06-07-2007, 05:00 PM
<b>NGOs launch anti-Modi campaign</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Meghdoot Sharon
CNN-IBN
Posted Thursday , June 07, 2007 at 15:11
Updated Thursday , June 07, 2007 at 15:27
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Ahmedabad: Volunteers from NGOs in Gujarat - campaigners without a party - are on a road trip across the state, travelling across 900 villages, performing street plays on farmer suicides, fake encounters and unemployment.
They plan to distribute over one lakh copies of the Preamble of the Constitution, to remind people of the rights they are being deprived of.
Says a volunteer, Razzak, "The government talks of a vibrant Gujarat, but let me tell you, there is nothing vibrant here."
<b>Adds another volunteer, Laxmi, "India is a democracy, but in Gujarat, democracy does not exist. </b>We are on a trip to make people realise this."
The NGOs know that the exercise has political overtones. Coordinator <b>Shabnam Hashmi </b>says the group will fight all undemocratic forces in the state, <b>but she's clear that she's targeting the BJP government</b>.
"The need is clear. Constitutional values are under attack in Gujarat. By virtue of being pro-democracy, this karwan (campaign) is anti-Modi," says she.
With elections scheduled to be held later this year, these voices, and the ones against them, are only going to get louder.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Meghdoot Sharon
CNN-IBN
Posted Thursday , June 07, 2007 at 15:11
Updated Thursday , June 07, 2007 at 15:27
Email Print
Ahmedabad: Volunteers from NGOs in Gujarat - campaigners without a party - are on a road trip across the state, travelling across 900 villages, performing street plays on farmer suicides, fake encounters and unemployment.
They plan to distribute over one lakh copies of the Preamble of the Constitution, to remind people of the rights they are being deprived of.
Says a volunteer, Razzak, "The government talks of a vibrant Gujarat, but let me tell you, there is nothing vibrant here."
<b>Adds another volunteer, Laxmi, "India is a democracy, but in Gujarat, democracy does not exist. </b>We are on a trip to make people realise this."
The NGOs know that the exercise has political overtones. Coordinator <b>Shabnam Hashmi </b>says the group will fight all undemocratic forces in the state, <b>but she's clear that she's targeting the BJP government</b>.
"The need is clear. Constitutional values are under attack in Gujarat. By virtue of being pro-democracy, this karwan (campaign) is anti-Modi," says she.
With elections scheduled to be held later this year, these voices, and the ones against them, are only going to get louder.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->