Mainstream: National: Sunday, June 25, 2017.
Resentment is
growing in Rajasthan and at the national level against some of the most senior,
distinguished, selfless social activists being given a prison sentence in a
20-year-old case. The case relates to one of those struggles of Right to
Information (RTI) activists in rural Rajasthan which were praised all over the
world as pioneering efforts to bring trans-parency and ensure accountability in
rural development.
This was a
particularly difficult case for RTI activists as a sarpanch, who also doubled
as a liquor contractor at that time and had been accused by several villagers
of corrupt dealings, had refused to provide information despite being
approached for this many a time in the proper legal way by activists and other
villagers. When RTI activists persisted in their efforts, he turned violent
towards them; but instead it is the activists, in fact some of the most
respected activists known for their great work and integrity, who have been
given a prison sentence.
The Rajasthan
branch of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties has also drawn attention to
this serious anomaly that the peaceful activists, who were treated violently by
corrupt persons, were convicted and sentenced to four-month imprisonment.
In another
statement released on behalf of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana (MKSS) and
one of the most respected social activists of world, Aruna Roy, it has been
stated, “The MKSS is shocked and dismayed to receive the judgment of the Munsif
Magistrate Court, Kishengarh, Ajmer, convicting senior activists Nikhil Dey,
Naurti, Ramkaran, Babulal and Chotu Lal Malakar of trespass and simple hurt
under sections 323 and 451 of the IPC. The judgment comes on 13th June, 2017 in
an incident which took place on 6th of May, 1998.”
Drawing
attention to an important aspect of this 19-year-old case, this statement
points out that the case filed by the sarpanch was closed on June 30, 1998 but
on July 5, 2001 the same case was revived once again. Calling this prison
sentence a body blow to the efforts of citizens to fight corruption, this
statement has expressed deep disappointment with the verdict. At the same time
this statement has noted that the sentence has been suspended pending an appeal
to be filed by the activists.
One reason
why this sentence has evoked so much resentment among justice-loving people is
that the convicted activists are very well known for their commitment to
peaceful struggles as is evident from their RTI movement and related struggles.
One of the accused, Naurati Bai, has herself served as a sarpanch and is widely
regarded as a model sarpanch who achieved a lot in a short time. She is also
known for her struggles on behalf of rural women workers and her work for
gender justice. Nikhil Dey is one of the most highly regarded social activists
of the country, widely known for his contribution to the RTI, NREGA and
numerous other worthy causes. Ramkaran, one of the most gentle activists I have
ever met, has been a pillar of strength for the RTI movement as well as for
several other noble causes.
I have been a
frequent visitor to various meetings of these and other social activists of
Rajasthan who work on several issues of common interest with mutual
cooperation. As this case dragged on, at some of these meetings the activists
implicated could not come because of court dates. On such cases other persons
attending the case, while expressing regret that these senior activists could
not come, would invariably express resentment about why such noble persons had
been implicated in frivolous charges as no one could believe such charges
against them. It was often said that even asking such senior activists engaged
in important tasks concerning the welfare of the people, particularly the
weaker sections, to attend to such a court case for so many years was itself a
great injustice against them.
It is very
important in a democracy that those activists and citizens who take up people’s
causes against corrupt persons should get justice. When even very senior and
respected activists are subjected to years of harassment culminating in even
more injustice, this sends a very wrong message to the people’s faith in
democratic and constitutional struggles. Hence it is very much an issue of
protecting democracy and democratic rights that all the activists implicated in
this case should get justice and get it fast.
The
author is a freelance journalist who has been involved with several social
movements and campaigns.
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