail that “We are constrained to express, that it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy."
He lastly added "The Delhi Police might move the Supreme Court over yesterday's bail and we are a little worried that meeting her may have to be postponed. But we strongly believe that Natasha, Tanha and Devangana are on the right path and justice will not be denied to them. They have no terrorist inclination."
A day after they were granted bail, the Delhi Police has filed an appeal against the order of the Delhi High Court.
