Soni Sori throws weight behind JNU students

“I was thrashed, labeled as a “Naxal” and my face was burnt with an acid-like substance when I raised my voice against the exploitation of tribals in Bastar. Similarly, when you raised your voice against the suppression of “freedom of speech” on the campus, you were beaten in presence of police, labeled anti-nationals and charged with sedition,” says, the tribal activist and the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Soni Sori.

Sori, who was recently attacked by some unknown assailants in Dantewada district of South Chhattisgarh and sustained serious injuries, was in the Capital for treatment and joined the ‘Stand with Jawaharlal Nehru University’ campaign on Monday.

While expressing her anger over the JNU row, she said: “The incumbent government is busy in muting the voices of dissent in the country. As a citizen we must fight such tendency.”

“Comrade, you can see my half-burnt dark face, it narrates the story of the rampage exploitation of tribals in their own country,” Sori asserted. “The Administration is involved in raping women in Bastar. When I raised my voice against such activities, they tried to kill me, but they failed, I am alive and my fight against brutality will continue.” Sori was attacked by three men in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Dantewada district last month. The men, who were on a motorcycle, had thrown an acid-like chemical on Soni Sori’s face, following which she was flown to Delhi for treatment. The IG of Bastar had earlier indicated that JNU student Umar Khalid could be involved in the conspiracy to attack Sori.