Dholkui slums demolition flayed

VADODARA, May 10: The People8217;s Union for Civil Liberties PUCL and Congress councillor Chinnam Gandhi along with residents of the demolished Dholkui slum settlement submitted separate memorandums to Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC M V Venkatachelliah on Friday. The memorandum urged the Commission to intervene and press upon the Union and state authority 8220;to stop the rein of terror8221;.

PUCL members Tulsi Bohra, Amita Verma, Dhiru Mistry and Kirit Bhatt, among others urged the NHRC Chairman to 8220;cry halt to such official vandalism8221;.They requested Venkatacheliah to direct the government of India and all state governments to set up human rights bodies at the state, district and taluka level and also establish human rights courts.

At a meeting with the NHRC Chairman, later in the evening, PUCL members presented a short film on the aftermath of the demolition to Venkatacheliah. On viewing the film, the NHRC chairman reportedly expressed his disapproval of the demolition calling it 8220;horrific8221; and assured PUCL members that he would do the needful in the matter.