Statement from People’s
Alliance for Secularism and Democracy (PADS):
People’s Alliance for Democracy
and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest the
two activists, Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand in Mumbai. The arrest of Teesta
Setalvad, who was denied bail by the Gujarat High court, has been stayed for 24
hours at the intervention of the Supreme Court.
Teesta Setalvad has been
relentlessly championing the rights of the victims of the Gujarat pogroms of
2002. Her efforts resulted in the transfer of some of the riot related cases
out of Gujarat and conviction of some bigwigs from the Gujarat government. The
Government of Gujarat led by Anandiben Patel, the successor of the incumbent
Prime Minister, is vindictive and has been after Teesta Setalvad and Javed
Anand for their bold stand in defence of the riot victims. Its aim seems to be
to discourage anyone from taking legal recourse against misdeeds of the Gujarat
government during and after the 2002 pogrom. A case of embezzlement of funds
collected by their NGOs has been filed against Teesta, Javed and three others.
Defendants have submitted documentary evidence in court against prosecution
allegations. It must be noted that while the Gujarat government appears hell
bent on targeting Teesta and her associates for standing up for riot victims,
it has been reinstating the police officials who are facing serious criminal
charges in fake encounter cases.
The PADS demands that the
Gujarat government stop harassing Ms. Teesta Setalvad and Mr Javed Anand –
whose anticipatory bail applications have been rejected by the Gujarat High
Court today.
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