New Delhi, Aug 30: Writer-activist Arundhati Roy on Thursday condemned the arrest of five human rights activists in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence. Arundhati Roy said the arrests of activist was an attempt to divert public attention from declining popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There will be ruthless and continuous attempts to divert attention from the reasons for this loss of popularity, and to fracture the growing solidarity of the opposition. It will be a continuous circus from now on till the elections -- arrests, lynchings, bomb attacks, false flag attacks, riots," Arundhati Roy said at an event held at the Press Club of India. Bhima Koregaon Raids: Pune Police Claims Plot Hatched to Overthrow Government.

Roy along with rights activist Aruna Roy and lawyer Prashant Bhushan and others held a press conference to express their views on the arrest of rights activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Fereira and P Varavara Rao on Tuesday, which had triggered a massive outrage. The writer said the Tuesday arrest of rights activists is "illegal". Arrested Activists Have Maoist Links, Planned to Target High-profile Politicians, Says Pune Police.

"The arrest of these people serves to cut whole populations of vulnerable people off from any hope of justice or representation. Because these persons were their representatives. They remain in custody, charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Fortunately, they are still alive, unlike Ishrat Jahan, Sohrabuddin and Kauser Bi," she said.

Roy expressed fear that in the run up to the 2019 general elections, the BJP will "try to derail everything" with "some surprise attack". With the elections coming what plans do they have in store for us? What surprise attack, where will they be, in Kashmir, in Kumbh mela, or in Ayodhya. They will attempt to derail everything with some minor or major attack," Roy alleged.

"All norms of the Constitution are being violated. Right to freedom of expression is at stake. The arrest of the five is an indication that any voice raised in support of Dalits or poor will be silenced in this country," said activist Aruna Roy. Talking about the arrest of the activists during the press meet, lawyer Prashant Bhushan mentioned that the prevailing situation is worse than the Emergency of 1975.

"Those who are accused of lynching are roaming freely whereas those standing up to support the oppressed voices are being arrested. False propaganda and reports are being set to weaken the human activists groups. Democracy is at stake now in this country," Bhushan said. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed that the five rights activists arrested by Maharashtra Police should be kept under house arrest until September 6, the next date of hearing.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2018 11:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).