Contact: Narmad Meghani Library,

Opp. Natraj Railway Crossing,

Meethakhali, Ellisbridge,
Ahmedabad-380006.
Ph. No. (079) 26579962.
10 November 2015

To,
Sh. Pranab Mukherjee,
The President of India,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi.

GUJARAT CITIZENS STATEMENT

AGAINST INTOLERANCE
His excellency,
We, the concerned citizens of Gujarat, stand by the artists, scientists, writers,
academicians, intellectuals who oppose the atmosphere of intolerance, hatred and fear; and
return their awards. We feel that this is the time when the civil society should rise and resist
what is going on in the country. Intolerance as well as communal and caste hatred have been
in the country since long. But after the rise of Mr. Narendra Modi and RSS, intolerance,
violence and hatred have become the instruments of power and have been politically and
deliberately encouraged. The cold blooded murder of the intellectuals, two in Maharashtra
and one in Karnataka is its glaring example.
The fanatical propagation of cow slaughter and killing people in the name of so-called
holy cow, the horrible incident of Dadri and burning of Dalits in Haryana have become
incidents in the country with the reason that atmosphere of fear and insecurity has increased
throughout the country. There are direct attacks on freedom of speech and expression. Still
worse, these violent incidents are supported by the member of ruling party and silence of the
Prime Minister show that present government is committed to this ideology.
Arrogant defense like statement of Mr. Arun Jaitley that Mr. Narendra Modi has
become the object of great intolerance is ridiculous because the non violent opposition to
intolerant Modi cannot be considered as intolerance towards Modi. We believe that these
acts of violence, hatred and intolerance pose a great threat to democratic, secular, pluralistic
India which is the very foundation of our constitution. All these incidents are proof of a
conscious movement towards fascism based upon racial pride, violence, hatred and
intolerance. These anti democratic forces seem to be determined to convert India into a
theocratic state where all minorities and non believers have to live at the mercy of majority.
This is also violating the fundamental duty of every citizen to develop the scientific temper,
humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.
Prime Mister Mr. Modi in his foreign tour once pronounced that now people feel
proud to be an Indian. But the reality is just the opposite. The recent incidents show that
people rather feel ashamed. The Sangh Parivar and the government want to take the country
into the ancient age. In Gujarat also, the atmosphere of Fear, Hatred and Intolerance prevails.
1

Freedom of Expression and Right to Protest are denied. The protestors of Dholera SIR have
to approach the High Court for their Protest March & Sedition Act is used for Political
Vendetta in the State.
Under the circumstances, we request you to intervene and maintain the democratic and
secular fabric of our country.
We also appeal sane, liberal and progressive members of the civil society to stand up
and resist the direct attacks on basic principles of Constitution.
N.B. WE REQUEST YOU TO GIVE AN APPOINTMENT DURING YOUR VISIT TO
GUJARAT (AHMEDABAD) ON 1ST OF DECEMBER.
Yours Sincerely,
We are
PRAKASH N. SHAH

GIRISH PATEL

MALLIKA SARABHAI

President, PUCL, Gujarat

Well known advocate

Danseuse and activist

PROF. ROHIT SHUKLA

INDUKUMAR JANI

PROF. DINESH SHUKLA

President, Gujarat, AISEC

Editor, Naya Marg

DR. RAGHU RANGARAJAN

PROF. GHANSHYAM SHAH

DWARIKANATH RATH

Scientist

Social Scientist

Secretary, M.S.D.

FR. FRANCIS PARMAR

URVISH KOTHARI

FATHER CEDRIC PRAKASH

Journalist

Director, PRASHANT

SAGAR RABARI

PROF. BHARAT MEHTA

GAUTAM THAKER

Secretary, Gujarat Khedut

Samaj

Reader, M.S. University

General Secretary,
Gujarat, PUCL

PANKTI JOG

MANISHI JANI

SAROOP DHRUV

RTI Activist

Gujarati Writers
Association

Writer

PROF. SANJAY BHAVE

HIREN GANDHI

SVATI JOSHI

Director, Darshan

Retired Professor, Delhi

University

VINAY MAHAJAN

CHARUL BHARWADA

M. 9879919421

DHIRU MISTRY

Artist

Artist, Loknaad

Artist, Loknaad

MEENAKSHI JOSHI

RAJANI DAVE

PROF. KUNTAL MEHTA

Activist

Gujarat Sarvoday
Mandal

DILIP CHANDULAL

PROF. DHAVAL MEHTA

HARINESH PANDYA
Janpath

Activist
MANJULA PRADEEP

RANJANBEN DESAI

NAYANABEN SHAH

Navsarjan

Citizen

Citizen

HANSABEN SHAH

NILA ANIL BHATT

PROF. VIPIN H. SHAH

Citizen

Citizen

MAHENDRA JETHMALANI

BHARATSINH JHALA

SADHANABEN PANDYA

Patheya

CRANTI

Citizen

PERSIS GINWALLA

MEHUL DEVKALA

DR. HANIF LAKDAWALA

JAAG

Artist

Sanchetna

DR. JHARNA PATHAK

PRAVIN PANDYA

BEENA MACWAN

Economist

Writer

Activist

ARIF MIRZA

JOHN. DSOUZA

Citizen

Citizen

PROF. MANGALABEN
MEHTA

ISHWAR PRAJAPATI

ASHOK SHRIMALI

Activist

Activist

MAHESH PANDYA

PROF. HEMANTKUMAR
SHAH

DR. NIVYA PATEL

RAVJI SONDARVA

REKHA MAHIDA

DR. DAMINI SHAH

Cinematographer

Citizen

KANJI PATEL

DR. SUBHASH JOSHI

YASHWANT MEHTA

Litterateur

Social Scientist

Writer

PROF. KANU KHADADIYA

MAHADEV VIDROHI

PROF. BABUBHAI DESAI

Editor, Paryavaran Mitra

Sarvodaya Seva Sangh

DR. ILABEN JOSHI