[sacw] [FWD]Threat to Burn copies of Arundhati Roy's Work

[Harsh Kapoor]

July 26, 1999
FYI
(South Asia Citizens Web)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 10:13:15 +0530 (IST)
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@e...>
To: Undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: [Fwd: statement by Gujarat sati] (fwd)

>
> STATEMENT BY ORGANISATIONS AND PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS IN GUJARAT
> AGAINST THE ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS FREEDOM OF SPEECH & EXPRESSION
>
> We are appalled at the attempts by some political parties, pro-Sardar
> Sarovar project elements to burn the copies of the book " The Greater
> Common Good" by renowned author Ms. Arundhati Roy. It is all the more
> reprehensible that they have threatened the bookshops in Ahmedabad city
> to withdraw the book from their stalls. It is a kind of undeclared
> censorship by the self styled 'Thought Police' in our society to
> suppress and hide the the facts from the people of Gujarat. This is the
> height of intolerance and undemocratic and unconstitutional behaviour.
>
> Moreover, it was reported that some people have threatened to 'stop'
> the proposed " Rally in the Valley" to be launched on July 29th from
> Delhi in support of the people in the Narmada valley, who have been on
> Satyagraha against the submergence and displacement. All these are the
> blatant violations of the basic rights of the individuals and the groups
> who have different opinions.
>
> These attempts to physically prevent the expression of opinions are not
> new for the struggles of the depressed classes, particularly for the
> Narmada Bachao Andolan. In this way, the pro-dam elements are
> also blocking the right to information of the Gujarat people. If they
> have any case, they could have as well countered the arguments put
> forth by Ms. Roy and others opposing the dam, in a democratic manner. We
> call for such reasoned debate and evaluation of the development process
> in our country. But instead of that, the attempt to throttle the debate
> with muscle power has to be condemned in severest terms.
>
> It is sad commentary on public life of the state that instead of patient
> debate, the attempts to suppress any possibility of dissent is
> being encouraged by the state. The police did not take any action
> against the threats of hooliganism and the government media gave undue
> publicity to such an act.It reveals the state's active role in
> such acts of suppression of the freedom.
>
> We appeal to all the people in Gujarat who have faith in the democratic
> rights and the freedom of speech and expression to stand up against the
> these intolerant and fascist tendencies. These elements are tarnishing
> the image of Gujarat people. We will have to restore the spirit of the
> tolerance, respecting the rights of others to have dissenting opinions
> and non-violence in the state.
>
> Tulsi Boda
> Acting President Civil Liberties, Gujarat Nimita Bhatt
> Ashwin Patel
> Girish Patel Baroda
> Adhikar Sangh, Gujarat, Ahmedabad
>
> Thakorbhai Shah Vinay Mahajan,
> Vadodara Kamdar Sangathan, Baorda Ahmedabad
>
> Jyotibhai Desai Binoy Acharya
> Educationist, Vedchhi, Surat. Unnati
>
> Jashbhai Patel, Nafisa Barot
> Scientist, author, Baroda Ahmedabad
>
> Ashwini Bhatt Apoorva Oza
> Writer, Journalist Ahmedabad
>
> Lallubhai Desai, Trupti Soni
> Manav Kalyan Trust, Khedbrahma. Ahmedabad
>
> Fr. Vincent Salil Mehta
> Navsarjan Trust, Surat. Utthan Trust
> Ahmedabad
> Trupti Shah
> Sahiyar ( Women's Organisation), Baroda Rajesh Bhatt
> Ahmedabad
> Nimisha Desai
> Olakh ( Women's organisation), Baroda Dr. Jagannath Vora
> Punarutthan Trust
> Kapil Shah
> Jatan, Baroda
>
> Neela Dave
> Swashraya, Baroda Raju- Deppti
> Jeevan- Tirtha
> Rohit Prajapati
> Inquilabi Communist Sangathan, Baroda.
>
> Bhupesh Shah
> Parivartan, Baroda.
>
> Ishwarbhai Yogi
> Astha, Godhra, Panchmahal