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New Delhi:
Civil rights groups, students, teachers and activists Monday came together to stage
protests in different parts of the country against ‘arbitrary and
unconstitutional arrest’ of suspended DIG Sanjeev Bhatt by the
Gujarat Police.
According to Shabnam Hashmi of Anhad, protests
were organised in over 40 cities across the country.
The
protesters demanded immediate release of Gujarat IPS officer
Sanjiv Bhatt.
In New Delhi, a protest was staged at Gujarat Bhawan at the Kautilya
Marg, Chanakyapuri on Monday afternoon.
“It’s a clear case of
intimidation of whistle-blowers and shows totalitarian character
of Modi regime”, said Delhi-based activist Mahtab Alam, adding “We
are here to express our solidarity with Mr. Bhatt and his family”.
The activists also submitted a memorandum to the Resident
Commissioner for Governor of Gujarat at the Gujarat Bhawan seeking
immediate and unconditional release of Bhatt.
Addressing the protest meeting outside Gujarat Bhawan, Filmmaker
and Activist, Mahesh Bhatt said, “Sanjiv Bhatt's fault is that he
dared to reveal the truth behind the 2002 carnage as also the
murder of Haren Pandya.”
Referring to his conversation with Sanjeev Bhatt, he said, “I spoke to Sanjiv the evening he was
arrested, asking that since the worst had happened, what he needed
to tell the world outside. He said it was now for the courts to
ensure that the rule of law was imposed in Gujarat and the
nation.”
Mahesh Bhatt also appealed, “We as civil society should
come together and fight this trend of communal and fascist
mentality.”
Retired DIG and colleague of Sanjeev Bhatt, R B Shreekumar
alleged, “The arrest of Sanjeev Bhatt is the peak of the policy
followed by the Modi government since the conception,
organisation, mobilisation and perpetration of an anti-Muslim
carnage in 2002. Of all the actions, this is the most atrocious.”
Shreekumar, who himself a victim of Modi further said, “After the
2002 carnage, the Modi government started terrorising the
bureaucracy, including the senior police officer who dared to
speak the truth.”
“If electoral victory is the license for
violating the Constitution, the rule of law then our freedom and
democracy is under serious threat,” he added.
Activists Shabnam Hashmi, Himanshu Kumar, Sanjay Sharaf, Gauhar
Raza, Sandeep Kumar, Faisal Khan, Maulana Ejaz Urfi, Shakeel
Ahmed, Madhuresh Kumar, Vani and others also spoke on the
occasion.
Earlier a similar protest was staged at Jantar Mantar by
Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti Party.
“We want immediate
release of Sanjeev Bhatt,” said Amanatullah Khan, a party
factionary.
“Our party will launch a nation-wide campaign if Bhatt is not released,” he added.
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