By Rajeev Khanna, IANS
Ahmedabad : Civil society and human rights activists Sunday said that Narendra Modi’s victory in the Gujarat assembly elections was a “wake up call” for the people to be more “responsive” to issues of human rights.
Ahmedabad-based human rights activist Father Cedric Prakash told IANS: “It is a wake up call for all of us to be more concerned and responsive to issues of human rights. We have to think closely on issues that concern human rights. We have to take it to the people – whether it is the sensex that concerns them more or it is the roti, kapda aur makaan (food, clothing and house).”
Noted human rights activist Teesta Setalvad said: “No matter what the results are, we will continue with our work. Unfortunately human rights has never been an electoral issue. Our effort to get justice for the victims of communal violence in Gujarat will continue unabated.”
Civil society activists had carried out a non-political campaign against Modi in this election. They launched an awareness campaign, particularly amongst the voters in rural and tribal Gujarat, to dislodge the Modi government. They had organised film shows debunking Modi’s claims on development and raised the issue of human rights of minorities and marginalized people.
Vadodara-based activists Rohit Prajapati and Trupti Shah said: “The election results of Gujarat will lead to the ‘Vibrant (Moditava Type) Gujarat’ and ‘SEZ of India’. It will lead to more aggressive moves on so-called development and it will be a very tough time for ordinary Gujaratis to deal with issues of livelihood. The ordinary people of Gujarat should be prepared to face the worst outcome of so-called development in more aggressive form.”
The BJP has won 117 seats out of 182 in the assembly polls.