Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba, 54, who was wheeled out of Nagpur central prison after a decade on Thursday morning after his acquittal in a UAPA case, said it was a miracle he came out alive, pointing to the death of his cell inmate and co-accused, Pandu Narote two years ago. Flanked by his lawyer, Nihal Singh Rathod, the former professor also told reporters he was denied medical aid in prison and this had a telling impact on his health.
Calling himself a human rights activist, who was victimised by the state, Saibaba said, he had only done a documentation on tribal rights at the behest of veteran activists — Justice Randhir Sachar, Swami Agnivesh, IAS officer B D Sharma, and Delhi University professor Randhir Singh. They wanted me to coordinate with civil rights groups, while the govt in power told me to stop my work. And this became the basis of my arrest, he said.
The government ran a ‘salwa judum’ (armed tribal mobilisation against Naxalites) campaign and Operation Green Hunt in central and eastern India and this impacted lives of tribals whose land was usurped for mining projects. Even international rights organizations had asked me to coordinate the documentation work, he said.
Saibaba also alleged Pandu Narote, a co-accused in the case, had died in suspicious circumstances while in Nagpur prison. However, he categorically denied knowing Narote before his jail stint. I shared the prison cell with Narote, a young, healthy tribal. It’s difficult to imagine how a simple fever could snuff out his life. The ailing youth was handcuffed and whisked away to hospital. Narote was an illiterate tribal, who never ventured out of his village. It’s sad he didn’t walk free with us, he said.
He also expressed solidarity towards lawyer Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, now lodged in Pune jail. Saibaba said Gadling was paying the price of defending him in court. He was threatened with a long prison term for fighting my case, he said.
When I went to the prison, I had no ailments other than my disability. Now my heart is only 55% functional and I am facing muscular complications too. My liver, gallbladder and pancreas have been affected and my doctor says I need multiple surgeries. I will be undergoing treatment for all my ailments on priority. Only my right hand is partially functional now, he said.
If the government follows only 50% of the constitution, problems of tribals, Dalits and minorities can be addressed, he said. To a query if he would continue his activism, he said it is everybody’s duty to stand up for human rights.
Life was traumatic in solitary confinement. I was arrested at the peak of my career. Will I get back the 10 years I lost, He specifically thanked senior counsel Subodh Dharmadikari, Rathore and his team for legal help. Saibaba, who flew to Delhi after his release, will be addressing the media in the national capital on Friday. Left leaders D Raja and Sitaram Yechuri will also address the press.
