Congress MLA seeks FIR against Mahisagar Collector

Holding a press conference on the issue at Congress headquarters,  in Ahmedabad Tuesday, Mevani said that applicant Vijay Parmar, a Dalit, had shot the video while making a presentation to the Collector during the taluka-level SWAGAT programme held in Lunawada. The programme is an initiative of Gujarat government for redressal of people’s grievances.

During the press conference, Vijay Parmar alleged that on October 23, he initially left the room after his complaint was heard during the event. However, he again went inside, while video recording the conversation, to inquire  about an application  by his brother in February which was unresolved.

Parmar alleged that after replying to his query, the Collector noticed the conversation being recorded and got his mobile phone taken. He alleged that later police were called in and he was taken to a police station where he was detained from 1 pm to 8 pm . Meanwhile, Collector Neha Kumari issued a statement calling Parmar’s allegations “false and baseless”. According to the statement, Parmar and his brother are accused of serious criminal cases with charges like minor’s kidnapping, rape, extortion etc. Parmar had repeatedly interfered in the SWAGAT programme while behaving in an uncivilised manner before women officers, said the statement.The statement condemned Parmar’s allegation and said that he was trying to hide his misdemeanor by putting forward his community.It also said that the district administration ‘never supports casteism/separatism’.

Mevani alleged that the Collector’s  remarks  could “create animosity” between the people of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and the general category community members. Mevani said, “I want to ask her (the Collector) if there is any survey by the Home ministry/department of Central/State governments or Social Justice & Empowerment department or by Mahisgaar Collector on it…  Do you have any empirical data on it (the purported comment that 90% of the cases are filed for blackmailing)?” “It is a matter of great concern if what would a Collector, whose mind is so much biased and who holds such prejudice against Adivasis and Dalits, will do in their revenue, criminal and atrocity related matters…And therefore, I demand that a case under Section 4 and 3(1)(R) of Atrocity Act and relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita be registered against Mahisagar Collector Neha Kumari and she should be suspended with immediate effect,” Mevani said.

Asked about the purported video and allegations levelled by Mevani, Neha Kumari said that she had not seen the video.