“My Fight Is For Dalits”: Jignesh Mevani Writes To Amit Shah On Potential Threat From Rajkumar Pandian
Gujarat Congress working president and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the “potential threat” to his life from senior IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian. In his letter, Mevani urged Shah to take action against the officer in the larger public interest.
On October 16, Mevani wrote to Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary seeking a privilege motion against the IPS officer for allegedly violating Mevani’s dignity as an MLA. The assembly speaker’s office has not issued any statement over Mevani’s demand so far.
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In his letter, the Congress MLA recounted an incident with the IPS officer where he and Hitesh Pithadia, Congress’ scheduled caste department chairman, visited the police headquarters to raise Dalit issues on October 15. He highlighted how he had repeatedly flagged the issue wherein land allotted to Dalits has been illegally encroached upon for years to the Kutch district SP officer.
“On the reluctance/failure of the SP to take any measures, I approached the Range IG Chirag Koradiya who also did not move in the matter,” he stated in the letter dated October 23. Following the same, he met Additional Additional Director General (ADG) of the Gujarat SC/ST Cell, Rajkumar Pandian, to highlight the issue.
Mevani was allegedly asked “in a dismissive tone” to leave his mobile phone outside by the senior officer. “It was not a request; rather it was an order,” said Mevani. The MLA then sought to know the legal provision under which Pandian asked them to keep phones outside the government office.
“I informed him that as a bureaucrat and in accordance with established protocol, he has to demonstrate courteous behaviour towards me as an elected representative; he has to receive me with decency and dignity as well as listen to and respond to any resolution concerning the interests of the people,” highlighted Mevani.
The Congress MLA also alleged that Pandian had made comments on his attire and pointed out that he was visiting the police official wearing a t-shirt. “The intention, as I read it, was to intimidate me and threaten me,” he stated.
My letter to the honourable Union Home Minister @AmitShah on the possible threat to my life from IPS Rajkumar Pandian.
I write in detail about the October 15 incident. I had met the concerned IPS with issues concerning the dalit community but he chose to misbehave rather than… pic.twitter.com/rW60NQd9qe
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) October 23, 2024
In the letter, Mevani also stated that Congress, Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, and other Dalit Rights Groups are staging a protest on October 23 outside the ADGP’s office, demanding his termination or suspension and an apology to the Dalit community in the state.
Emphasising on the past history of Pandian, who was charged and later acquitted for a fake encounter case and spent seven years jail term, Mevani said, “I do see myself threatened.”
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On October 21, the Congress MLA took to X and claimed that if he, his family members or his team is killed, then Gujarat IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian will be responsible for it. Despite the explosive claim, Pandian has not made any remarks addressing the issue.
