New York, Nov 07: Two US-based NRI organisations have condemned the attempts by, what they alleged were, "elements" within the Gujarat government to "harass and humiliate" the eminent scholar and a human rights activist Mallika Sarabhai for "political reasons." Federation of Indian American Christian organisations of North America and non-resident Indians for secular and harmonious India claimed that Sarabhai is a world renowned classical dancer who ran one of the prestigious classical dance schools, the Darpana Academy, in Gujarat.
"Some people working with religious extremist political parties in Gujarat are trying to bring false charges to tarnish Dr. Sarabhai's name because she has been vocal in the past, in denouncing religious extremist parties and their tactics," they alleged.
Sarabhai, they claimed, has been an outspoken critic of the Gujarat state government for its "active support of genocide against non-Hindus."
Jayachand Pallekonda, president of Fiacona, claimed, "the government of Gujarat is revealing its pettiness in provoking the police and the public prosecutor to harass this distinguished artiste and prominent human rights activist. These actions only add to the negative national and international perception of the present government of Gujarat."
"The charges brought against Dr Sarabhai of being involved in an illegal immigration racket are absurd," Shrikumar Poddar of NRI-Sahi claimed.
Bureau Report