In a "huge" victory, human rights leader Teesta Setalvad granted anticipatory bail

By Our Representative
The Gujarat High Court has granted anticipatory bail to top human rights leader and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) secretary Teesta Setalvad, and her partner and CJP office bearer Javed Anand, in connection with a case of alleged misappropriation of funds obtained by her education programme KHOJ.
Based on a complaint filed by a former CJP employee, the Gujarat police alleged misuse of funds received for education related activities for KHOJ project under ‘the Scheme for assistance for experimental and innovative programme for education at the elementary stage includes non-formal education’ linked to Department of School Education and the Sarva Sikhsah Abhiyan.
Calling it a huge victory, CJP said, the complaint "falsely states that funds were used for personal reasons, and to create and distribute printed materials that could cause communal disharmony, the polar opposite of the purpose and outcomes of KHOJ."
CJP statement claimed, "Both activists have cooperated fully with investigations ever since the allegations were first made in March 2018, producing all necessary evidence to prove the falsity of the claim. However, a vindictive state continued to push for custody in a bid to imprison and even possibly torture Teesta and Javed, in their relentless attempt to silence these fearless human rights defenders."
It added, "After exposing the criminal activities of a section of the Gujarat Police and of powerful politicians during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat, CJP has been attacked time and time again. But we never allowed this hurdle to stop us from surging forth in our quest for justice."

Comments

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.

WHO move can 'enable' India to detain citizens, restrict freedom, control media

Counterview Desk In an an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with copies to concerned Cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and MPs, health rights network People’s Alliance for Public Health (PAPH alias JanSwasthya Morcha), has urged that India should not be a signatory to the World Health Organization ( WHO) Pandemic Agreement and Amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 to be adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva from 27th May to 1st June, 2024.

Can scientists believe in God, yet explore nature 'abandoning' belief?

By Dr TV Sajeev* In August 2023, India celebrated the successful soft-landing of Chandrayan on the south pole of the moon. That mission too led to some questioning about whether scientists could believe in God. The culture of temple visits and poojas before the launch of rockets with or without payload had been a mocking point for a long while.

Informal, outdoor workers 'excluded': Govt of India's excessive heat policies

Counterview Desk Top civil rights network, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), has demanded urgent government action to protect millions of outdoor workers from extreme heat and heatwaves, insisting declaration of heatwaves as climatic disaster.

'Uncertainty in Iran': Raisi brokered crucial Chabahar Port deal with India

By Pranjal Pandey* Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian President, and the country’s foreign minister were tragically found deceased on May 20, 2024, shortly after their helicopter crashed in foggy conditions. In response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly appointed a relatively unknown vice president as the interim leader.

'Enough evidence': Covid vaccines impacted women's reproductive health

By Deepika* In 2024, the news outlets have suddenly started reporting about covid vaccine side effects in a very extensive manner. Sadly, the damage is already done.

Instilling sense of insecurity among 'fearful' millions, Modi to win comfortably

By Rajiv Shah This was one of the most interesting reports I read on the Lok Sabha elections. Titled, "If Sangam Pilgrims Are Bellwether, They Indicate Clear Majority for Modi", published in what is considered to be an anti-Narendra Modi site, "The Wire", it reports on interaction with boatmen and pilgrims from across India, even as pointing towards why Modi would get a "clear majority."

Search This Blog