Arundhati Roy calls for resistance against RSS

Roy read out her speech in Hindi titled "Ek Ladai Mohabbat Ki". She alleged that the RSS is leading the "Bramhanwadi (castiest)" forces and has taken control of the country through Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Elgaar Parishad 2021, Arundhati Roy, Kannan Gopinathan, RSS, Bramhanical culture, indian express news

Arundhati Roy at the event. (Photo: Pavan Khengre)

Author Arundhati Roy on Saturday called for a united fight against “Bramhanical” and “capitalist” forces in the country and that the struggle should be named as “Satya Shodhak Resistance (SSR)” against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“Ye wajood ki ladai hai (This is a fight for existence)… In this city (Pune) where Dr B R Ambedkar was ‘blackmailed’ to sign the Poona Pact, the place where Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule did their revolutionary work, we can name our struggle… May be, it should be called ‘Satya Shodhak Resistance’ (SSR)… RSS ke khilaf khada SSR…,” she said, speaking at the ‘Elgaar Parishad 2021’held in Pune.

Roy read out her speech in Hindi titled “Ek Ladai Mohabbat Ki”. She alleged that the RSS is leading the “Bramhanwadi (castiest)” forces and has taken control of the country through Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Roy also alleged that corporate companies and media houses in the country are dominated by the “Bramhan-Baniyas”. In her speech, Roy criticised the policies of the Modi government.

She expressed solidarity with the farmers’ agitation and demanded that the three new farm laws be repealed. Roy appreciated the protests held across the country against the Citizenship Amendments Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

She also extended support to the various activists arrested for their alleged links with the CPI-Maoist in connection with the controversial Elgaar Parishad organised at the Shaniwar Wada in Pune on December 31, 2017. As per Pune police investigation, the 2017 Elgaar Parishad was organised as per the strategy of the banned CPI-Maoist. Police claimed that “provocative” speeches at the conference and during its campaign were among factors that aggravated the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018, and arrested Elgaar Parishad organiser Sudhir Dawale and artists of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) along with several others including Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao and Stan Swamy for their alleged links with the CPI-Maoist in this case.

Activists of ‘Bhima Koregaon Shourya Din Prerna Abhiyan’, who blame Hindutva leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote for the Koregaon Bhima violence, decided to hold the Elgaar Parishad again on December 31, 2020, but Pune police denied permission citing Covid-19 and law and order reasons.

Police, however, granted permission for the Elgaar Parishad 2021 event held on Saturday, which is the birth anniversary of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar of University of Hyderabad whose suicide raised an uproar among Dalits in 2016. The day-long conference was inaugurated at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch.

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Kannan Gopinathan, another speaker at the conference, appreciated the idea of reviving the Elgaar Parishad. Gopinathan is a former IAS officer who resigned from services in protest against the abrogation of Article 370. “State and non-state violence are two methods used for silencing a struggle… By reviving Elgaar Parishad, a message has been conveyed that we cannot be silenced,” he said.

Abeda Tadvi, mother of Dr Payal Tadvi whose suicide in Mumbai had sparked protests, said her daughter died because of the alleged caste discrimination at the Nair hospital where she was pursuing master’s degree. Journalist Prashant Kanojia, who faced repeated arrests by the UP police, Sharjeel Usmani, a former student leader from Aligarh Muslim University arrested in connection with violence during the anti-CAA protests, also spoke at the event. Usmani alleged attacks against Muslims have been normalised in the country.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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