Concerned Citizens Protest False FIR against Teesta Setalvad

Concerned Citizens Protest False FIR

 against Teesta Setalvad

"You are my Enemy if you do not surrender to me"

Raise your Voices Against Such Tendencies

We the citizens of Gujarat condemn and reject the malicious and cheap tactics used to slander the reputation and standing of Teesta Setalvad and others with fabricated allegations of misappropriation of funds. The motivated method of misusing the police machinery has been deliberately chosen to obstruct Teesta’s efforts to give legal recourse to the survivors of Gulberg massacres as well as in other cases.

These are clear-cut fascist attempts to register false cases against Teestaben and others. The facts are as follows:

These are part of the Modi government’s efforts to block the legal remedies of appeal in the Gulberg case where the lower court recently accepted the SIT’s closure report and clean chit. This is apparent from legal expert Arun Jaitley’s open exhortation to close the case after a mere Magistrate court’s order. Why does the prospect of an appeal to higher courts so frightening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and why is it so desperate in its efforts to block the legal remedies like higher court appeals?

What great political advantage is going to accrue from the efforts to make son of a helpless widow who also her husband, and who also lost his father in the violence in 2002, an accused and jail and imprison him? Vicious political tendencies surface when basic human rights are trampled and when voices and organizations struggling for their protection are wrongfully embroiled in false cases.

The efforts, which are also being made to draw in RB Sreekumar, a man with an exemplary career record and Father Cedric Prakash are also not going to succeed.

The browbeating tactics are condemnable. A clear reading shows that the FIR is motivated and indicates that no offence has been made out, it is clear that the complainant has not been deprived of a single paisa; newspaper reports show that the accounts of the organizations have been audited and submitted to relevant authorities. Nothing is to be gained from these motivated investigations.

These browbeating efforts are clearly aimed at mental harassment. They will not work. The courage of conviction will not be broken by these tactics. The victory of truth is justice.

"If you do not agree with me or surrender to me, you are my enemy." We need to vociferously protest these brazen tendencies.

We strongly condemn these fascist methods to stifle the course of justice. We also appeal to all others to come forward to raise voices for the protection of truth and democracy in the state.

Suresh Mehta Convener - Prabhuddh Nagrik Shakti Manch

Prakash N Shah Editor - Nirikshak

Gautam Thaker General Secretary - PUCL Gujarat

Rohit Shukla President - Save Education Gujarat

Dwarikanath Rath Convener - Lok Andolan Gujarat

Indubai Jani Editor - Naya Marg

Rajni Dave Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal

Mahesh Pandya Gujarat Social Watch

Meenakshi Joshi Mahila Sanskriti Sanghathan

Released By

Gautam Thaker

 (M) 09825382556

General Secretary,

PUCL Gujarat

--6,7 Rangoli Complex, Opp. V.S. Hospital, Ellisbridge,

Ahmedabad-380006.

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