Anti-Terrorism Forum Condemns Glorification Of Gaddar

The Anti-Terrorism Forum (ATF) vehemently condemned the recent actions by the Telangana government celebrating "Gaddar Jayanthi" officially, and the allotment of land for erecting a statue for the late revolutionaly singer in Tellapur of Sangareddy district.

The ATF said that Gaddar was associated with Maoist ideology - an ideology responsible for the deaths of numerous police personnel and innocent civilians, and fundamentally opposed to the principles of democracy. The glorification of such an individual and his ideologies by an elected government not only undermined the democratic fabric of our nation, but also served to demoralize the armed forces who risked their lives to protect the country from internal and external threats, it said.

These actions of the government also directly contravened the laws of the land which expressly banned Maoism and Naxalism due to their violent methods and objectives, it said.

The ATF urged all democratic institutions and citizens to voice their opposition to these developments. "We call upon the Governor to intervene and revoke the allotment of land for the statue of Gaddar, and to cease the official celebration of Gaddar Jayanthi. Such actions are not only disrespectful to the victims of Maoist violence, but also to the very principles of democracy and the rule of law," it said.

The ATF also wrote to the Chief Justice of the High Court, urging the judiciary to examine this matter with the seriousness it deserved and to take appropriate action to rectify this "undemocratic act" perpetrated by the Congress government.

"We also believe that this issue warrants the attention of the union government, given that the celebration of figures associated with banned ideologies poses a significant challenge to national security and unity. The ATF stands firm in its commitment to combat terrorism and extremism in all its forms, and calls for a united front against any actions that threaten our democratic way of life. The Anti-Terrorism Forum remains dedicated to safeguarding the democratic values and security of our nation against all forms of extremism and terrorism," said Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar, ATF Convenor.