Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI activists sitting ducks for all mighty in the state by Ahiral Dave

RTI activists sitting ducks for all mighty in the state by Ahiral Dave

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jun 28, 2011   modified Modified on Jun 28, 2011

Even as the number on attacks RTI activists in the state have become frighteningly routine, political leaders who have come under the scanner, mostly from the ruling BJP, are still untouched.

In the latest incident in which Porbandar-based advocate and social worker Bhagu Devani was stabbed on last Friday, police have arrested Laku Odedara, brother of former Porbandar Nagarpalika president Vikram Odedara, along with three others but former irrigation minister Babu Bokhiria, who the victim accused of masterminding the attack, continues to be out of reach.

Devani, based on information obtained through RTI replies, had established that the hotel being built by the Odedara brothers at sea shore flouted Coastal Regulatory Zone laws.

“Such attacks time and again prove that RTI activists have to fight with their life at stake,” says Praful Korat, a resident of Mota Samadhiyala village in Una taluka of Junagadh district. After Korat filed an application seeking details a stone-crushing quarry on grazing land in 2009, his both hands and legs were broken that very day allegedly by sarpanch Kanti Korat, who is known to be close to Junagadh BJP MP Dinu Solanki.

Praful Korat alleges the local police did not register a complaint against the sarpanch and instead asked him to settle the matter. “Insult on the injury was the fact that I got a RTI reply after 560 days, instead of mandatory 30 days,” he says.

“Without any support, it is impossible to fight this battle. Protection law for activists remains only on paper. After all, the responsibility lies on the local police, who enjoy political patronage,” Praful Korat says.

Bhikha Jethava, whose son Amit was killed in 2010 allegedly by the nephew of Dinu Solanki for exposing illegal mining in forest area, has written to the President that it was the BJP MP who actually plotted his son’s murder. “Leave arrest, Dinu Solanki has never been even questioned by the police,” says Jethava.

Amit was shot dead near the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad last year.

Even in cases where an FIR has been registered against a political leader, police investigation has been shoddy.

A case of attempt to murder and rioting was registered on January 27 this year against Mangrol BJP MLA Bhagwan Kargathia for allegedly attempting to kill Ram Kargathia, the sarpanch of Madhapar village, and his father after they sought information under RTI Act in connection with a mining site owned by the MLA inside forest area. Kargathia, however, has never been arrested or questioned.

The Indian Express, 28 June, 2011, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rti-activists-sitting-ducks-for-all-mighty-in-the-state/809688/


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close