‘Nadeem’s could be a political murder’

Though RTI activists across the state are shocked over the death of Nadeem Saiyed, their fighting spirit has remained unshaken. All RTI activists have expressed profound grief over the murder of Saiyed and called for a silent protest at Juhapura on Sunday afternoon.

Many of the RTI activists indicated that as Saiyed was an important witness in the 2002 riot cases, it cannot be denied that he could have been murdered due to political reasons. Mahesh Pandya, an environmental activist, said: "He was one of the important witnesses in 2002 riot cases and the   government had given him police security, but he was killed. It shows that the law and order situation in the state has been deteriorated. It cannot be denied that if Saiyed could have been murdered due to political reasons."

He further said, "It is observed that whoever is trying to expose the corruption in the state government, which is wrapped under the name of development, is either killed or attacked or jailed."

RTI activist and founder of Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) Harinesh Pandya said, "It is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order in the state. After such frequent incidents, the state should take serious steps. The state should instruct the police to take the complaints of threats to RTI activist seriously."

Bhikhubhai Jethava, father of slain RTI activist Amit Jethava who was killed in front of Gujarat High Court in July last year, said: "In last two years, three RTI activists have been murdered in Gujarat _ Vishram Dodiya in Surat, Amit Jethava and Nadeem Saiyed in Ahmedabad. The fourth was Jabardan Gadhvi, who was forced to commit suicide in Rapar. Apart from these killings, there are a number of RTI activists, who have been brutally attacked.

Bhagubhai Devani of Porbandar, Prafulbhai Korat of Una and Manisha Goswami of Vapi are some of them. The killers should understand that if they kill one RTI activist, there will be 1,000 new activists born in his place to fight corruption."

He further said, "Whoever is asking for information about the corrupt BJP government's ministers, party workers and mafias, they are being attacked, and the 'Big brother' sitting in Gandhinagar is providing safety to these goons. Same is the case in Maharashtra, where it is Congress-led state government. Whichever political party is in power, they are punishing the people who are raising their voices against their corruption."

Noted RTI activist Bharatsinh Zala said, "He had filed several RTI applications asking for information on the basic infrastructural facilities in Juhapura. Activists, who are fighting for the truth, always carry the risk of their life. They are either killed, jailed or forgotten by society."

Saiyed had talked to activist Vinod Pandya about the threats to his life. Pandya said, "I was with him on October 22-23 at Jamnagar. He had talked about the threats to his life. He was fighting against the people, who are powerful in terms of money and political back-up.”