AhmedabadMirror 20/08/2011
... says slain RTI activist Amit Jethava’s father Bhikhubhai who has filed a PIL seeking appointment of lokayukta to check corruption in state
Even as people back Anna Hazare demanding a corruption-free India, one man quietly but determinedly filed a public interest litigation seeking appointment of a lokayukta in Gujarat. His anguish and agony is understandable. His young son was murdered sometime back opposite Gujarat High Court because he was using his right to seek information against the rich, powerful and politically connected mining mafia. Bhikhubhai Jethava, father of slain RTI activist Amit Jethava, says Gujarat is an unsafe place for all those who fight for their rights. “Just like Haren Pandya who was assassinated by someone who felt threatened by him and his father Vithalbhai died fighting for justice for his son’s untimely death, I too will die fighting. Worse, I might be murdered because now I am all out to expose that Gujarat is not vibrant,” Bhikhubhai tells Dilip Patel and Tanushree Bhatia.
Excerpts from an interview:
What made you file the PIL demanding a lokayukta?
My son had filed a PIL in 2008. There already is a law in Gujarat but the state government is deliberately not appointing a lokayukta. When my son filed the PIL, the state government assured Gujarat High Court of appointing lokayukta “immediately”. It didn’t happen. Hence this PIL.
What would you achieve by filing this PIL?
I feel pained. Everybody is carried away by the hype that Gujarat is vibrant. My son was fighting for justice. He was fighting against corruption and politicians. There are two reasons for filing this PIL: to continue my son’s fight against corruption and politicians, and to support the movement started by Anna Hazare. I have spoken to Anna several times on the issue.
How will lokayukta benefit the state?
What is the other way left in Gujarat at the moment to seek justice? Those who raise their voice against falsehood, injustice or corruption are eliminated. From Haren Pandya to Amit Jethava. What is the action taken against corruption and injustice under the Narendra Modi government? The institution of lokayukta is the only recourse left for common people like us to get justice and to fight against powerful politicians and corruption. Once lokayukta is in place, believe me, several ministers will be behind bars. Today, corruption has crossed its limits in Gujarat.
Yesterday (August 18) there was a government function at Khambha in Amreli - Chalo Taluka Sarkar. It was followed by lunch for the villagers. Only 500 people ate at the function, but the government claimed that 120,000 people had lunch. Now officials will also claim that money was spent on this extravaganza! It is taxpayer’s money.
People can know where their leaders stand once lokayukta is in place. Until now, all of us thought Karnataka government was good. So much development and international investment has come to Bangaluru. But look what (BS) Yeddyurappa had done there. Worse things are happening in Gujarat but no action is being taken against those responsible. Lokayukta is Gujarat’s only hope to know the reality.
Are you facing any problem in your fight?
If you want to fight, you have to be ready for everything. I had a small shoe shop which I had to shut down once my son was murdered. I took over his crusade. I have an old worn out motorcycle on which I travel all across Gujarat to spread the message. I do not have any bank balance. I support people who are fighting against corruption. I support the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna. Even BJP which is ruling Gujarat is supporting Anna. It is good to have a lokpal in Delhi and to support Anna, but please support me also. If you are truly for justice and want to fight against corruption, BJP should support me in getting a lokayukta appointed in Gujarat. We already have a law and entire machinery in place for the lokayukta’s office but the government does not want to appoint one because it will be exposed.
Have you received any threat?
I will be murdered. Isn’t that what happens in Gujarat when you fight for justice? What happened to Haren Pandya? It was a political murder. What happened to my son? Specially after this petition, my life is in danger. I have also informed President Pratibha Patil about the same through an affidavit. I am a small man. My life is not valuable and it is so easy to eliminate me. But I don’t care. My father was a freedom fighter. My son was a fighter. I am also a fighter. I want to expose corruption prevailing in Gujarat.
How can you say there is corruption in Gujarat? The state is known for clean governance.
Corruption in Gujarat is different. Gujarat has traditionally been very progressive and rich. Right now corruption that exists in Gujarat is not only different from that in other states but dangerous. We are a border state. Still our government is sheltering and doling out land to industrialists who have been sent to jail for extortion or custom evasion.
My son was fighting to stop illegal limestone quarries. He had openly named BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki. He had proof. Still what happened? My son was murdered. Haren Pandya deposed before a people’s tribunal about Narendra Modi’s complicity in the genocide, that he was responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent people in 2002 riots. What happened? Modi became number one and Harenbhai was killed. This is Gujarat. It is sad that in Gandhi’s Gujarat we blindly support Anna but are ignoring corrupt and criminal politicians. These politicians in partnership with select industrialists are plundering the state. The government allots land to industrial houses at throwaway prices. Look at Adani and his growth story. Adani Industries is the biggest beneficiary of our state government’s generosity. What is happening in the name of land acquisition? The Modi government is misusing the Land Acquisition Act.
How will lokayukta help?
According to the law, only the lokayukta can probe chief minister or his council of ministers or the government. This is exactly what happened in Karnataka. If we want transparency in Gujarat, we need a lokayukta. The common man today does not get basic information on industries and politicians through RTI. I am eagerly waiting for lokayukta. The first case that I will file with the lokayukta will be against Dinu Solanki and after that against 15 other politicians of Gujarat.
... says slain RTI activist Amit Jethava’s father Bhikhubhai who has filed a PIL seeking appointment of lokayukta to check corruption in state
Even as people back Anna Hazare demanding a corruption-free India, one man quietly but determinedly filed a public interest litigation seeking appointment of a lokayukta in Gujarat. His anguish and agony is understandable. His young son was murdered sometime back opposite Gujarat High Court because he was using his right to seek information against the rich, powerful and politically connected mining mafia. Bhikhubhai Jethava, father of slain RTI activist Amit Jethava, says Gujarat is an unsafe place for all those who fight for their rights. “Just like Haren Pandya who was assassinated by someone who felt threatened by him and his father Vithalbhai died fighting for justice for his son’s untimely death, I too will die fighting. Worse, I might be murdered because now I am all out to expose that Gujarat is not vibrant,” Bhikhubhai tells Dilip Patel and Tanushree Bhatia.
Excerpts from an interview:
 |
| Bhikhubhai Jethwa, father of slain actiivist Amit Jethwa |
My son had filed a PIL in 2008. There already is a law in Gujarat but the state government is deliberately not appointing a lokayukta. When my son filed the PIL, the state government assured Gujarat High Court of appointing lokayukta “immediately”. It didn’t happen. Hence this PIL.
What would you achieve by filing this PIL?
I feel pained. Everybody is carried away by the hype that Gujarat is vibrant. My son was fighting for justice. He was fighting against corruption and politicians. There are two reasons for filing this PIL: to continue my son’s fight against corruption and politicians, and to support the movement started by Anna Hazare. I have spoken to Anna several times on the issue.
How will lokayukta benefit the state?
What is the other way left in Gujarat at the moment to seek justice? Those who raise their voice against falsehood, injustice or corruption are eliminated. From Haren Pandya to Amit Jethava. What is the action taken against corruption and injustice under the Narendra Modi government? The institution of lokayukta is the only recourse left for common people like us to get justice and to fight against powerful politicians and corruption. Once lokayukta is in place, believe me, several ministers will be behind bars. Today, corruption has crossed its limits in Gujarat.
Yesterday (August 18) there was a government function at Khambha in Amreli - Chalo Taluka Sarkar. It was followed by lunch for the villagers. Only 500 people ate at the function, but the government claimed that 120,000 people had lunch. Now officials will also claim that money was spent on this extravaganza! It is taxpayer’s money.
People can know where their leaders stand once lokayukta is in place. Until now, all of us thought Karnataka government was good. So much development and international investment has come to Bangaluru. But look what (BS) Yeddyurappa had done there. Worse things are happening in Gujarat but no action is being taken against those responsible. Lokayukta is Gujarat’s only hope to know the reality.
Are you facing any problem in your fight?
If you want to fight, you have to be ready for everything. I had a small shoe shop which I had to shut down once my son was murdered. I took over his crusade. I have an old worn out motorcycle on which I travel all across Gujarat to spread the message. I do not have any bank balance. I support people who are fighting against corruption. I support the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna. Even BJP which is ruling Gujarat is supporting Anna. It is good to have a lokpal in Delhi and to support Anna, but please support me also. If you are truly for justice and want to fight against corruption, BJP should support me in getting a lokayukta appointed in Gujarat. We already have a law and entire machinery in place for the lokayukta’s office but the government does not want to appoint one because it will be exposed.
Have you received any threat?
I will be murdered. Isn’t that what happens in Gujarat when you fight for justice? What happened to Haren Pandya? It was a political murder. What happened to my son? Specially after this petition, my life is in danger. I have also informed President Pratibha Patil about the same through an affidavit. I am a small man. My life is not valuable and it is so easy to eliminate me. But I don’t care. My father was a freedom fighter. My son was a fighter. I am also a fighter. I want to expose corruption prevailing in Gujarat.
How can you say there is corruption in Gujarat? The state is known for clean governance.
Corruption in Gujarat is different. Gujarat has traditionally been very progressive and rich. Right now corruption that exists in Gujarat is not only different from that in other states but dangerous. We are a border state. Still our government is sheltering and doling out land to industrialists who have been sent to jail for extortion or custom evasion.
My son was fighting to stop illegal limestone quarries. He had openly named BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki. He had proof. Still what happened? My son was murdered. Haren Pandya deposed before a people’s tribunal about Narendra Modi’s complicity in the genocide, that he was responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent people in 2002 riots. What happened? Modi became number one and Harenbhai was killed. This is Gujarat. It is sad that in Gandhi’s Gujarat we blindly support Anna but are ignoring corrupt and criminal politicians. These politicians in partnership with select industrialists are plundering the state. The government allots land to industrial houses at throwaway prices. Look at Adani and his growth story. Adani Industries is the biggest beneficiary of our state government’s generosity. What is happening in the name of land acquisition? The Modi government is misusing the Land Acquisition Act.
How will lokayukta help?
According to the law, only the lokayukta can probe chief minister or his council of ministers or the government. This is exactly what happened in Karnataka. If we want transparency in Gujarat, we need a lokayukta. The common man today does not get basic information on industries and politicians through RTI. I am eagerly waiting for lokayukta. The first case that I will file with the lokayukta will be against Dinu Solanki and after that against 15 other politicians of Gujarat.
It's a pity that our own RTI martyrs are not even known... A brief report on twenty whistleblowers that laid their lives!
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