GUJARAT CITIZEN’S STATEMENT AGAINST INTOLERANCE

GUJARAT CITIZEN’S STATEMENT  AGAINST INTOLERANCE

Contact: Narmad Meghani Library,

Opp. Natraj Railway Crossing,

Meethakhali, Ellisbridge,

Ahmedabad-380006.

Ph. No. (079) 26579962.

10 November 2015

To,

Sh. Pranab Mukherjee,

The President of India,

Rashtrapati Bhavan,

New Delhi.

GUJARAT CITIZEN’S STATEMENT 

AGAINST INTOLERANCE

His excellency,

We, the concerned citizens of Gujarat, stand by the artists, scientists, writers, academicians, intellectuals who oppose the atmosphere of intolerance, hatred and fear; and return their awards. We feel that this is the time when the civil society should rise and resist what is going on in the country. Intolerance as well as communal and caste hatred have been in the country since long. But after the rise of Mr. Narendra Modi and RSS, intolerance, violence and hatred have become the instruments of power and have been politically and deliberately encouraged. The cold blooded murder of the intellectuals, two in Maharashtra and one in Karnataka is its glaring example.

The fanatical propagation of cow slaughter and killing people in the name of so-called holy cow, the horrible incident of Dadri and burning of Dalits in Haryana have become incidents in the country with the reason that atmosphere of fear and insecurity has increased throughout the country. There are direct attacks on freedom of speech and expression. Still worse, these violent incidents are supported by the member of ruling party and silence of the Prime Minister show that present government is committed to this ideology. 

Arrogant defense like statement of Mr. Arun Jaitley that Mr. Narendra Modi has become the object of great intolerance is ridiculous because the non violent opposition to intolerant Modi cannot be considered as intolerance towards Modi. We believe that these acts of violence, hatred and intolerance pose a great threat to democratic, secular, pluralistic India which is the very foundation of our constitution. All these incidents are proof of a conscious movement towards fascism based upon racial pride, violence, hatred and intolerance. These anti democratic forces seem to be determined to convert India into a theocratic state where all minorities and non believers have to live at the mercy of majority. This is also violating the fundamental duty of every citizen to develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.  

Prime Mister Mr. Modi in his foreign tour once pronounced that now people feel proud to be an Indian. But the reality is just the opposite. The recent incidents show that people rather feel ashamed. The Sangh Parivar and the government want to take the country into the ancient age. In Gujarat also, the atmosphere of Fear, Hatred and Intolerance prevails. Freedom of Expression and Right to Protest are denied. The protestors of Dholera SIR have to approach the High Court for their Protest March & Sedition Act is used for Political Vendetta in the State.

Under the circumstances, we request you to intervene and maintain the democratic and secular fabric of our country.

We also appeal sane, liberal and progressive members of the civil society to stand up and resist the direct attacks on basic principles of Constitution.

N.B. WE REQUEST YOU TO GIVE AN APPOINTMENT DURING YOUR VISIT TO GUJARAT (AHMEDABAD) ON 1^ST OF DECEMBER.

Yours Sincerely,

We are

PRAKASH N. SHAH(President, PUCL, Gujarat) M. 9879919421 

GIRISH PATEL(Well known advocate)

MALLIKA SARABHAI(Danseuse and activist)

PROF. ROHIT SHUKLA(President, Gujarat, AISEC)

INDUKUMAR JANI(Editor, ‘Naya Marg’)

PROF. DINESH SHUKLA

DWARIKANATH RATH(Secretary, M.S.D.)

DR. RAGHU RANGARAJAN(Scientist         )

PROF. GHANSHYAM SHAH(Social Scientist)

GAUTAM THAKER(General Secretary, Gujarat, PUCL)

FR. FRANCIS PARMAR

URVISH KOTHARI(Journalist)

FATHER CEDRIC PRAKASH(Director, PRASHANT)

SAGAR RABARI(Secretary, Gujarat Khedut Samaj)

PROF. BHARAT MEHTA(Reader, M.S. University)

PROF. BABUBHAI DESAI

PANKTI JOG(RTI Activist)

MANISHI JANI(Gujarati Writers’ Association)

SAROOP DHRUV(Writer)

PROF. SANJAY BHAVE

HIREN GANDHI(Director, ‘Darshan’         )

SVATI JOSHI(Retired Professor, Delhi University)

DHIRU MISTRY(Artist)

VINAY MAHAJAN(Artist, ‘Loknaad’         )

CHARUL BHARWADA(Artist, ‘Loknaad’)

MEENAKSHI JOSHI(Activist)

RAJANI DAVE(‘Gujarat Sarvoday Mandal’)

PROF. KUNTAL MEHTA

DILIP CHANDULAL(Activist)

PROF. DHAVAL MEHTA       

HARINESH PANDYA(‘Janpath’)

MANJULA PRADEEP(‘Navsarjan’)

RANJANBEN DESAI(Citizen)

NAYANABEN SHAH(Citizen)

HANSABEN SHAH(Citizen)

NILA ANIL BHATT(Citizen)

PROF. VIPIN H. SHAH

MAHENDRA JETHMALANI(‘Patheya’      )

BHARATSINH JHALA(‘CRANTI’)

SADHANABEN PANDYA(Citizen)

PERSIS GINWALLA(‘JAAG’)

MEHUL DEVKALA(Artist)

DR. HANIF LAKDAWALA(‘Sanchetna’)

DR. JHARNA PATHAK(Economist)

PRAVIN PANDYA(Writer        )

BEENA MACWAN(Activist)

ARIF MIRZA(Citizen)

JOHN. DSOUZA(Citizen)

PROF. MANGALABEN MEHTA

ISHWAR PRAJAPATI(Activist )

ASHOK SHRIMALI(Activist)

DR. ILABEN JOSHI

MAHESH PANDYA(Editor, Paryavaran Mitra)

PROF. HEMANTKUMAR SHAH

DR. NIVYA PATEL

RAVJI SONDARVA(Cinematographer)

REKHA MAHIDA(Citizen)

DR. DAMINI SHAH

KANJI PATEL(Litterateur)

DR. SUBHASH JOSHI(Social Scientist)

YASHWANT MEHTA(Writer)

PROF. KANU KHADADIYA   

MAHADEV VIDROHI(Sarvodaya Seva Sangh)