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print versionCITIZENS FOR DEMOCRACY
D-7/2 Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057
Date 15th July, 2015
PRESS STATEMENT
Harassment and victimization of Teesta and Javed by the CBI condemned.
Citizens For Democracy strongly deplores the vicious persecution and
harassment of leading human rights activists Teesta Setalvad and
Javed Anand by the CBI at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre and the State of Gujrat. For the past about 30 years both Teesta and Javed have been relentlessly pursuing and espousing variety of causes in defence of human rights, especially of dalits, minorities and other deprived sections of society. After demolition of Babri Masjid in December 1992, they started strenuous campaign, in association with other democratic and secular forces, against the growing menace of communalism-whether of any group of majority or minority. In pursuing this cause they launched the “Communalism Combat†in 1993, the well known periodical, which has made singular contribution in promoting communal harmony and peace in the country. It is to their credit that the report of the Justice Srikrishna Commission relating to 1993 violence in Mumbai, which exposed the communal conduct of the police force against the Muslims and which the then government wanted to suppress, got published through their efforts. Both, through their magazine and articles in various papers, holding meetings and seminars, went on espousing various issues of human rights concerns, including State repression in Kashmir, Punjab and Northeast. When Gujrat violence took place in 2002, they took up the cause of justice for the victims as ‘crusaders’ and threw themselves wholeheartedly, body and soul together, in the struggle. Eventually they succeeded in getting booked and punished many accused against all odds and despite the fact the entire might of the Gujrat State rallied against them in protecting and defending the criminals. Even Narendra Modi, the present Prime Minister of India, faces the danger of being arrayed in the company of some of the accused if the related cases are properly and honestly pursued by the investigating agencies.
Failing in its efforts to deter both of them, the present ruling party has resorted to such disgraceful tactics of using CBI to persecute, harass and humiliate them on flimsy and fabricated allegations and raiding their premises with a view to humiliate and malign them.
We urge upon the Central govt. and the CBI, to desist in employing such deplorable tactics which are inspired by nothing but malice and revenge. Govt. and CBI should know that democratic forces and the human rights movement in the country stand in support of both Teesta and Jawed and such brutal efforts to silence the voices of dissent will be duly resisted.
N.D.Pancholi
General Secretary
Citizens For Democracy
