Mangalore: Communal Politics of Gujarat Hurting Minorities - Teesta Setalvad

Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (RS)

Mangalore, Aug 13:  ‘Dharmada Hesarinalli’,  translated version of a book authored by the former director general (DGP) of Gujarat Police, R B Srikumar, which has been translated by noted Kannada writer Sara Aboobakkar, was released by noted human rights activist and crusader against communal politics, Teesta Setalvad, at St Aloysius College Hall in the city on Thursday, August 13. 
   
Speaking after releasing the book, Teesta said that the presence of communal politics was evident behind the riots that rocked Gujarat that were targeted against the minority community. This phenomenon is not restricted only to politics, but has invaded other spheres like education and a part of the media, she alleged.

Communalism has already turned the situation in the nation fragile and precarious, and one shudders to think what prospect this policy will have, on the future of the country. The communalization agenda should be scrapped or driven out with immediate effect, she demanded.

In Gujarat, almost all the departments including the police,  have acquired the communal hue, because of the power, clout influence the Vishwa Hindu Parishat(VHP) leaders and Chief Minister Narendra Modi wield there. The public prosecutors in courts have also tried their best to get the cases against the VHP activists scrapped, Setalvad added, charging that the prosecutors wanted to shield those who acted against the minority communities.

The author of the book, R B Srikumar, said that his tenure in Gujarat at the time of the riots was very crucial, as he faced many challenges when he filed affidavits and several reports against the government departments and officials. “But I feel proud at having allowed my life to get ruined, while fighting against communalism and for the cause of justice,” he added.

He said that the BJP leaders had then tried to brand the Godhra Sabarmati Express tragedy as a Pakistani conspiracy, even though it was engineered by their own men. It was a result of the policy of communalization that led to this incident, he stressed.

After his retirement, R B Srikumar wrote the book - `Iragalikku Vendi horatam’ in Malayam, which has been translated by Sara Aboobakkar, in Kannada. The work is based on Gujarat riots.   

Sara Aboobakkar, former DGP of Karnataka S Mariswamy and K L Ashok, convener of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike  were also present.