Gujarat riot victims, survivors stand-up in support Teesta Setalvad (two reports)

[two reports below]

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/riot-victims-throw-in-their-lot-with-setalvad/2/
Riot Vitcims Throw in their Lot with Setalvad
Members of Jan Sangharsh Manch along with riot victims, survivors stage dharna in support of Teesta Setalvad, in Ahmedabad on Saturday. (Source: Javed Raja)
By: Express News Service | Ahmedabad | March 1, 2015 6:10 am

Several riot victims from Naroda Patiya and Gulberg Society have pledged their full support to the Mumbai-based human rights activist and founder of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) Teesta Setalvad, alleging that the Gujarat government was harassing her because she fought for justice for them.

Interacting with mediapersons at the premises of NGO Prashant (Tranquility) run by Fr Cedric Prakash, the victims said that whatever relief they had got so far was because of the support and backing of Setalvad.

Naeemuddin Ibrahim Sheikh, who lost his mother and brother-in-law during attack on Naroda Patiya that witnessed killing of a total of 109 persons, said that none of his relatives, many of them wealthy and settled in the United States (US and) Europe, came to his help.

“None of them even took trouble to inquire about me and my family. It is only Teesta Setalvad who came to our help. I don’t know what would have happened to the victims had Setalvad not extended her help to us,” he stated.

Another victim, Shakilabano Ansari, who lost her mother, two brothers and their wives, said that it was surprising that the riot accused were getting released on bail and were roaming around freely. The state government was victimising Setalvad simply because she helped the Muslim riot victims.

“What was our fault? Why were we attacked? Because we happened to be Muslim?,” she asked.

She said she would always stand like a rock with Setalvad who helped the victims when no body was there to help them.

“Instead of punishing the riot accused, the Gujarat police are raising objections on Setalvad so that no one else in future came to the defence of the victimised,” said Ansari.

Abdul Majeed Usmanbhai Sheikh, who lost eight of his family members, including three daughters, three sons, wife and mother, in Naroda Patiya riots, alleged that he as a BJP worker pleaded with former minister Dr Mayaben Kodnani to prevent rioters from attacking the mosque but she asked the people to attack Muslims and their properties.

“I provided evidence in the court against her and that resulted in his conviction,” claimed Sheikh. He appreciated Setalvad for the “heroic role” she played in assisting the victims in the legal battle.

Sairaben Sheikh, who lost four members of her family in the Gulberg Society, including her son, said that she did not know how to lodge an FIR or a court case. Nor did they have money for a legal fight in the case.

“It was Setalvad who gave us moral and material support and motivated us to fight the case in the court,”, said Sairaben.
“We will never abandon Teesta Setalvad,” she asserted.
resident of Gulberg Society, who lost her minor son Azhar during attack on the Gulberg Society in which former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was also killed along with 62 others, said: “No amount of harassment from the state government could weaken our resolve to fight for justice.”



http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?programId=1073755754&contentId=18472755

GUJARAT
Godhra riot victims relive painful days
By Nandini Oza

Emotions ran high at a small gathering organised under the aegis of Citizens for Justice and Peace headed by activist Teesta Setalvad, on February 28. In 2002, on this day, communal riots had played havoc with the lives of more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims.
The riots were in retaliation for the death of 59 persons, who were burnt alive on board coach S6 of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra a day before. Thirteen years have passed since the blood bath, but the wounds of the riots, which continued for nearly a month, are still fresh in the minds of the victims and their kin.
Even as they became emotional, they rallied behind Setalvad, maintaining that she was being unnecessarily harassed and that it was done to bring down the morale of the NGOs and activists supporting the victims.
Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand have been in the radar of the Ahmedabad Crime branch, for allegedly swindling funds collected for building a “Museum of Resistance” at the Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad. The Supreme Court has directed Gujarat police not to arrest them and asked the duo to furnish documents demanded by the police. Former Congress MP Ehsan jafri was among those killed in the Gulberg Society.
Abdul Majeed Mohammad Usman Sheikh, 60, broke down and then regained his composure and vowed to fight till the end for justice. An eyewitness in Naroda Patiya case, Sheikh claimed he had seen right-wing leader Babu Bajrangi cutting open a pregnant woman's womb. “Half of the accused are out on bail. The victims need justice and so does Setalvad,” said Sheikh, who lost eight members of his family in the riots.
Quoting from the Gita and Quran, Sheikh categorically said that the scriptures are not wrong but it is people's mentality that is wrong.
Another victim and witness Naeem Sheikh felt as if they are still gheraoed. “What was our fault? Was it that we were Muslims,” he asked and went on to add that had it not been for Setalvad the government would have put them behind bars as accused.
Rallying behind Setalvad, another victim survivor Saira Sandhi said that they did not know anything about courts. “Circumstances have taught us everything,” she said, adding that even when they go to get documents photocopied, they are charged. “Teesta has not charged anything from the victims for the last 13 years,” she said.
Later, the victims joined a group from the Jan Sangharsh Manch, which is also fighting for the riot victims, at a programme organised in Sardar Baug, in Ahmedabad.