Indian-American organizations mourn for the death of Father Stan Swamy

Texas, USA (CU)_ On Tuesday, Indian-American organizations condoled the death of Father Stan Swamy, who was a social activist who sacrificed his life aiding India’s underprivileged tribals. Swamy, who was arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case last year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, passed away on Monday at the age of 84.

Father Stan Swamy was a Jharkhand-based Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist. He had been serving in the state for more than thirty years on several tribal problems such as land, forest, and labor rights. This involves raising concerns about the non-implementation of the Constitution’s Fifth Schedule, which called for the establishment of a Tribes Advisory Council composed primarily of members of the adivasi community for their safety, well-being, and development in the state.

Image credit:americamagazine.com

In a statement, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) described him as a valiant man who fought relentlessly to defend and assist tribals in India. FIACONA said, “A simple and an unassuming man, Fr Swamy stood his ground against a system that is bent on exploiting the poor tribals and their sovereign rights to their resources”. Swamy was afflicted with Parkinson’s disease as well as a number of other illnesses. Swamy had also contracted COVID-19 while in jail.

George Abraham, vice-chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, condemned the government. A statement from him said, “It is a dark day for democracy in India, and the national leadership and members of the judiciary should hang their heads in shame”. He added, “Father Swamy’s detention and treatment in prison that led to his death is a blot on the consciousness of the nation and a travesty of justice”.

Image credit:fiacona.org

According to the INOC, it is important to consider many other human rights activists who fought for the justice of deprived people and are still imprisoned. It said, “We can only hope the passing of Father Stan Swamy may reopen the mindset of those in power to release those on bail while awaiting charges”.

Hot this week

Why RFK Jr. may take stern action against fluoride in Trump’s administration

As the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election nears, former President...

COSCO Navigates Global Trade Winds

(Commonwealth_ COSCO Shipping Holdings recently reported robust growth across...

Abia State Governors Call to the Nigerian Diaspora

Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ At a recent inauguration ceremony...

Challenging the Status Quo: Rwanda’s Household Debate

Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Rwandan social media has been...

The 18-Year Journey to a New Trade Partnership

On October 31, 2024, New Zealand and the Gulf...

Topics

Why RFK Jr. may take stern action against fluoride in Trump’s administration

As the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election nears, former President...

COSCO Navigates Global Trade Winds

(Commonwealth_ COSCO Shipping Holdings recently reported robust growth across...

Abia State Governors Call to the Nigerian Diaspora

Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ At a recent inauguration ceremony...

Challenging the Status Quo: Rwanda’s Household Debate

Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Rwandan social media has been...

The 18-Year Journey to a New Trade Partnership

On October 31, 2024, New Zealand and the Gulf...

Democratic Leader Makhija on India-US Partnership

(Commonwealth_ India) In a recent interview with PTI, prominent...

The Rise of Soft Skills in the AI Era

A recent study by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters has...

Navigating the Property Puzzle in Cyprus

(Commonwealth_ Europe) The issue of property rights in the...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img