are generally a despised lot; at least they are despised by
the public because the latter feel that a politician, who
comes with folded hands and beaming face during election
campaigns completely ignores them as soon as he gets a seat of
power. But Madhu Shrivastava, the BJP MLA from Vadodra, seemed
to be a different kind. He took the utmost efforts to ensure
that one of his constituents, Zaheera Sheikh, the prime
witness in the Best Bakery Case (see story on poge 30) was not
harmed, hurt or put to any inconvenience because of her status
in the case. Five members of her own family had been among the
victims.
After the
verdict, in which all the 21 accused were honourably acquitted
because a). Zaheera failed to appear in court on the crucial
day, b). many of the witnesses had turned hostile, and c). the
police had failed to produce an "iota of proof" against the
accused, the minorities in Gujarat felt depressed, and angry.
Zaheera disappeared from Vadodra and her brother told pressmen
that she had married and gone to Delhi.
However, the
cat was out of the bag when Zaheera surfaced in Mumbai and
told a TV channel that she had been pressurised by Madhu, who
always accompanied her everywhere she went, including court.
She also reiterated her earlier statement to the police.
I have nothing
to say about the court judgment because the judge himself has
said enough on the subject.
Politicians