Today’s Times of India has reported that CBI has filed criminal charges against the well known human rights activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand.
As per the statement of Teesta, refuting all claims of violation of FCRA norms by the CBI, the financial support she has received is after the deduction of TDS. And even if any mistake has happened in the process, the normal process is to fine for such mistakes. There is absolutely no need for issuing criminal charges. Placing Teesta Setalvad as a criminal, exhibits the decadency of CBI as a puppet of Narendra Modi in their support for vindictiveness of Modi against Teesta Setalvad, for raising the responsibility of his role as a Chief Minister in Gujarat genocide.
As a Prime Minister of this country, if Narendra Modi has any problem with Teesta Setalvad, he should place all those criticisms under the Indian Constitution and not use CBI to do the dirty job for him. CBI officials should also realise that by doing such dirty jobs, the credibility of CBI as an institution is under question mark, among the public with independent minds. The need for the hour is for all secular groups, parties and individuals, all human rights organisations and minority groups, womens’ groups and all civil society groups to defend the human rights violation of a human rights defender called Teesta Setalvad. If the civil society cannot defend the human rights of a human rights defender, then fascism is the only answer for this country.
K.P Sasi is a well known film maker
