Senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay while paying tribute to Father Stan Swamy said,” The death of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist and hope for many who were imprisoned on false charges shows how Human Rights are being blatantly violated by the Central Government. It was a result of his efforts that the tribals in Khunti continued to stay in their villages and contribute to the development of the State. He fought for the rights of the Adivasis till the end.”
“He was arrested in October 2020 for his suspected Maoists links by the NIA. Earlier in the year he had requested for bail on medical grounds. He had recovered from COVID but the complications continued and finally he was on ventilator on June 4th. His death was announced during a virtual hearing of Bombay High Court which was hearing Swamy’s plea for medical bail on June 5th,” he added.
Sahay was critical of the complete indifference on the part of the government and non-availability of timely medical service which led to his demise. He condemned the role of the NIA and Central government and held them responsible for the death. He further said that even the Supreme Court observed that the Freedom of Speech cannot be stifled in the pretext of laws which have been repealed.
Sahay went on to say that this demonstrates the fascist face and mindset of the BJP government in Centre and these are signs of a democracy that is very sick. It is people like Stan Swamy who keep democracy alive.