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Journalism of Courage
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GANDHINAGAR, DEC 15: The BJP Government heaved a sigh of relief, as Bishop Ezra Sargunam left Gujarat this evening for his home State in Tamil Nadu. The Bishop, who came to Gujarat to protest the November 26 incident in which a church was ransacked at Chhindia village in Vyara taluka, had been camping here since November 29.
"My other commitments compel me to return to Tamil Nadu. The Bishops and other Christian leaders and human rights activists from all over Gujarat, in their struggle for justice, peace and harmony, have also taken up the cause (the Chhindia church episode) which brought me here. Their efforts, I am sure, will not be in vain", the Bishop said in a statement before leaving the State.
In the statement, the Bishop, the Tamil Nadu Minorities Commission chairman, said the attack on the Chhindia church had forced him to undertake a fast in support of the Kotwalia tribals of that village "who were feeling very intimidated and terrorised. I prayed that justice may prevail. Alas this was not to be".
"However, at the instance of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, I came to Gandhinagar to the Gujarat CM. This appointment was originally promised… but then, without a word being communicated to me officially, it was refused", he said.
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya told reporters that the Bishop and his follower Father Raiv Ishudas were on Thursday granted an annticipatory bail by the additional sessions judge, Surat, at Vyara, on condition that both would not enter into the Vyara sub-division without having written permission from the court till the chargesheet is filed against them.
In its order, the court said the investigating officer was at liberty to call both the applicants (the Bishop and Father) for interrogation before the DSP (Surat Rural) after giving necessary notice of 48 hours. The court also directed the applicants not to tamper or threaten the prosecution witness.
Pandya said the anticipatory bail to the Bishop and Fr Ishudas was granted in a criminal case filed by Puniabhai in the Vyara court, alleging that the two Christian leaders had trespassed in his property and hurt his religious feelings.
The minister said ACS (Home) V V Ramsubbarao wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart A P Muthiswami on Thursday, drawing the latter’s attention to the "Bishop’s provocative activity in Gujarat".
Subbarao also explained in his letter that the Bishop was denied a meeting with Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel in view of the matter being sub-judice.
There are local Christian leaders who can take of their community members in Gujarat, and that the government will not tolerate any attempt by outsiders to disturb the peace in the State, Pandya asserted, saying that all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure peaceful celebrations of Christmas in Gujarat.
Senior officers of the State Home Department and the police, including the ACS (Home), the DGP and the Collectors and DSPs of Surat, Valsad, Navsari and Dagngs districts, reviewed the law and order situation in South Gujarat at a meeting held in Gandhinagar on Thursday.
The SRP and Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans will be posted in sensitive areas to help the local police in maintaining law and order during the coming Christmas and New Year festivals, the meeting decided.
