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Contact: Narmad Meghani Library,
Opp. Natraj Railway Crossing,
Meethakhali, Ellisbridge,
Ahmedabad-380006.
Ph. No. (079) 26579962.
10 November 2015
To,
Sh. Pranab Mukherjee,The President of India,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi.
GUJ R T CITIZENS ST TEMENT
G INST INTOLER NCE
His excellency,
We, the concerned citizens of Gujarat, stand by the artists,
scientists, writers,
academicians, intellectuals who oppose the atmosphere of
intolerance, hatred and fear; andreturn their awards. We feel that
this is the time when the civil society should rise and resist
what is going on in the country. Intolerance as well as communal
and caste hatred have been
in the country since long. But after the rise of Mr. Narendra
Modi and RSS, intolerance,
violence and hatred have become the instruments of power and
have been politically and
deliberately encouraged. The cold blooded murder of the
intellectuals, two in Maharashtra
and one in Karnataka is its glaring example.The fanatical
propagation of cow slaughter and killing people in the name of
so-called
holy cow, the horrible incident of Dadri and burning of Dalits
in Haryana have become
incidents in the country with the reason that atmosphere of fear
and insecurity has increased
throughout the country. There are direct attacks on freedom of
speech and expression. Still
worse, these violent incidents are supported by the member of
ruling party and silence of thePrime Minister show that present
government is committed to this ideology.
Arrogant defense like statement of Mr. Arun Jaitley that Mr.
Narendra Modi has
become the object of great intolerance is ridiculous because the
non violent opposition tointolerant Modi cannot be considered as
intolerance towards Modi. We believe that these
acts of violence, hatred and intolerance pose a great threat to
democratic, secular, pluralistic
India which is the very foundation of our constitution. All
these incidents are proof of aconscious movement towards fascism
based upon racial pride, violence, hatred and
intolerance. These anti democratic forces seem to be determined
to convert India into a
theocratic state where all minorities and non believers have to
live at the mercy of majority.
This is also violating the fundamental duty of every citizen to
develop the scientific temper,
humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.
Prime Mister Mr. Modi in his foreign tour once pronounced that
now people feel
proud to be an Indian. But the reality is just the opposite. The
recent incidents show that
people rather feel ashamed. The Sangh Parivar and the government
want to take the country
into the ancient age. In Gujarat also, the atmosphere of Fear,
Hatred and Intolerance prevails.
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Freedom of Expression and Right to Protest are denied. The
protestors of Dholera SIR have
to approach the High Court for their Protest March &
Sedition Act is used for PoliticalVendetta in the State.
Under the circumstances, we request you to intervene and
maintain the democratic and
secular fabric of our country.
We also appeal sane, liberal and progressive members of the
civil society to stand up
and resist the direct attacks on basic principles of
Constitution.
N.B. WE REQUEST YOU TO GIVE AN APPOINTMENT DURING YOUR VISIT
TO
GUJARAT (AHMEDABAD) ON 1STOF DECEMBER.
Yours Sincerely,
We are
PRAKASH N SHAH
President, PUCL, Gujarat
M. 9879919421
GIRISH PATEL
Well known advocate
MALLIKA SARABHAI
Danseuse and activist
PROF ROHIT SHUKLA
President, Gujarat, AISEC
INDUKUMAR JANI
Editor, Naya Marg
PROF. DINESH SHUKLA
DR. RAGHU RANGARAJAN
Scientist
PROF. GHANSHYAM SHAH
Social Scientist
DWARIKANATH RATH
Secretary, M.S.D.
FR. FRANCIS PARMAR URVISH KOTHARI
Journalist
FATHER CEDRIC PRAKASH
Director, PRASHANT
SAGAR RABARI
Secretary, Gujarat KhedutSamaj
PROF. BHARAT MEHTA
Reader, M.S. University
GAUTAM THAKER
General Secretary,Gujarat, PUCL
PANKTI JOG
RTI Activist
MANISHI JANI
Gujarati Writers
Association
SAROOP DHRUV
Writer
PROF SANJAY BHAVE HIREN GANDHI
Director, Darshan
SVATI JOSHI
Retired Professor, Delhi
University
DHIRU MISTRY VINAY MAHAJAN CHARUL BHARWADA
