Mathura: Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan on Wednesday said that he had still faith in the Indian constitution despite languishing in jail for more than seven months under draconian UAPA. His powerful words came immediately after a court in Mathura dropped charges for bailable offences against him citing the UP Police’s failure to submit an inquiry report on time.
Speaking to reporters, Siddique said, “Fake case…I want justice. I still have faith in our constitution.” The fearless journalist added, “But justice delayed. This is fake case, completely fake case.”
Siddique was arrested by the UP Police when he was on his way to Hathras to cover the death of a 19-year-old Dalit gang-rape victim. He was booked under draconian charges of sedition and UAPA. The UP Police had accused Kappan of intending to inflame communal tension.
Siddique, a reporter for Malayalam news portal Azhimukham and secretary of the Kerala Union of Working Journalist’s Delhi unit, had to be shifted to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences after his condition worsened and he collapsed in the jail’s bathroom.
The Supreme Court had later ordered the UP government to immediately shift Siddique to the AIIMS for better medical treatment. He was later taken to Mathura jail by the UP Police.
