"Avinash Kulkarni cannot kill a bee then how can he be involved in any Naxal activities. He is a humble human being. I am surprised that he has been arrested under charges of spreading naxalism," said Ganesh Devy of Adivasi Academy at Tejgadh.
Among others present were Prakash Shah, Indu Jani, Babu Desai, Dilip Chandulal, Raman Chaudhry and Uttam Parmar.
Shah said, "Police have become a tool of political agenda. Jayprakash Narayan had asked the police to read the police manual before taking actions against people of the country. The tribals of Gujarat want their rights as the citizen of the Republic and these should be given to them."
The intellectuals at the meeting were of the opinion that the government was trying to harass the tribal activists, who are fighting for their rights and land. They said the tribals are demanding land under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Instead of giving them the land, the state government is targeting the tribal leaders, they said.
Anand Chaudhry, Mandvi Nagarpalika Pramukh, said, "Makabhai Chaudhry was one of us and if he is a Naxalite then we too are. Makabhai was working for the tribals since years and has not done anything unlawful. But suddenly police found him to be a Naxalite."
Uttam Parmar said, "Police are not able to take action against liquor brewers and bootleggers. The arrested tribal leaders have not done anything wrong."
It was decided at the meeting to hold a dharna in Surat to oppose police action against the tribal leaders.