|
Action Alerts
|
Press Release Protest
against PC Pandey’s appointment to CBI The Citizens for Justice and Peace has taken strong exception to the appointment of Shri PC Pandey, former Commissioner of Police PC Pandey to post of additional director CBI just at a time when this agency is involved in handling the investigation into the carnages in Gujarat. The CJP is also considering challening the appointment in Court.
In the letter, the CJP states, ‘One of the critical matters that we have been handling is the Gulberg society massacre where over 60 innocents were brutally massacred in broad daylight in an attack that lasted 7 hours. Meghaninagar where gulberg society is located is within Ahmedabad city. The late Shri ahsan Jaffri was one of the unfortunate victims in this massacre.
‘Shri PC Pandey who has now been appointed asDeputy Director CBI was CP Ahmedabad on that fateful day and even visited Shri Jaffri at 10.30 a.m. on that day. It was due to his visit and arrival that re-inforcements would soon be sent that all rsidents of Gulberg society did not vacate their homes. If they had, they would have lived. Alas, no reinforcements arrived and the rest , as they say, is sordid and tragic history. Naroda Gaon and Patiya too, where over 110 persons were butchered in another daylight masteminded carnage (that also lasted several hours) too comes under the jurisdiction of CP Pandey at the time.
‘Eyewitness statements and fact-finding reports have directly indicted Shri PC Pandey for his failure to follow the dictates of his uniform and India’s Constitutional Mandate.
‘For a man who’s career stands tainted by his utter and complete failure to give protection to innocent persons under his jurisdiction, for a man against whom neither the Gujarat government has lodged a departmental inquiry --nor the centre raised questions about this laxity and failure—to be appointed as Deputy Director of the CBI in the midst of the ongoing gruseome investigations being conducted by this agency itself causes deep apprehensions and raises suspicions.
‘Incidentally the prayers and reliefs demanded by many petitioners before the Honorable Supreme Court include transference of investigation into the Godhra and post Godhra carnages to CBI. If this agency is filled with hose officers from Gujarat who’s reputations were besmirched in their handling of the carnage, what confidence can such an agency have? For such an appointment, moreover to be effected at a time when matters are being heard in the SC also makes the issue shocking to say the least.
‘The fact that the party in power in Gujarat is also the same as the one that dominates the NDA alliance at the Centre and is also the same party to whom the Deputy prime Minister LK Advani—who handles the Home Portfolio and who, therefore okayed this controversial and shocking appointment is also no coincidence.Shri Advani wins his election from Gandhinagar Gujarat and is on the verge of fighting another term from there.
‘In the interests of justice, justice must not only be done but be seen to be done. We take deep exception to this appointment, felt it right that we bring it to your notice today and we may actually also be challenging it in court.
We urge you to carry this in your publication.
Teesta Setalvad Secretary
The Times of India 18 February 2004
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/502460.cms New CBI additional Directors PTI NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (PTI) Senior IPS officers P C Pande and D Mukerjee have been appointed Additional Directors General in CBI on deputation basis, a Home Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. While Pande is a 1970 batch officer from the Gujarat cadre, Mukerjee belongs to the 1971 batch of Tamil Nadu cadre. Their appointments would come into effect from the date of assumption of charge. |
||||