Skip to main content

Gujarat PUCL comes down heavily on media for "inflating" misappropriation charge against Teesta Setalvad

A Mumbai protest against Setalvad
By Our Representative
In what may seem to be a surprise move to many, Gujarat unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) made the occasion of a press conference called in “defense” of well-known human rights activists Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand to sharply attack the media for allegedly blowing Gujarat police accusations against the two activists on misappropriating NGO funds "completely out of proportion". Addressing mediapersons, Gujarat PUCL chief Gautam Thaker, who led the attack, said, “It was shocking to see such unprecedented interest in the media. Some papers went so far as to make eight column headlines.”
Thaker said, “We are not here to defend anyone. But the way the police acted by knocking on the door of Setalvad in Mumbai to arrest Setalvad and Anand within hours of the Gujarat High Court denying anticipatory bail to them suggests the state government wants to create an atmosphere of fear among activists. Clearly, the police want her to torture her.” He added, “This is not an isolated incident. Arrests and detentions of activists have become a norm. Anybody is picked up from anywhere in the name of safeguarding law and order.”
Suggesting that all this has not been highlighted by the media, Thaker said, “Curfew is imposed at any drop of the hat. Things have reached such a point that activists are being picked up under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act, which is meant to be imposed on those seeking to create social unrest such as communal riots.” Pointing out that effort to harass Setalvad should be seen in this context, he added, “If there are allegations against Setalvad, they should be appropriately investigated, but not in this way.”
Taking a similar view, even as criticizing the media, Hiren Gandhi of Insaf, another rights-based organization, said, “There is an effort to come up with false cases against activists. They are being harassed here, in Mithi Virdi, where the Government of India plans a nuclear plant, everywhere. If there misappropriation by someone, it should be properly investigated. And media should not blow things out of proportion.” The PUCL press meet was the only "protest" against Gujarat police, and in the state in favour of Setalvad, by state-based activists in the recent past.
Well-known danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, present on the occasion, came out in sharp defense of Setalvad, saying, “Gujarat government has begun a virtual witch hunt against the human rights activist. I have also gone through a similar witch hunt. Non-bailable warrant was issued against me by charging me of misappropriating funds. It was political against me, it is political against Setalvad. Why is there on investigate on politicians who do hundreds of crores of corruption, and face murder charges, when here it’s question of just Rs 4 lakh.”
Father Cedric Prakash of Prashant said, one point being raised is that trustees of the Citizens for Peace and Justice (CPJ) had no knowledge of the funds being spent by Setalvad and Anand though they were meant for riot victims. Reading out a statement on behalf of all the trustees – who include IM Kadri, Nandan Maluste, Cyrus Guzder, Alyque Padamsee, Anil Dharker, Shankuntala Kulkarni, Rahul Bose and he – Prakash said, they stood by Setalvad during “these difficult times” and have no doubt about her “honesty and integrity”.
Speaking on the occasion, Sairaben, one of the riot victims who lived in the Gulberg Society when it was attacked by rioters in 2002, said, “Even today, we being treated like culprits. Even on smallest of pretext, the police detains my husband. We are made to take the permission of the police to visit our houses in the Gulberg Society for our religious rites.” She added, “All through the last more than 12 years, Setalvad has stood by us. How can we side with those who are trying to put charges of misappropriation against her?” 

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

Golwalkar's views on tricolour, martyrs, minorities, caste as per RSS archives

By Shamsul Islam*  First time in the history of independent India, the in-charge minister of the Cultural Ministry in the current Modi government, Prahlad Singh Patel, has glorified MS Golwalkar, second supremo of the RSS and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS till date, on his birth anniversary, February 19. In a tweet he wrote : “Remembering a great thinker, scholar, and remarkable leader #MSGolwalkar on his birth anniversary. His thoughts will remain a source of inspiration & continue to guide generations.”

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.

Environmental cost of Green Revolution: India world’s second-highest fertilizer importer

By Glenn Davis Stone*  Feeding a growing world population has been a serious concern for decades, but today there are new causes for alarm. Floods, heat waves and other weather extremes are making agriculture increasingly precarious, especially in the Global South .