New Delhi: Over 200 prominent citizens from the United Kingdom – artists, journalists, lawyers, politicians and over 50 senior academics – have signed an open letter condemning the “dictatorial and majoritarian agenda” being pursued by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.These include British MPs cutting across various political parties, including the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas, the Scottish National Party’s Brendan O’Hara (spokesperson on International Human Rights), and sitting members of the House of Lords, including Shami Chakrabarti (former director of civil liberties group Liberty).Signatories have expressed solidarity with “courageous activists in India who are opposing this vicious regime”. The many prominent cultural figures supporting this letter include Danny Boyle (director of Slumdog Millionaire), filmmaker Ken Loach, actress Maxine Peake, musician Lowkey, novelist Hari Kunzru, cultural producer Tobi Kyeremateng, environmentalist George Monbiot and writer Paul Gilroy.Significantly, a number of British-Indian cultural figures have also signed their names – journalists (Ash Sarkar, Angela Saini), writers (Nikesh Shukla, Preti Taneja, Sandeep Parmar, Jemma Desai), musicians (Adam Bainbridge, Kapil Seshasayee, Sarathy Korwar), and theatre-makers (Tanika Gupta, Vinay Patel, Anjli Mohindra, Rakhee Thakrar, Milli Bhatia).The full statement, which laments that “India’s image in the world has never been so tarnished”, has been reproduced below, along with the full list of signatories.§We add our voices to the global outcry against the Modi regime’s assault on human rights activists and democratic dissent.The regime has incarcerated student protestors, feminist campaigners, human rights activists and prominent civil society figures. Many arrests were made on the basis of emergency laws that have no accountability, like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In some cases, patently absurd charges of rioting were concocted to frame activists whose protests have always been peaceful and constitutional.This criminalisation of dissent has intensified in unprecedented ways in recent months. Arrests have been made under the cover of the COVID lockdown, while the pandemic rages across India. The callous BJP-led government has not only failed its vulnerable population of migrant workers but also exposed activists to India’s unsanitary jails, which are breeding grounds for disease. Several imprisoned activists have already caught the virus.Also read: From Ayodhya to Hathras, a New Criminal Justice System for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’Meanwhile, BJP leaders have made inflammatory hate speeches calling for vigilante attacks on anyone protesting the regime. There is mounting evidence that police forces were complicit in abetting and committing brutality against Muslims in horrific riots instigated in Delhi in March. Once again, the actual perpetrators of violence are evading accountability.The Modi regime is systematically destroying India’s constitutional democracy in pursuit of its dictatorial and majoritarian agenda. India’s image in the world has never been so tarnished.We stand with the courageous activists in India who are opposing this vicious regime and call for the immediate release of all political prisoners.The full list of signatories is as follows:Adam Bainbridge, musicianAditi Gupta, board member, Women of Colour Advancing Peace and Security UKDr Aditya Sarkar, University of WarwickDr Adrija Dey, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Aisha K. Gill, University of RoehamptonAkshay Sharan, actorDr Alessandra Mezzadri, SOAS, University of LondonAlex Hancock, music supervisorAlex Thorpe, theatre directorDr Alexandra KelbertAlexandra McCarter, researcherDr Alexei Penzin, University of WolverhamptonAlice Robson, Feminist FightbackAmbreen Razia, actor and writerAmrit Wilson, writerProfessor Anandi Ramamurthy, Sheffield Hallam UniversityAnanya Wilson-Bhattacharya, writer and editor, Red PepperAngela Saini, science journalistAnjli Mohindra, actorDr Anna SailerAnnapurna Menon, University of WestminsterDr Annie Goh, Goldsmiths, University of LondonAnshula Bain, actorApsana Begum MP, LabourArwa Mahdawi, journalistAsh Sarkar, journalistDr Ashvin Devasundaram, Queen Mary University of LondonAsim Chaudhry, comedian and actorDr Asim Qureshi, CAGEAysha Rafaele, Executive Producer, BBC StudiosProfessor Barbara Harriss-White, University of OxfordBell Ribeiro-Addy MP, LabourProfessor Ben Rogaly, University of SussexBeth Bhargava, University of CambridgeBijan Sheibani, director and writerBill Thompson, architectBrendan O’Hara MP, SNPCarla Henry, actorCaroline Lucas MP, Green PartyCharlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, Head of Editorial, gal-demDr Charu Singh, University of CambridgeChé Walker, playwright and actorChloe Massey, actorChris Haughton, author and illustratorEmeritus Professor Chris Roberts, University of ManchesterClaudia Webbe MP, LabourEmeritus Professor Cosimo Zene, SOAS, University of LondonDanny BoyleDarrelene Dias, SOAS, University of LondonEmeritus Professor David Hardiman, University of WarwickDeepta Chopra, Institute of Development StudiesDhruva Balram, journalistDiana Mavroleon, artistDiane Abbott MP, LabourEilis O’Keefe, Chair, Bectu Young Members ForumEleni Loukopoulou, LARAFEnyi Okoronkwo, actorFarhana Sheikh, writerDr Feyzi Ismail, SOAS, University of LondonFrancesca Farruggia, architectFurqan Faridi, University of SussexGabriela Ramos Sarmet, MSc, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Gargi Bhattacharyya, University of East LondonGeorge Monbiot, Guardian columnist, author, environmental activistGerry Hart, Red PepperDr Giovanna Gioli, Bath Spa UniversityGiovanni Bienne, actorGuleraana Mir, playwrightHamza Medley, artist & musicianHannah Joss, theatre directorHari Kunzru, writerHarriet Walter, actorHilary Westlake, chair, Artists for Palestine UKDr Hugo Gorringe, University of EdinburghIan Byrne MP, LabourIlyas Nagdee, writerIshan Khurana, Joint Head of Research, Autonomy Data UnitJames Fornara, educatorDr Janna Graham, Goldsmiths, University of LondonJavaad Alipoor, theatre-makerJemma Desai, writerJeremy Corbyn MP, LabourJo Tyabji, theatre-makerJoanna Padfield, artistJohn Hendy QC, House of LordsJohn McDonnell MP, LabourEmeritus Professor Jonathan Parry, LSEJoshua Kelly, LARAFJS Titus, Brunel UniversityKallum Pembro, researcherDr Kalpana Wilson, Birkbeck, University of LondonDr Kanchana N Ruwanpura, University of EdinburghKapil Seshasayee, musicianKaren Scott, conservationistKarthika Naïr, poet and dance producerKate Osborne MP, LabourDr Ken Fero, filmmakerKen LoachKezia Rolfe, librarianKieran Yates, journalistKulsoom Jafri, LARAFKumi Naidoo, social justice campaignerLabour Against Racism and Fascism (LARAF) Steering CommitteeLaetitia Zecchini, CNRSDr Laura Schwartz, University of WarwickLeah Murphy Brettell, Institute of Development StudiesLeila Mimmack, actorLennaart Van Oldenborgh, documentary film editorDr Leon Sealey-Huggins, University of WarwickLiz Davies, barristerLowkey, rapperLukas Kikuchi, Joint Head of Research, Autonomy Data UnitProfessor Lyla Mehta, Institute of Development StudiesMaddy Costa, writerMadelaine Moore, theatre directorMaisie Robinson, actorMaiyoraa Jeyabraba, University of EssexMarcus Bernard, producerDr Maria Chehonadskih, University of OxfordMariel Richards, Head of Strategy & Brand Partnerships, gal-demMarilyn Hacker, poet, translator, editorDr Marina Vishmidt, Goldsmiths, University of LondonEmeritus Professor Marion Roberts, University of WestminsterProfessor Marsha Rosengarten, Goldsmiths, University of LondonDr Martin Schauss, University of WarwickMartina Laird, actorMatthew Sellwood, barristerMaxine Peake, actorMaya Bhardwaj, community organiser and researcherProfessor Meena Dhanda, University of WolverhamptonMick Whitley MP, LabourMilli Bhatia, theatre directorMiranda Pennell, artist filmmakerProfessor Molly Scott Cato, Roehampton UniversityMukul Patel, musicianProfessor Myria Georgiou, LSENadia Whittome MP, LabourDr Naomi Foyle, University of ChichesterNathalie Perl, researcherProfessor Navtej Purewal, SOAS, University of LondonNigarish Khan, actorNikesh Patel, actorDr Nikesh Shukla FRSLNisha Parti, film and TV producerDr Nisha Ramayya, Queen Mary University of LondonOliver Cox, artistOmar Malik, actorOsman Baig, journalistPaul Gilroy, writerPauline Bryan, House of LordsPenny Babakhani, producerPhilippa Whitford MP, SNPDr Poppy EaglestonePraveen Kolluguri, International Network of Democratic Indians AbroadDr Preti Taneja, writer, lecturer, Newcastle UniversityEmeritus Professor Pritam Singh, Oxford Brookes UniversityRabiah Hussain, writerDr Rachel Moore, Goldsmiths, University of LondonRagevan Vasan, actorDr Rahoul Masrani, LSERakhee Thakrar, actorRandall Morley, ecologistRayah Feldman, Maternity ActionReece McMahon, producerRhian E Jones, writerRichard Burgon MP, LabourRuchira Sharma, journalistRuth Lass, actorDr Ruth Lewis, Northumbria UniversitySadiq Bhanbhro, Sheffield Hallam UniversitySafiyya Ingar, actorDr Sam Geall, University of SussexSam Green, Co-Secretary, LARAFSam Swann, actor, Equity CouncillorSana Noor Haq, journalistProfessor Sandeep Parmar, University of LiverpoolSandy Broadhurst, human rights activistSarathy Korwar, musicianSarbjit Johal, artistSenayt Tassew, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Shakuntala Banaji, LSEShami Chakrabarti, House of LordsShanice Dover, Social Media Editor, gal-demShareefa Energy, poetSheila Rowbotham, historianDr Shela Sheikh, Goldsmiths, University of LondonShreeta Lakhani, SOAS, University of LondonSimon Pirani, writer and researcherSinead MacInnes, actorDr Sita Balani, King’s College LondonDr Sita Thomas, theatre directorSonali Bhattacharya, playwrightProfessor Sonia Livingstone, LSEProfessor Stella Sandford, Kingston UniversityProfessor Sundari Anitha, University of LincolnSweety Kapoor, curator, creative producerTahir Ali MP, LabourTanika Gupta, playwrightTanvi Surana, studentTanya Singh, writerDr Tanzil Chowdhury, Queen Mary University of LondonTara Joshi, journalistTara, SOAS, University of LondonTobi Kyeremateng, producerTom Coxon, designerProfessor Tony Dowmunt, Goldsmiths, University of LondonTridib Bhattachrya, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Vicki Bell, Goldsmiths, University of LondonVinay Patel, playwrightVisvak P., SOAS, University of LondonWill Stronge, Director of Research & Policy, AutonomyZainab Hasan, actorZarah Sultana MP, LabourZia Ahmed, writer
