Author: BK Verma
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 19, 2004
The Pioneer editorial, 'Best fakery?'
(November 6), on Zaheera Sheikh's recanting her testimony has justifiably
pointed a finger at the credibility of NGOs masquerading as champions of
humanitarian causes. One of the organisations, ironically called 'Citizens
for justice and peace', has set off a chain of events culminating in adverse
publicity and vilification of Gujarat and demonisation of Narendra Modi.
Their pathological hatred of the RSS makes it impossible for them to reconcile
to the idea of a pracharak as Chief Minister. Mr Modi's resounding victory
should have made them realise the futility of pursuing such a disruptionist
course, but not ones to give up, they jumped in as soon as they got an
opening in the Best Bakery case where 21 accused persons were acquitted
by the Vadodara court.
When Zaheera Sheikh suddenly appeared
in Vadodara and spilled the beans, it came like a punch in the solar plexus
to these do-gooders, especially Teesta Setalvad. Zaheera's accusations
against Teesta are too serious to be dismissed lightly. Her journey to
Delhi and Mumbai in the company of Ms Setalvad was more in the nature of
abduction. According to Zaheera, the statements implicating the accused
were given by her at the point of a knife which was prodding her all the
time in her back. She was locked up and never let out except in the company
of Ms Setalvad. She was also threatened against saying anything other than
what was tutored.
The affidavits Zaheera was made
to swear by were all in English and their meaning was never explained to
her. Lest it be taken as another attempt at perjury, she said she would
speak only the truth during Ramadan. But more than exposing the crookedness
of certain unscrupulous individuals and organisations, it has cast a shadow
over the Supreme Court which has come out in a poor light by succumbing
to the base propaganda in media, in taking the word of a self confessed
perjurer to be gospel truth and for not eyeing with suspicion the hyper
activity of certain groups .
Zaheera's latest confession must
have caused it a rude realisation that it had been taken for a ride and
that it should not have acted in such an unseemly haste.
The dismal conviction rate in the
country only proves that the release was neither unusual nor unprecedented.
The administration was made to approach the High Court in appeal. But even
before it could give its judgement an extraordinary process was set in
motion, which should have been resorted to only in the case of complete
breakdown of constitutional machinery. The peremptory transfer of cases
to another state was as if the entire administrative and judicial set up
of the State was compromised. This has set a very bad precedent since in
India certain groups are forever on the prowl, kicking up dust and slinging
mud recklessly. We have seen plenty of them playing their dirty games.
In Godhra, they are repeatedly trying to prove the victims as the perpetrators
of the arson. In the Ansal Plaza shoot-out case, they rushed to condemn
the police on the testimony of a fake doctor. In Ishrat Jahan's case too,
they raised a stink but shut up when incontrovertible evidence was produced.
But judging by the way they are crying foul over Zaheera's about turn,
it seems these people have neither any shame nor any intention to stop
their nefarious designs.
