Ahmedabad: Various civil society groups on Wednesday
gathered in support of the arrested IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt,
and alleged that Narendra Modi government was trying to create
atmosphere of fear by suppressing those who speak the truth.
The activists also announced a state-wide agitation
against "undemocratic" and "dictatorial" attitude of the state
government.
"There is an emergency-like situation in Gujarat. And if
we do not raise our voice, the situation will be worse," said
veteran Gandhian Chunni Vaidya. He condemned Bhatt's arrest
and termed government's action as dictatorial.
"I am 95 years old now, I had thought of retiring from
public life, but now I have second thoughts....There is a
situation of undeclared emergency in Gujarat where anybody
can be put in jail for speaking against the government," he
said.
He appealed to the people to come out on the streets and
tell Modi that his undemocratic and dictatorial style would
not work any longer.
Convener of Movement For Secular Democracy (MSD),
Dwarikanath Rath, said Modi government was frightened of the
truth coming out, and therefore trying to intimidate witnesses
such as Bhatt, and sending out a message that those who cross
government's path would face dire consequences.
"The government was afraid.... People are not fools. They
will give a befitting reply to the government at the right
time," Rath said.
Social activist Teesta Setalvad said that a group of
civil society, which met today, had decided to go to the
people and tell them the truth of the Modi government.
"By arresting an upright officer like Bhatt, government
wants to tell the people that if you speak against it, you
will suffer," Setalvad said.
Terming Bhatt's arrest as panic-driven and a vindictive
reaction, Setalvad said the activists would support all the
IPS and IAS officers who would dare to speak the truth against
the government.
She also claimed that September 12 order of the Supreme
Court on the petition of Zakia Jaffery -- in Gulberg Society
case -- had no losers or winners. There had been no clean chit
to Modi or the 62 persons named in the petition, Setalvad
said.
"It is now up to the SIT to file its report. If it files
a closure report, we will have a chance to challenge it. But
if it follows the comments of the Amicus Curie Raju
Ramchandran, there is a distinct possibility that Modi and 62
others could be chargesheeted," Setalvad said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, October 05, 2011, 21:08