Brinda Karat claimed people in Gujarat lived in an environment of fear as 'those who dared to question (like Sanjiv Bhatt) are silenced and persecuted'.
Accusing Narendra Modi of shielding criminals and victimising whistleblowers, CPI(M) Wednesday alleged the Centre was indirectly supporting the BJP government in Gujarat by maintaining a "tacit silence" and not framing a concrete witness protection act.
"It is evident Modi is trying to shield the perpetrators and victimise the whistleblowers. The Centre is indirectly supporting this by maintaining a tacit silence and dilly dallying over framing of a concrete witness protection act," CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat said at a function here.
Citing the case of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who implicated Modi in the 2002 riots, Karat claimed people in Gujarat lived in an environment of fear as "those who dared to question are silenced and persecuted".
"People in the state live in fear. Bhatt has been suspended, arrested and portrayed as a criminal just because he dared to question. Justice is being subverted and the Centre has chosen to be a silent spectator," she said.
Bhatt was arrested on September 30 on allegations of forcing a constable to file a false affidavit against Modi, implicating him in the 2002 riots, and released on bail later.
Speaking at the event, Bhatt's wife Shweta, said the officer and his family feared for their lives but affirmed they would continue their fight for justice.
"I am extremely proud of my husband. But the reward the state has given him for being honest is terrible. We are scared they will do something to us if the Centre doesn't provide us security," she said.
"But our fight for justice will continue. People who perpetrated those terrible crimes in 2002 will be brought to book," she added.
Demanding the passage of a concrete whistleblowers' Act during the upcoming winter session of Parliament, Karat said, "More fascist regimes like Modi's would sprout in the country" if a law was not passed to protect witnesses.
"The Centre has made no attempt to protect whistleblowers in the country. If the process is delayed further, more fascist regimes like Modi's would sprout in the country and the concept of democracy will fail in the process," she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}