Gujarat activists to observe Black day tomorrow Published Date: October 7, 2011
Human and civil rights activists in Gujarat will observe ‘Black day’on October 8 to protest “misrule” of chief minister Narendra Modi as he completes 10 years in office. The activists will sport black badges and organize public meetings against Modi’s “misrule” in all the towns and cities across the state. Jesuit Fr Cedric Prakash, who runs NGO Prashant, told mediapersons that tribals, dalits, minorities like Christians and Muslims were “targeted systematically” since Modi took over on October 7, 2001 and they were being “forced to live in ghettos”. He said that survivors of the 2002 anti-Muslim riots, which claimed 2,000 lives, were still waiting for justice. Claiming that minorities were not having access to important welfare schemes of the government, Fr. Prakash said that Modi government had been “sending back” the central funds for minority students’ scholarship programs. Nonagenarian Gandhian and human rights activist Chunibhai Vaidya said the kind of situation prevalent during 1975 Emergency days prevailed in Gujarat. “Anybody speaking against Modi can be jailed”, he said, referring to how Indian Police Service officer Sanjeev Bhatt speaking against the Modi government had been put in jail. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) representative Gautam Thakar said that programs for gathering mass support against the government were being prepared. Teesta Setalvad from Citizens for Justice and Peace vowed her full support to the riot victims and others being victimized by the Modi government. Students from St Xavier’s College, who were also present, expressed their willingness to take part in the campaign against the Modi government. Source: ucanews.com reporter Ahmedabad
