The Jesuit Conference of India has called upon its followers and friends to mark July 28 as National Justice Day in memory of Father Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest who died in judicial custody while awaiting bail in the Elgaar Parishad case on July 5.

In a statement, Jesuit Conference of India president Stanislaus D’Souza invited people irrespective of religious identity to pay homage to Fr Stan on July 28.

D’Souza said: “We, along with civil society organisations and the people of goodwill, have now organised National Justice Day… to pay homage to Fr Stan and to recommit ourselves to the mission of truth and justice.

“I cordially invite you to be a part of this collective event, a silent public gathering with placards, posters, banners and candlelight in front of churches, religious communities and institutions all over India on Wednesday, 28 July 2021, from 6pm to 6.45pm, of course following strictly the Covid-19 protocol.”

Besides Catholics, the event will include staff and students from Jesuit institutions like Calcutta’s St Xavier’s, and civil society members, he added.

D’Souza told The Telegraph: “The purpose is to keep the momentum, to awaken the conscience of people to human rights, tribal rights, (and) human rights defenders languishing in jail. In a way, to take forward the legacy of Fr Stan. It is locally organised. The provincials (of the Jesuits) will coordinate with the bishops and civil society.”