The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Zahira's u-turn

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 05, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Zahira's u-turn

Sir, — This refers to the retraction of the statement by Zahira Sheikh, key eyewitness in the Best Bakery case, and her accusations against rights activist Teesta Setalvad. It is unfortunate that Ms. Sheikh is pointing an accusing finger at the very people who moved heaven and earth to get the trial transferred out of Gujarat in a bid to secure justice for the riot victims.

Vijay Veerla,
London

* * *

Sir, — Ms. Sheikh's u-turn crosses all limits of credibility.

G. Radhakrishnan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Sir, — Ms. Sheikh's latest turnaround will have serious repercussions for other victims who have had the courage to stand by their statements.

Diana Sahu,
Cuttack, Orissa

* * *

Sir, — Rights activists who have been fighting for the Gujarat riot victims should not feel let down by this act of Ms. Sheikh.

M. Imthiaz Ahmed,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Ms. Sheikh's frequent denials of recorded statements should be treated as contempt of court. I hope she does not join the BJP next.

Sowjanya Kapoor,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — The retraction is worrying. Having said that, one also wonders whether the rights activists, in their enthusiasm to secure justice, have overreached themselves.

Prashanth Kamath,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — The latest twist in the Best Bakery case is baffling. The court should treat this as a serious matter.

Md. Mudassir Alam,

Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

Sir, — The case has had a tremendous effect on democracy and the criminal justice system in India. If Ms. Sheikh's allegation that she was threatened by Ms. Setalvad is true, it reflects poorly on all the activists and others who were instrumental in the case being transferred out of Gujarat.

K.G. Acharya,
Mumbai

* * *

Sir, — Ms. Sheikh's statement gives the impression that the self-styled civil rights activists are a bunch of publicity seekers.

Anand & Swati Sriram,
Mumbai

* * *

Sir, — In the context of Ms. Sheikh's flip-flop, the Centre's proposed law to tackle communal violence is welcome. The Government's focus should be on preventing violence rather than prescribing deterrent punishment.

S. Sundararaman,
Bangalore

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

FLIP-FLOPS AND JUSTICE

TALE OF TWO BALLOTS

Who is afraid of social engineering?

This is now a Bush era