BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Welfare Party of India (WPI) has asked the Modi-led Gujarat government to desist from “punitive and retributory” actions against Mrs. Teesta Setalvad, a human rights activist, in the form of an FIR filed at Ahmedabad police station.
The Crime Branch of Gujarat police registered a “false” FIR against Mrs. Setalvad, the secretary of Citizen for Justice and Peace (CJP), on malicious grounds of cheating etc., noted a joint press statement by Sabrang Trust and CJP.
“The timing of the FIR is significant given the fact that for a full eleven months after CJP and Sabrang had given satisfactory explanations to the Crime Branch investigations had been dropped.
“In a written complaint to the Crime Branch, Ahmedabad police, the office bearers of Gulberg Society had accused complainant Feroze Khan of forging the letterhead of the society,” the statement disclosed.
“A former employee of CJP, Rais Khan has been at the root of this and 2 other false criminal complaints against Teesta Setalvad. In both he has been aggressively aided by the Gujarat police.”
Terming the high-handed intimidation of Teesta as “shameful act”, WPI National President Mujtaba Farooq said it was the continuation of what had been happening in Gujarat post 2002 mass massacre of thousands of innocents.
“Victims and those who came forward for their help alike have been being intimidated through threats, false cases, warnings etc and the apex court had to intervene to ensure impartial inquiry and transfer cases outside the state for speedy and judicious trial,” Mr. Farooq added.
“The Gujarat government not only miserably failed in healing the wounds, but is putting salt by these kinds of measures of obstructing the victims from justice and reparation. FIR against Teesta Setalvad is nothing, but a punishment for the fight for justice to Mrs. Zakia Jaffri, wife of Ehsan Jaffri, former member of parliament and over 200 Muslims who were killed in Gulbarg society, Narada Patiya.
“The timing of the FIR speaks a lot as Zakia Jaffri is making preparations for filing an appeal against the ruling of a lower court that has favouring SIT’s clean chit to Narendra Modi. This fascist act should be withdrawn immediately.”
