Saibaba’s demands met, drops plan to fast

• Speaks to family members on phone after a long gap
• DIG instructs the jail authorities to supply letters, papers and medicines

Hyderabad:  Prof. Saibaba’s demands have been met by the authorities in Nagpur jail and he had given up his plans to go on fast on Wednesday morning. Dr Saibaba had written to the jail authorities that he would launch an indefinite fast as a protest against denial of basic rights to him.

Prof. Haragopal, convenor of the Committee for defense and release of Dr. G.N. Saiababa has informed through  a press release that Prof. Saibaba has spoken to his family members at 3 pm on Thursday and informed that the DIG (prisons) has met him in the jail on the 20^th and discussed with him his demands. He said the DIG has agreed to resolve all his demands. He instructed the authorities in Nagpur jail in the following manner:

1. Hand over all confiscated and  withheld letters written by his wife, family members and his advocate to Dr. G.N. Saiababa immediately.
2. Jail authorities shall not stop the medicines given by his family members and advocates and the medicines will be given to Saibaba immediately.
3. Complaint letter documenting his harassment and lack of basic rights in the prison since the last few months addressed to the ADG (Prisons) Pune shall be delivered immediately. Previously the jail authorities were not sending this letter and illegally holding on it.
4. All the paper clippings sent to him by his family members through post shall be given to him immediately and such papers cuttings shall not be confiscated in future.
5. Provide him the books sent by the family members.

Assurances yet to be implemented

As the Additional DIG (Prisons) accepted all the demands, Dr. G.N. Saibaba did not go on hunger strike as earlier planned on 21st October 2020. But according to the phone call received today, none of these demands have been met yet. ‘We are hopeful that the Nagpur prisoner authorities show a quick response and restore Dr. Saibaba’s basic rights. The Jail authorities informed Saibaba on Wednesday that the second parole application filed by his brother Ramadevudu has been rejected,’ Prof. Haragopal said in his press release.

Reasons for rejection not known

The reasons for the rejection of the parole are not known and they did not provide any rejection order copy to him, as they ought to have. Parts of the rejection order were read out orally, but proper information was not provided to Dr. Saibaba. So far, the family has not received a copy of this rejection order. The Committee and Saibaba’s family members have expressed thanks to all the Right’s Organizations, intellectuals, individuals and the media for extending support in putting pressure on the Jail authorities in achieving Saibaba’s demands.