March 2011 
Year 17    No.155
In Solidarity


Vile attempts

It is high time we told the government that is targeting these individuals to stop: Suresh Mehta, former chief minister of Gujarat

December 31, 2010: Today  there is a need to protect  human rights in Gujarat more  so than in any other state.
The violation of human rights, the destruction of evidence, the fabrication of evidence, acts of vindictiveness and so on have become common practice here. The police have become willing tools in the hands of their political masters. The general perception that the police deliberately violate human rights laws to please their masters is gaining strength as those who speak out against such violations are singled out to be silenced one by one while the reasons to do so are carefully prepared. It is as if the police have been ordered to spare no effort to break their spirit. Thus any “prestige” that the Gujarat police may have hitherto enjoyed has now been shattered.

The vile attempts to break the morale of Teesta Setalvad, who is fighting for the rights of the riot victims, only expose the hideous efforts of those in power acting in collusion with the police. It is a condemnable move by the destroyers of human lives i.e. officials of the Gujarat government and those in power to jail those who have raised their voices against the inhuman killings. With this appalling attempt to fabricate evidence in order to frame false charges, the last remnant, if any, of the state’s prestige has bitten the dust. Thus it is critically important that we extend our support and compassion to all those who are battling to save democratic values.

The political machinations of the state, the scare tactics it employs in its attempts to intimidate Teesta Setalvad, are now out in the open.

Dr Mukul Sinha, Advocate Tirmizi and others are fighting for human rights, bringing to light official misdeeds; Teesta Setalvad is engaged in a legal battle in order to expose the state’s crimes. It is high time we told the government that is targeting these individuals to stop; the land of Gujarat is not a barren state that will tolerate such unlawful efforts. Targeting the very people who are engaged in a just struggle to expose police misconduct – atrocities committed and attempts to conceal the truth – targeting the very people legally battling to expose the government’s wrongdoings, is (as the Gujarati saying goes) ‘Chor kotwal ne dande’, like the thief punishing the policeman! However, the mental strength of the groups involved in this struggle will not be broken.

The government of Gujarat must understand and beware that its recent actions may well be the proverbial last straw that breaks its own back. The strength of mind of such dedicated people will not be crushed by the spiteful conduct of those in power. This is a government that is only fighting the truth so as not to lose face. It is time we told them to stop. n

(Suresh Mehta is a former chief minister of Gujarat.)


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