Stan’s death: Oppn urges Prez to intervene; UN and EU rights bodies call it ‘disturbing’
Outrage mounted over the death of Father Stan Swamy with top UN and EU rights bodies terming it “disturbing”, while leaders of 10 opposition parties wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday urging him to direct the government to take action against those responsible for allegedly meting out “inhuman treatment” to the jailed activist.
The government, however, maintained that all actions were taken strictly in accordance with the law in the case, stressing that India’s democratic and constitutional polity is complemented by independent judiciary and a range of human rights bodies. European Union Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore echoed similar sentiments in a tweet in which he tagged Lawlor’s tweet. “India: I am very saddened to hear that Fr #StanSwamy has passed away. A defender of indigenous peoples’ rights. He was held in detention for the past 9 months. The EU had been raising his case repeatedly with authorities,” Gilmore tweeted on Monday.
A small funeral service, which was joined by many online, was held at the St. Peter’s church in suburban Bandra in Maharashtra.
Opposition leaders and activists had lashed out at the Centre after Swamy’s death, calling it “custodial murder” and alleging that those who repeatedly denied bail to the ailing activist had “blood on their hands”.
The top UN human rights agency said it was “deeply saddened and disturbed” by the death of Swamy and urged nations, including India, to release individuals detained “without a sufficient legal basis”, especially in view of COVID-19 situation.
The Ministry of External Affairs, however, said that Swamy was detained by NIA following due process of law. Authorities in India act against violations of law and not against legitimate exercise of rights, it asserted.