‘Self Immolations’- Darker Side Of Shining Gujarat
By Newzfirst Correspondent
13 June, 2011
Newzfirst.com
AHMEDABAD - The recent self immolation incidents have exposed the burning side of ‘shining’ Gujarat. Several human rights’ and civil rights’ activists have raised their concerns over the trend of ‘self immolation’ taking place in Gujarat now a days.
The shocking facts have come to light as PUCL Gujarat and Lok Andolan submitted a memorandum to Director General of Police to take immediate action to stop the asserted ‘immolation’ on coming 15th by a women sarpanch of Gohilni Khan panchayat and two of her colleagues.
‘Gujarat Today’ dated on 8th June has reported that woman Sarpanch , Vice Sarpanch and a member of the Gohil Ni Khan Panchayat have threatened to self immolate themselves on 15th of this month at 11AM.
It is learnt from their letters to the Governor that a water body was built in 1997 spending several lakh of rupees. The water body was a great boon to the villagers in many aspects. But the Ambuja Cement Company damaged the water body by constructing the road in the water body force fully to benefit their factory, without taking any permission from the Govt.
Though the villagers have been lodging complaints before the Govt and the administration for last three years, no action has been taken against the Ambuja Cement Company. This has left the people of Gohilni Khan Panchayat in fury.
Being aggrieved and driven by the callous indifference of the Govt and the administration the women Sarpanch Ms.Hemabenbholabhai Gohil, Vice Sarpanch Ranveerbhai Laxmanbhai Gohil, and a member of the Panchayat Shri Bhikubhai Gohil has given an ultimatum to meet their demand otherwise they will go for self immolation on 15th of this month at 11AM.
Speaking to newzfirst.com, Mr. DN Rath, Coordinator of Lok Andolan and Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), said “self immolations are spreading like infection as people are desperate and frustrated as they do not find any justice”
“People are left with no option other than suicide or immolation; as they cannot raise their voice fearing the police and government. Society is regimented by industrialists and administration is partial” he added.
Alleging the unholy nexus among Government and industrialists he said, “Nexus between government, administration and industrialists have shrunken the democratic space of the people; and the people are lacking political influence too”
According to him, after the earthquakes in 2001, in the name of development, lands of the people being acquired by the government and handed over to industrialists like Adani and Reliance. As a result people of the Kutch and Bhuj have lot of issues related to their land.
He also recalled the incident of Jabardan Gadhvi who took the extreme step of self-immolation by allegedly denying the information under the RTI Act by the authority of Rapar taluka regarding his own land.
“Jabardan Gadhvi, also an RTI activist had a land issue, was demanding justice. Desperate from inaction of the authority he threatened to self immolate in front of concerned government office along with date and time. As affirmed, he went and self immolated, police, ambulance and fire brigades were not mere mute spectators, but prevented his brother from stopping Jabardan Gadhvi. The dead body lied at the spot for about 10 hrs till the 10pm.” he explained.
PUCL, Lok Andolan Gujrat and Movement for Secular Democracy have not received any response from the DGP office for their memorandum till date.
Recalling another month old incident of self immolation in Kutch (where a man tried to immolate himself out-of injustice) disheartened Mr. DN Rath said, “As moon has dark part on other side, Shining Gujarat too has, where people have grievances but no proper redressal system. Self immolation have become dangerous trend here as people are desperate, frustrated with the administration and government. There is no political and democratic space for the people in Gujarat. Government maintains inhuman ignorance.”
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