Dr Chishty case update: PUCL urges Rajastan CM to move file The campaign to free Pakistani virologist Dr Chishty from Indian prison continues
On September 5, 2011, a delegation of People's Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, met Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan at the morning "Jan Sunwai" (public audience) at his residence. One of the items on their agenda was a renewed appeal to free the elderly, retired Pakistani virologist Dr Khalil Chishty from prison in Ajmer.

The Chief Minister took the letter, separated it from the other memos given to him by the PUCL delegation, and handed it to his assistant, saying that it was a "sensitive issue" which should be put in the file made for the Governor. He also promised PUCL Secretary General Kavita Srivastava that he would give her separate time to discuss this issue.

That same evening, CM Gehlot met Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil. However, he did not hand over the file.

At the time of writing, the file has still not been sent to the Governor. According to observers, this may be because Gehlot fears that the Governor will not sign the papers and that the file will be stuck there.

"If that is the case, the CM must send it to Delhi," demands Kavita Srivastava. "Once the file has been sent to Delhi, we can take it up with the relevant quarters there."
- AKA

Thursday, September 15, 2011