Importance of protecting Constitution stressed: AILU

Vijayawada: Advocates should take initiative to protect the Constitution was under threat. The present dispensation is posing a threat to the Constitution, said Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, senior advocate and the national president of All India Lawyers Union (AILU).

Inaugurating a two-day conference of All Indian Lawyers Union at Makineni Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram here on Saturday, the Supreme Court advocate asserted that the democratic voices should not be throttled.

Expressing concern over the rights of Kashmiris being threatened, Bikash said the fundamentalists were striving hard to establish Hindu Rashtra. He said the AILU was the only hope to safeguard the interests of the common people.

Human rights activist Prof Haragopal deplored the Hindu forces for trying to destabilise the Constitution. He said if there was struggle between the rights of people and powers that be, the Constitution protects people from the wayward government.

Prof Haragopal said the administration was even threatening and blackmailing the judges by digging out their mistakes when they were practising as advocates long back. He underlined the importance of strengthening the judiciary. Prof Nageshwar, former MLC, expressed concern over the criminalisation of dissent.

He recalled how the criminal cases were registered against the intellectuals who raised their voice over the growing intolerance in the society. Ganta Rama Rao, president of Andhra Pradesh Bar Council, also spoke. Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, president of the AP unit of AILU and the member of the AP Bar Council presided over the meeting and welcomed the gathering.

Narra Srinivasa Rao, general secretary of AP unit of AILU, Chemkey Raj, advocate from Chennai, office-bearers of various Bar Associations from all over the State were present. Several advocates from various parts of the State attended the conference.