- Target:
- Governor of the Indian state of Maharashtra
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
Sanjay Dutt is one of India’s best and most distinguished actors. However this should in no way influence the way in which he has to face justice for a serious crime he has committed. There cannot be a system in India where the privileged can escape punishment.
He has been convicted of the offence of using his privileged position to arrange a safe venue for a cache of arms and explosives that had been received from Pakistan by the Mumbai underworld to organise the serial blasts in March 1993 that killed 257 innocent people and seriously injured another 713. Whether or not he knew what these gangsters/terrorists were going to do with the weapons and explosives has not been proven, but the undisputed fact is that he knew that he was helping illegally procured firearms and explosives be procured and distributed by criminals.
His conviction has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and he has been convicted to 5 years imprisonment.
Sanjay Dutt and his family are very privileged parts of India’s upper class elite, with very powerful friends. His late father was a successful actor turned politician, as is his mother. His sister is a Congress Member of Parliament for Mumbai North Central.
There is a powerful push underway, orchestrated by connections of Sanjay Dutt to have him pardoned by the Governor of Maharashtra, B Shankarkand, (who apparently has the power to do this). The Governor of an Indian state is essentially a political appointee of the ruling party, and therefore there will be considerable pressure on the Governor to grant pardon to Sanjay Dutt.
This petition, directed to the Governor aims to bring together the voices of persons in India and around the world who think there should be ONE RULE OF LAW for all, and that the rich, famous and well-connected should not be able to circumvent the law in any way.
For further insight into the issues at stake for India, please read:
- Pardon Cry smacks of Law for the privileged - by Swapan Dasgupta - http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/usual-suspects/pardon-cry-smacks--of-law-for-privileged.html
- Rebuttal of Markandey Katju’s arguments in favour of pardon of Sanjay Dutt - http://www.hinduperspective.com
To the Governor of Maharasthra,
We petition you that any form of pardon for Sanjay Dutt should not be considered. The law of the Republic of India should be applied equally to all citizens. There should not be a way for influential, rich or political interests to circumvent the law. It would set a dangerous message for India if Sanjay Dutt was pardoned.
We are aware that strong pressure is being exerted on you by politicians and pseudo-political persons such as Markandey Katju to grant pardon to Sanjay Dutt for his conviction for illegally possessing a deadly arms cache.
We hope you consider our petition and supporting documents.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Sanjay Dutt must serve his prison sentence like anyone else petition to Governor of the Indian state of Maharashtra was written by Rajesh Patel and is in the category Law & Order at GoPetition.