Join Dharna to protest the arrest of Shamim Modi_Feb 27

People's Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi (PUDR)


Dear friends,

You must be aware that Shamim Modi, an activist of Shramik Adivasi
Sangathan and the Vice President of Samajwadi Jan Parishad, was
arrested on 10 February. Yesterday she was remanded to judicial
custody for another 14 days.

She has been engaged in the issues of adivasis and mill-workers in
Harda M.P for many years. The ongoing struggles of workers in saw-
mills and plywood factories demanding proper working conditions and
against the rampant violation of labour laws had led the industries
association to demand the arrest of Shamim Modi and her husband. The
government has obliged.

The criminal charge levelled against her pertains to a case filed two
years ago. This case was filed against her because her organisation
had intervened in an instance of brutality against tribals by the
forest officer and his staff. In any case she had obtained bail in
the matter.

The present arrest is being continued on the basis of the
government's claims in court that Shamim Modi has been indulging in
anti-state activities. The issue is serious since mere utterances by
the prosecution without a scrap of evidence of any anti-state
activity is being accepted by the court to prolong detention. More
so, because the arrest is being conduted at the behest of mill-owners
to prevent labourers from expressing their legitimate and just
demands.

Protest the Continued Detention of Shamim Modi

Join a protest dharna at M.P. Bhawan, Chanakyapuri at 11:30 a.m. on
Friday, 27 February 2009.

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Shamim Modi has done her M.A. degree from Lady Shriram College,
University of Delhi, M.Phil from TISS Mumbai and L.L.B. from Bhopal
University. The vice president of Samajwadi Jan Parishad, MP, she has
contested two assembly elections and a parliament election. She has
filed a number of cases of tribal and labour rights at the MP High
Court. Shamim Modi was a member of the Tribal Subgroup of the
Planning Commission of India that was involved in preparing the 11th
five year plan. She has been a trustee with renowned social worker
late Baba Amte and Maedha Patkar in the Jan Sahyog Trust.

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