India – Human Rights Violations

Padmini Arhant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s track record in politics from Gujarat days up until now is marred with gross human rights violations and abuse of power leading to democracy under siege by the current regime.

When sane rational voices are silenced in any nation and the majority become silent spectators out of fear and sometimes due to apathy, the atmosphere evolves into tyranny enabling those in power to violate lives and human rights in society.

Two incidents discussed only by rare digital media and not surprisingly ignored by mainstream television and print networks signify democracy eclipse. These two recent events involving Justice Akil Abdulhamid Kureshi and IPS law enforcement officer Sanjiv Bhatt both members having judiciously performed their respective duties are compelled to bear the brunt for reckoning with those habitually misinterpreting their power and committing heinous crimes against citizens within community and nation at large.

Justice Kureshi against Amit Shah, then Gujarat Home Minister in the criminal proceeding of Sohrabuddin killed in police encounter and his wife Kauser Bi raped and murdered at that time under direct orders from then Gujarat government headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and State Home Minister Amit Shah. There is apparently another episode on corruption related to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi duplicity.

The IPS Sanjiv Bhatt as former law enforcement officer in Gujarat filed FIR in the Supreme Court against then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the internationally known Gujarat Godhra violence allowing hundreds and thousands of Muslims and Hindus to become victims in Narendra Modi instigated communal violence. 

How do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah elevated to Prime Minister and National Home Minister from Chief Minister to State Home Minister respectively settle political scores against their nemesis Justice Kureshi and IPS Sanjiv Bhatt?

Justice Kureshi is denied due promotion as Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court earlier and lately Madhya Pradesh, the Indian central state. Again these developments reportedly happen in defiance to bar association protest against government for rejecting Justice Kureshi tenure in preserving judicial conduct and democratic principle in upholding none above the law and Supreme Court Collegium recommendation to appoint Justice Kureshi for the esteemed posts.

The prevalent situation buttress Indian standards on merit declined to favor political cause and effects much to national detriment. 

Meanwhile, Sanjiv Bhatt is the only police officer in the entire nation to have been dismissed from service and now sentenced to life imprisonment on thirty year old – the year 1990 alleged custody case depriving the defendant due process from presenting key witnesses, doctors’ testimonials to post mortem details and everything associated with this allegation. The news reports on custody related deaths in Gujarat alone stated as 180 between 2001 and 2016 of which Amit Shah and Narendra Modi authorized police encounter death of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi is prominent given the high profile political figures indulgence.

The police custody deaths nationwide is an issue absolving political authorities given their participation in proxy.  Nonetheless, the defendant Sanjiv Bhatt is not even granted bail, the right readily and freely available to all politicians across the aisle as fundamental privilege facilitating them to run for public office through election and their close affiliates in economic and entertainment field despite incriminating evidence on a wide range of activities viz. murder, corruption, embezzlement not barring terrorism such as bomb blast killing civilians in the country.

Sanjiv Bhatt’s family claim they are subject to intense scrutiny and harassment barring them normal existence and freedom to live life without constant monitoring, stalking and ridicule practiced as the authorities and their recruits prerogative.

Owing to these circumstances and in observation of Indian constitution enshrined civil rights, Sanjiv Bhatt’s bail and right to fair trial without obstruction of justice is necessary for India’s present and future political credibility and the idea of government rule in society.

Similarly, recognition of Justice Akil Abdulhamid Kureshi contribution to judiciary and judicial autonomy is imperative besides honoring massive support from legal community and Supreme Court Collegium to promote the long serving judge to Chief Justice designation. 

There is no doubt that India’s hard fought independence is in shackles and those usurping to power assume ultimate authority in deciding ordinary citizens lives and fate previously in the State sponsored murder of Delhi rape victim by Sonia Gandhi regime and the successor Narendra Modi following suit in Sanjiv Bhatt’s conviction and elimination of ex-BSF soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav with his young twenty two year old son forced into suicide from government and media imposed incarceration for his father becoming a whistle blower and exposing corruption at various levels confirm the corrosive system beyond salvation.

Indian democracy demise is the reality suggesting government as existential threat endangering sovereignty and citizens en masse. 

The deteriorating conditions in Indian society emanating from government interventions posing immense bias and discrimination against individuals deserve national and international condemnation especially the human rights groups and anyone from anywhere having any respect for life in general and appreciating sanctity of real functioning democracy.

The unruly governance premised on lies, deception, political vendetta and witch hunt with zero tolerance to truth, justice, fairness and equality succumb to inevitable dissipation and termination – witnessed with the predecessor Congress and soon to impact belligerent incumbent in New Delhi.

Indian population desirous of individual rights, liberty and equal opportunity to justice, economic benefits and political representation must denounce government actions and seek immediate restoration and revival of democracy abiding by the Constitution endowed inalienable civil rights to every citizen regardless of creed, caste and communal divide.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com