Stop harassing the Gandhian leader Lakhan Musafir : 200 write with former BJP CM of Gujarat

March 26, 2020

More than 200 academics, activists, students, business-persons, other concerned citizens have sought Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani’s intervention to stop harassment of Gandhian Sarvodaya activist Lakhan Musafir, an active campaigner for tribal rights and opponent of land acquisition for the Statue of Unity tourism project.

Signed by former BJP chief minister Suresh Mehta, veteran Gandhian Indukumar Jani, Sarvodayaist Prakash N Shah, sociologist Prof Ghanshyam Shah and environmentalist Rohit Prajapati, referring to the notice given to Musafir by Rajpipla sub-divisional magistrate, the letter says, the decision to bar him from entering five South Gujarat districts is defamatory, illegal, malafide, and a misuse of one’s position to deny a person his fundamental rights.

We, the undersigned, are social and political activists and guardians of public life and wish to draw your urgent attention to an extremely important matter. It pertains to the upholding of democratic norms and a vibrant public life and we expect that you will treat the matter with the seriousness and urgency that it deserves and take appropriate steps.

Lakhanbhai Musafir has been served a notice barring his entry in five districts (Narmada, Bharuch, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur and Tapi) for two years by the Rajpipla Sub-Divisional Magistrate KD Bhagat. Citing a police report, he states that:

“… We know Lakhanbhai Megjibhai Musafir very well and he is not into any ‘honest business or profession’ and along with his companions is always involved in anti-social and illegal organizing of people in the Kevadia area against the Statue of Unity and other projects of tourism being undertaken by the Narmada Nigam and is misleading the people into anti-government activity and indulges in anti-government slogan shouting in public, creates obstacles in government’s work and disturbs the law and order of the area.

“If he is stopped in doing so he and his companions organize into illegal groups and organize violent attacks and they argue and get into altercations with the staff of Narmada Nigam on trivial matters and creates an atmosphere of terror.

“He displays a communal mindset and often targets the Statue of Unity by getting together antisocial elements, gives refuge to anti-government elements from outside the state and organizes meetings in the neighbouring villages and disturbs the peace of the area….”
The notice is long and repetitive and hence we are not reproducing it here.

The entire description, without any exaggeration on our part, is piece of fiction spun by a police constable which an officer of the rank of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has merely ‘copied and pasted’ without any investigation at his level and displays a lack of discernment and ordinary common sense on his part.
We wish to appraise you with details of just who this individual, Lakhan Musafir, thus described by the SDM really is.

1982: He is the one who heard of Vinoba Bhave’s Gauraksha Satyagraha against abettoirs at Deonar (Mumbai) in 1982 and was inspired to follow in Gandhi’s footsteps;
1985: He worked for five months in VInoba Bhave’s Pavnar ashram (Wardha, Maharashtra) in 1985 and worked in the gaushala there;
First half of 1985: He spent one and a half years with Dr Dwarkadas Joshi (a noted Gandhian and a successful eye specialist in Mumbai, who left his medical practice to join freedom movement, later he settled near Vadnagar, started a centre for TB patients there) during his gau-gram padyatra in North Gujarat, Kutchchh and contributed in the youth camps, organic farming and other rural development initiatives. This is the same Dr. Dwarkadas Joshi who the current PM and the former CM of Gujarat had acknowledged as owing his public life to the inspiration provided by Dr. Joshi and who presided over the function to felicitate the then CM in a public function in Visnagar. Thus, his formation as a social worker happened under the guidance of a leading Gandhian of that time.

From 1986 to 1989 he stayed in Rajpipla on a friend’s farm and practiced organic farming along with helping to build public toilets and bathrooms and bio-gas plants in the neighbouring Adivasi villages.
From 1989 to 1992 he stayed in Dheduki area of Rajkot district where he continued his engagement on promoting toilet-bathroom construction and organic farming and also initiated educational activities like balwadi and aanganwadi.
Then again from 1992 to 1998 he remained in Kantindra village of Rajpipla where he continued his focus on organic farming and also organized the production of chemical-free organic jaggery so that farmers may realize a good price and consumers can get chemical-free jaggery.

From 1998 to 2004 he continued his efforts to promote organic farming and turn farmers towards it.

2004 onwards he worked relentlessly to get farmers to start value-addition to their produce in order to augment their incomes and reap the benefit of their hard work. He also worked to get the Adivasi children admitted in the Navodaya Vidyalaya there so that the education level and the prospects of Adivasi children could improve drastically. Alongside, he kept up his engagement with the local farmers so that they could independently work to resolve their local issues.

Lakhan Musafir
The year 2013 onwards he stood alongside the small Adivasi landowners/farmers in their (yet more state-sponsored) crises – Garudeshwar Wier, and KADA – Kevadia Area Development Authority. He not only provided legal guidance but also approached the National Green Tribunal and the High Court of Gujarat with petitions.
In the anti-KADA agitation the then Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel and the then Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel held meetings with him and ultimately the government canceled its decision to declare an ADA there.

The person who has devoted his entire life to preserving constitutional values and who walked tirelessly in Gandhi’s footsteps, who eschewed the path of “earning money” and dedicated his life to public good and public welfare is today being termed by the SDM as…
“…this anti-social person routinely issues threats and resorts to physical force or violence…”!
How can SDM even imagine that this person, who walks on Gandhiji’s path of non-violent social service, lives among the poorest of the poor, works for their education, is an anti-social person and resorts to physical force?

“…does not do any acceptable honest work…”!
Disagreements with issues or motives or social movements is acceptable part of democracy, and debates and solutions can follow from that

How can a social worker, who has devoted his life to serving people, be doing acceptable honest work? We have had several social workers like Ravishankar Maharaj, Babalbhai Mehta, Jugatramkaka and Chunibhai Vaidya who have never pursued a profession ever. They found their life’s mission in serving the poorest of the poor, the last person.

The third serious charge against Lakhan Musafir in the notice is: He has a communal mindset. Who has accused him so? Without any complaint or law suit to the effect, without any proof or examination, how can the police determine his “communal mindset”?

We, the undersigned, have known Lakhanbhai directly or through his work and writings. The Lakhan Musafir described in the notice is a fictitious character and not to be confused with the real Lakhan Musafir who we all know. The ‘charges’ in the notice (if at all they can be called so) are not just outright lies but are most obviously defamatory. We thus call upon you to recall the notice with immediate effect.

We, as aware and vigilant citizens, wish to also make it clear to you that this is not a healthy precedent being set in your term as CM, and must be stopped immediately. Disagreements with issues or motives or social movements is an acceptable part of democracy, and debates, discussions and solutions can follow from that.

But hurling defamatory charges at an individual and misusing the law or one’s position to deny a person his fundamental rights is an illegal and malafide act. We have no reason to believe that this would have happened on orders from your government. If so, then we wish to draw your attention and demand that:

The notice be recalled immediately;
A high-level inquiry be instituted into how the notice came to be, who did it and on whose orders;

Immediate punitive steps be initiated against the officer out to deny democratic rights to an individual by spinning a fiction.

If the above are not initiated then it would mean one thing and one thing only: viz the entire episode happened on the orders of your government. This case cannot stand in a court of law and may/can/will result in “bad press” for your government, within and outside Gujarat.

We are hopeful of immediate and adequate actions in the interests of constitutionality, legality and morality.

Looking forward to immediate steps in the interests of the state and society.

SIGNATORIES

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Indukumar Jani, activist, writer

Suresh Mehta, former Chie Minister, Gujarat

Ghanshyam Shah, Retd. Professor (Sociology)

Prakash N. Shah, Editor ‘Nirikshak’

Rajnibhai Dave, Editor ‘Bhoomiputra’

Swati Desai, activist, writer

Anand Mazgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

Rohit Prajapati, environmental expert, PUCL

Jayrambhai Patel, Samanvay Education Trust

Virji, organic farmer

Ashok Gohil, Niramay Clinic

Krishnakant Chauhan, activist

Parth Trivedi, activist, writer

Sagar Rabari, Khedut Ekta Manch, activist, writer-journalist

Persis Ginwalla, activist, Khedut Ekta Manch

Chandubhai Maheria, journalist, writer

Hiren Gandhi, activist

Mahesh Pandya, environmental expert, activist

Dev Desai, activist

Hidayat Parmar, social activist

Sanjay Bhave, Professor

Neeta Pandya, social activist

Saroop Dhruv, writer, activist

Neeta Hardikar, social activist

Utpal Anish, researcher, Gujarat Vidyapeeth

Meera Sanghamitra, NAPM

Devang Soni, social worker

Pratiksha Parmar, social worker

Fulaben Tadvi, Narmada Mahila Manav Adhikar Manch

Kapilaben Tadvi, Narmada Mahila Manav Adhikar Manch

Svati Joshi, academician-activist

Alka Palrecha, Architect

Dhiru Mistry, PUCL

Salim Patel, Prakruti Suraksha Mandal (Ankleshwar)

Shaukat Indori, President Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Gujarat

Kamlesh Madhivala, President, Samast Bharuch Jilla Machhimar Sangh

Kinakeshkumar Vachhani, Trader

Bhupat Parekh, activist, Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal

Vimal Navaparia, Youth for Swaraj

Chinu Shrinivasan, Health activist

Gova Rathod, social activist

Janantik Shukla, film maker

Virjibhai Jasani, social worker

Akhilesh Dave, Radical Humanist Society

Mandaben Patel, Gandhi Peace Foundation

Hasmukhbhai Patel, Samvedna, Sarvodaya Parisar, Virampur

Nita Mahadev, Gujarat Lok Samiti

Mudita Vidrohi, Gujarat Lok Samiti

Mahadev Vidrohi, Sarva Seva Sangh

Jatin Sheth, social activist

Shamshad Pathan, Alpsankhyak Adhikar Manch

Jahanara Rangrez, human rights activist

Tanushree Gangopadhyaya, journalist

Ashok Shrimali, Mines, Minerals & People

Mahendrasinh Karmaria, Bharuch district Khedut Samaj

Nandini Oza, writer-researcher

Valji Viradia, Vice-President, Samanvaya Welfare & Education Trust

Aniruddhsinh Jadeja, Society for Fast Justice, former convenor Saurashtra Lok Samiti

Vipul Pandya, General Secretary, Bandhkam Mazdoor Sangathan

Sushila Virji, organic farmer

Darshana Trivedi, homemaker

Shailja Desai, student of social work

Manishi Jani, writer and human rights activist

Jyotibhai Desai, educationist, Gandhian activist

Fenil Mevada, social worker, Ahmedabad

Daniel Mazgaonkar, Sarvodaya activist

Neha Shah, professor

Badribhai Joshi, Sarvodaya worker, Shanti Gram Nirman Mandal

Rajan Barot, professor

Jimmy Regina C. Dabhi, social activist

Hiranya Killiyari, Architect

Hemant Shah, professor

Kapil Shah, organic farming promoter

Rafi Malek, activist

Rohit Shukla, educationist, thinker and writer

Mansi Patel, law student

Natubhai Lage Raho, Gulabi Gang, Lok Andolan Gujarat

Shobha Malbari, social worker, Ekal Mahila Sathi Manch

Dr. Lata Shah, social worker

Ashok Bhargava, social worker

Jayesh Rathi, Thoughtful Civilian for Ecology and Environment

Mansi Shah, CEPT University

Kirtikumar Thakar, social worker

Arjanbhai Ramani, Managing Trustee, D. B. Patel Education Trust

Keshavbhai Goti, Vice President, Diamond Hospital

Rajendra Khimani, Gandhian

Himanshu Modi, Gujarat Biradari

Priti Shah, social worker

Sejal Dand, social worker

Jay Patel, student

Bhargav Oza, student

Mujaheed Nafees, human rights activist

Mahendra Bhatt, sarvodaya worker

Bhartiben Bhatt, sarvodaya worker

Trupti Parekh, social worker

Rajesh Mishra, social worker

Ambrish, social worker

Smita Desai, organic farmer

Harish Desai, retd. Bank officer and farmer

Suniti S. R., NAPM Maharashtra

Balwantbhai Desai, concerned citizen

Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM

Sanjay M. G., NAPM

Dipali Rajyaguru, promoter of Gandhian thought

Dipti-Raju, social worker

Himmatbhai Viradia, farmer

Dipakbhai Dholakia, Convenor – ICAN

Akshay Vaghasia, farmer

Dr. Bharat Shah, Director, Naturopathy Centre

Tanmay Timir, writer

Dashrath Charkata, social worker

Geeta Desai, social worker

Yatra Kanti, organic farmer

Harshad Sonpal, concerned citizen

Tapan Dasgupta, SUCI (Communist)

Nirad Vidrohi, entrepreneur and development professional

Sanjay Dhamelia, ex-Sarpanch, member Rajgadh Seva Sahakari Mandali

Charul Bharwada, researcher, musician

Vinay Mahajan, researcher, musician

Keshav Italia, industrialist

Babubhai Lathia, ex-Sarpanch, Rajgadh, Bhavnagar

Suresh T. Bhojani, President Nandigram Society, Surat

Jagdish Patel, Vadodara

Lalit K. Dhola, Rajgadh

Pankaj Bhatt, social worker

Rasik T. Bhojani

Ramesh Viradia

Paresh M. Sheta, labour contractor

Kalpesh T. Bhojani, Samanvay Welfare Trust

Valjibhai B. Kasodaria, Ram Darbar Parivar Trust

Gautam M. Dhamelia

Manish Vora, professor, Pune

Kuldeep Sagar, farmer-leader

Anilbhai Maganbhai Viradia

Gitaben K. Dhola, Sarpanch, Rajgadh, Bhavnagar

Krunal Gala, social worker

Manish Shah, CEPT University

Kalpesh Thakarbhai Bhojani, BJP Vice president Ward no. 7, Katargam, Surat

Prachi Vidya Dublaya, Ahmedabad University

Renu Khanna, social worker

Kamal, social worker

Kshiti Bhatt, musician

Amit Shah, environmental educationist

Ghanshyam Patel, PUCL

Harsh Kingar, student

Manu V. Gajera

Jyotsna, Brahmvidya mandir, Pavnar, Maharashtra

Nalini, Brahmvidya mandir, Pavnar, Maharashtra

Minu, Brahmvidya mandir, Pavnar, Maharashtra

Sheela, Brahmvidya mandir, Pavnar, Maharashtra

Usha, Brahmvidya mandir, Pavnar, Maharashtra

Haresh R. Machhi, Umargam Machhimar Sangathan

Rohit Patel, Shantigram Nirman Mandal

Sonali, Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal

Niraj, Maldhari farmer

Lakhubhai Miyani

Bhaveshbhai Miyani

Dr. Rajesh Miyani

Suhagben Mehta, science teacher, nature lover, Bhilvasi

Abha Tandel, Umargam Machhimar Sangathan

Pravinbhai Machhi, Umargam Machhimar Sangathan

Nirjhari Desai, professor and musicial

Dilip Desai, Vadodara

Kishor Desai, Convenor, AAP-Gujarat

Pravinsinh Jadeja, ex-minister, GoG

Ashwin Desai, Rajgadh

Yogesh Viradia, Rajgadh

Mahesh R. Hadikki, Rajgadh

Kapil Devmori, Rajgadh

Lalsinh Gamit, Adivasi Ekta Parishad

Amarsinh Z. Chaudhary, Adivasi Samanvay Manch

Ashok Chaudhary, Adivasi Ekta Parishad

Dr. Shantikar Vasava, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, Rajpipla

Bhupendra Chaudhary, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, Titawa

Chaitanya Bhatt, educationist

Sonal Bhatt, educationist

Damyanti Modi, retd. professor

Parul Dandikar, Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal

Nimisha Desai, social worker

Aseem Mishra

Shamjibhai Patel, businessman

Thakarshibhai Banker, businessman

Narsinhbhai D. Shera, businessman

Sureshbhai Patel, businessman

Haribhai R. Viradia, businessman

Hiteshbhai Vaghani, businessman

Chandubhai Patel, businessman

Mohanbhai Vaghani, businessman

Punjabhai Hirpara, retired bureaucrat

Narendrabhai Goradia, businessman

Thakarshibhai Goti, businessman

Jayeshbhai Patel, businessman

Kalpeshbhai Bhojani, businessman

Kantibhai Navadia, businessman

Sanjaybhai Navadia, businessman

Nagjibhai Navadia, businessman

Babubhai Nileshbhai Bhojani, businessman

Devrajbhai Bhojani, businessman

Vipulbhai Patel, businessman

Shamjibhai Shed, retired teacher

Vipulbhai Mayani, retired teacher

Ketanbhai Patel, businessman

Mukeshbhai Patel, businessman

Arjunbhai Khant, businessman

Harshadbhai Patel, businessman

Parasbhai Khant, businessman

Mitulbhai Dhola, businessman

Dantesh Bhavsar, social worker

Bharat Jambucha, Organic Farmers’ group

Bhagirathsinh Gohil, Dy. Sarpanch, Jasapara, Bhavnagar

Shrikant Mehta, retd. engineer

Shaktisinh Gohil, Jasapara, Bhavnagar

Arjanbhai Dabhi, Mithi Virdi, Bhavnagar

Pushpa Anand Maldhari, organic farmer

Rameshbhai Virani, Khedut Ekta Manch

Kanji Tadvi, Member, Taluka Panchayat Garudeshwar