By TCN News,
Chennai: Calling Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as dictator, a group of citizens from different walks of life demanded immediate release of IPS Officer Sanjeev Bhatt and to drop all the charges against him until the enquiry before the Supreme Court is completed.
“We the undersigned strongly condemn the puerile attempts of the Gujarat government to stifle dissenting voices through the use of the very same instrumentalities which are meant to protect democracy” said the statement signed by the citizens.
Sanjiv Bhatt was arrested by Gujarat Police in connection with an FIR filed by a constable. He alleged that Mr. Bhatt threatened him for making him sign a false affidavit before the Supreme Court in which he accused Modi that he asked the senior police officials to go slow to control the 2002 post-Godhra riots at a meeting on February 27, 2002.
Mr Bhatt has been charged under IPC sections 341 (causing wrongful restraint), 342 (causing wrongful confinement), 195 (giving fabricated evidence) and 189 (threat of injury to public servant).
“The arrest of Mr. Bhatt exposed the fascist mindset and propensity of the Gujarat government led by Modi to subvert the rule of law. It is very obvious with the arrest of Mr. Bhatt that Modi wants to send a very strong signal to his detractors that the same fate awaits those who dare to speak the truth. The hidden agenda of the Gujarat police to cause physical harm to Sanjiv Bhatt is evident from the fact that police custody was sought for when, in fact, all related documents and evidences are in the custody of the Supreme Court” the statement reads.
“We hereby call upon the Government of Gujarat to forthwith release Mr. Sanjiv Bhatt and to drop all charges against him until the enquiry before the Supreme Court is completed” it further added.
Signatories
1. Mr. Sriram Panchu, Senior Advocate, Chennai;
2. Mr. N.G.R. Prasad, Senior Advocate, Chennai;
3. Ms. Sudha Ramalingam, National Vice-President, PUCL;
4. Ms. Jyoti Punwani, Journalist, Mumbai;
5. Mr. Javed Anand, Trustee, Citizens for Justice and Peace, Mumbai;
6. Mr. P.V.S Giridhar, Advocate & Human Rights Activist, Chennai;
7. Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Sayeed, Neurologist, Chennai;
8. Ms. Geeta Ramaseshan, Advocate and Gender Rights Activist, Chennai;
9. Ms. Melanie P. Kumar, Independent Writer, Bangalore;
10. Ms. Sumathi Sudhakar, Writer, Chennai;
11. Dr. Dhirendra Sharma, Centre for Science Policy, Dehradun;
12. Mr. Zafarullah Khan, Advocate and Peace Activist, Chennai;
13. Mr. N. Madhivanan, Enginer and Social Activist, Chennai;
14. Mr. Rajan Venkateswaran, Architect, L & T, Chennai;
15. Mr. Akhthar Zaki, Electrical Engineer, Chennai;
16. Mr. Altaf Pasha, Businessman, Chennai;
17. Ms. Nasreen Fazalbhoy, Chennai;
18. Mr. P.B. Suresh Babu, Advocate and Human Righta Activist, Chennai;
19. Mr. Kasim Sait, Businessman and Social Activist, Chennai;
20. Mr. A. Faizur Rahman, Civil Engineer and Peace Activist, Chennai;
21. Mr. Maqbool Ahmed Siraj, Journalist, Bangalore;
22. Mr. G.M. Syed Nurullah Sharif, Advocate, Chennai;
23. Mr. A.J. Jawad, Advocate and Peace Activist, Chennai;
24. Ms. Chamki Raj, Advocate and Social Activist, Chennai;
25. Mr. K. Elango, Advocate and Social Activist, Chennai;
26. Ms. Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Mumbai;
27. Mr. Md. Ali, Journalist, Delhi, TwoCircles.net;
28. Mr. Muniruddin Sharif, Advocate and Peace Activist;
29. Mrs. Roshanara Sayeed, Gender Rights Activist, Chennai;
30. Ms. Behnaz Sayeed, Social Activist, Chennai;
31. Mr. Shahidur Rashid Talukdar, Student, USA;
32. Mr. Ramachandra Menon, Businessman, Chennai;
33. Mr. K.S. Mahendran, Corporate Executive, Chennai;
34. Mr. Zafrullah Rahmani, Writer, Journalist and Peace Activist, Singapore
35. Mr. Fahim Ahmed, Software Engineer, Chennai;
36. Mr. Mohamed Hyder Mohajir, Sales Executive, Chennai;
37. Mr. K.V.S. Maruthu Mohan, Social Activist, Chennai;
38. Mr. J.C. Prakash, Chartere Accountant, Chennai;
39. Mr. G. Venkataraman, Corporate Executive, Chennai;
40. Mr. Moinullah Khan, Sales Executive, Chennai;
41. Mr. Y. Karim Sait, Businessman, Chennai;
42. Mr. Mohammed Azad A K, Coimbatore
43. Mr. Shafee Ahmed Ko
44. Ms. Qamrunnisa Shafee
45. Mr. Mohammad Imran, USA
46. Mr. Ghiasuddin Akbar, Social Activist, Hyderabad.