New Delhi: Former Gujarat DGP R Sreekumar
today attacked Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of
IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, claiming "Modi-phobia" had gripped
police and bureaucracy in the state and the step was aimed at
scaring all those who dared to oppose the BJP leader.
Flanked by film-maker Mahesh Bhatt and activist Shabnam
Hashmi at a press conference here, Sreekumar, who had in the
past alleged that he was "victimised for exposing Modi
government's role" in post-Godhra riots in 2002, said for
"maintaining Modiphobia arresting a whistle-blower is
inevitable."
Sreekumar was the Additional DGP (State Intelligence
Bureau) at the time of Godhra train carnage and also during
the initial phase of the communal riots that followed.
"This is very dangerous thing. This imposition of section
194 (against Sanjeev Bhatt) because it means that if a person
is convicted he can be imposed with death penalty," he said.
Describing slain former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya as
the "first whistle blower about Modi's role in Gujarat riots",
Sreekumar alleged that all those who dared go against Modi
were victimised.
"The first victim was myself," said Sreekumar who was
superseded when he was an ADG by the Modi Government.
"When I was the ADG Intelligence, any information related
to the role of Sangh Parivar was suppressed," Sreekumar
claimed.
He hit out at Modi saying that "electoral victory is not
the license to violate constitution."
PTI
First Published: Monday, October 03, 2011, 20:46