National PUCL objects to its Gujarat office bearers support to Congress candidate against Modi in Vadodara

By Our Representative
The People's Union for Civil Rights (PUCL), top civil rights organisation, has taken strong exception to some of Gujarat office bearers' participation in a forum formed to support Congress candidate Madhusudan Mistry, fighting against the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from the Vadodara parliamentary constituency. A statement issued by V Suresh, PUCL general secretary, and distributed by well-known Vadodara-based environmentalist Rohit Prajapati, who is also a Gujarat PUCL office bearer, has said, "It is the stated policy of PUCL (both national and state units) not to align itself or support in any manner whatsoever any political party."
The statement, also signed by Prof Prabhakar Sinha, president, national PUCL, declared, "The organisation shall not and does not endorse, support or oppose any candidate, in any elections -- whether it is parliamentary, state or local body elections." The statement comes in the wake of reports that PUCL is part of the newly-formed People's Forum for Madhusudan Mistry, meant to support the Congress candidate in Vadodara constituency in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Prajapati, it is learnt, especially strongly opposed participation of a section of the PUCL office bearers to the Congress candidate.
Sources said, three of PUCL's office bearers, including Gautam Thaker, who is general secretary, PUCL, Gujarat, and two others, Dhiru Mistry and Chinu Shrivastav, were present on the rostrum, created for NGO "support" for the Congress candidate. This irked the national PUCL, which said, "We would like to place on record that PUCL does not support and is not supporting any specific candidate in Vadodara constituency. Office bearers of PUCL, both national and state units, are not authorised to announce, commit or pledge PUCL to be part of any formation such as the forum launched in support of Madhusudan Mistry".
"Even if any individual member has indeed participated in the formation of such a forum in their personal capacity, we would like to make it explicitly clear that this does not have the approval or support of the PUCL", the PUCL declared, adding, "We would also like to place on record that all office bearers of our units have been asked not to participate in any forum to support/oppose specific candidates even in their personal capacities."
The statement follows a forum of 30 non-government organizations (NGOs), which included a section of the Gujarat PUCL office bearers, declared their support for Mistry. "Some of its members had earlier said they would support any political party during the Lok Sabha polls", sources said, adding, "The NGOs claimed that they had come together to demolish the myth about Gujarat's development." They released a book 'Sachhai Gujarat Ki' that talked about Gujarat's low rank in social and development parameters, written by Hemant Shah.
Shah, who authored the book, said, "We are not supporting any political party. Our support is for Mistry as he is very hardworking and honest man. He is a good candidate and has fought a lot for the rights of downtrodden and needy people. That doesn't mean we are supporting Congress." Mistry himself has long been running an NGO called Disha for the last several decades among tribals of Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. Shah and several others who participated in the programme do not belong to the PUCL.
"Gujarat is lagging in many areas and the state is not number one in any segment, including investments. We have come together to demolish the myth of development and Gujarat model. We will organize many programmes in the coming days and urge people to vote for Mistry," Shah, who is known for his insights into economic affairs and teaches economics in a prestigious college in Ahmedabad, said.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

Search This Blog