Shweta Bhatt: ‘What wrong has Sanjiv done? Truth will prevail’

by Rafat Nayeem Quadri



Rafat Nayeem Quadri with Shweta Bhatt

Arrested IPS officer, Sanjiv Bhatt is the only child of his parents. But unlike most of such single children who grow up in a pampered environment, Sanjiv Bhatt had a strict disciplinary regime during his childhood. A trained engineer from the IIT, Bhatt, described by many of his colleagues as a man with nerves of steel also known for “standing up” against authorities that be. Many of his colleagues say he will prefer to “break rather than bow.” The buzz in Gujarat is that the chief minister Narendra Modi has finally met his nemesis in Bhatt.

Known for his steely resolve, Bhatt has been in the news for his statements and actions against the acts of commission and omission of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi during the Gujarat genocide of 2002. Bhatt was finally arrested on 30th September. His bail plea will now be heard on Monday the 17th October.

Meanwhile, his wife Shweta has also gone through some real traumatizing and distressing times. But if Sanjiv is a “Man of Steel”, then his better half, Shweta is a “Woman of Steel.” Rising to the extremely challenging times with her two children Shweta displayed courage by giving a tough fight. Shweta is going all out to extend the much needed support for her what most legal experts and officers believe wrongly jailed husband Sanjiv Bhatt.

Perhaps many may not be aware but Shweta is an arts (BA) and law graduate (LLB) and also has a master’s degree in law (LLM). Shweta is also a trained dancer in different classical forms of dances like the Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Odyssey dances.

Shweta is extremely busy with a non-stop stream of visitors in the form of journalists, well-wishers, actors, political leaders, officials, activists, friends and relatives from far and near coming to support her and her husband in these times of extreme duress. Shweta took some time off to speak to Rafat Nayeem Quadri.

Please describe your husband (Sanjiv Bhatt) as a person.

Shweta Bhatt: He is one of the nicest persons I have known and an excellent officer. Sanjiv loves life and enjoys every bit of it in all its hues and forms. Perhaps that is precisely the reason why he is adored by not only his mother, me his wife, my children and my relatives and all his relatives but also by his co-officers, his colleagues at various levels and the public with whom he has dealt during his career. He is a very strict disciplinarian. He is a very strong man who has lived his life with commitment and perfection. Let me give you a small example. Sanjiv loves his daily walk. And he will walk come rain or sunshine. He is also a voracious reader and a sensitive poet. He took the pains of learning Urdu to appreciate poetry. He also loves to play different games and he enjoys life without having any vices like smoking and drinking.

You have alleged about the ‘dirty role’ of the State and have directly accused Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for his ‘misdeeds’ as you call it?

Shweta Bhatt: Yes, it is on his orders and under his guidance that the State Home Ministry and State Police works and Sanjiv has spoken against him and the policing. So, we are facing the wrath.

Are you afraid and scared that your husband has taken up a fight with a very ‘strong and popular’ leader like Narendra Modi? Why were you so upset for last two weeks?

Shweta Bhatt: The way and the manner in which the police came to arrest my husband was horrendous. They came as if they had come to arrest some hardened criminal. What wrong my husband has done? Almost everybody knows he is being punished for speaking the truth which is inconvenient to the powers that be. We his family are being traumatized and tortured by way of harassment. The police whisked him up and behaved with him as if he was a dreaded terrorist. The way and the manner in which he was treated and kept at the police station was again as if he was he was a killer terrorist. Is this the way an IPS officer is treated in a democratic country? And what followed after was a nightmare.

What happened? Were you scared? Why?

Shweta Bhatt: The night of 30th September was so very difficult for me and my family. It was indeed a terrible night and an unending night and we were all in tears. I was extremely terrified, scared and sad. For some time I also thought that maybe they will ‘eliminate’ him. But as the night progressed and the dawn came a feeling of great strength and courage also enveloped me and my children. I firmly believe that justice will eventually prevail. However, powerful and mighty one can be – nobody is beyond law and law will take its course of action.

Almost 15 days have passed by to Sanjiv Bhatt’s arrest. Are you satisfied with the way law is taking its course in hearing the bail application?

Shweta Bhatt: Oh, certainly not. I have a firm faith and belief in the Indian legal system. But what happens in Gujarat remains to be seen. Powerful people are beyond all laws, rules and regulations. There are also no rules when someone powerful decides to “teach a lesson to someone.” There is no law for people like Modi. Whatever he (Modi) wants he is doing. There is no one to ask him. He is not answerable to anyone. Why so, I ask all of you, what wrong has my husband done? Secondly I am also very sad at the plight of his “friends” and “colleagues” who were all so friendly and full of praise for him. But since his arrest they have apparently all gone into hiding.

You mean to say that his friends and acquaintances have left you all alone?

Shweta Bhatt: Not so, they are with us. Many are approaching us but not through open doors and not publicly. Obviously they seem to be scared and afraid of the State authority.

Why so?

Shweta Bhatt: May be Sanjiv’s friends are apprehensive that if they come out in the open, they will also be trargetted and persecuted just like Sanjiv. They also fear that they may jeopardize their careers. They also fear shunting out to remote places or cases being filed against them. Everyone knows what is happening in Gujarat. But I am thankful to all the people who have extended their love and support to us during this time of crises. Goodness is very much there in this world which sheds the unfair ambience around always. I firmly believe in God. My aged mother-in-law and my father and my family and my two young children we are all supportive of each other. We have great friends and supporters who are coming to us. Many of the people I have never ever met in my life have come out and supported me while many people I knew and met almost every day have gone into hiding. But I am sure, one day; they will all come. Because again everyone including the people who are out to tarnish my husband know very well Sanjiv has done no wrong.

You have also alleged that police have ill treated your family?

Shweta Bhatt: Yes. The very way and manner of arresting and officer like Sanjiv and putting him in a dingy cell has been very humiliating. The police also carried out ‘search’ at my house in the most deplorable manner. They misbehaved with me and my family and seemed to be deriving some sadistic pleasure out of it. They didn’t leave even my 86-year-old mother-in-law and even her house was ‘searched’. It was all unimaginable and unthinkable. It was beyond what is shown in Bollywood movies. Even the manner in which my statement was taken was very insulting. They left no chance to humiliate, insult and give pain to us. There was no iota of decency with them.

How did your children react?

Shweta Bhatt: Both my children, Aakashi, a final year MBBS student studying in Mumbai and Shantanu a 12th science student at the St. Xavier’s Loyola Hall are just like their father -- bold and fearless. Both of them were writing tests when the police cracked down on their father. We are waiting for justice to prevail and goodness to show up. We are eagerly waiting for Sanjiv to be back with us.

The interviewer Rafat Nayeem Quadri is the first lady journalist of Gujarat to have launched an English Fortnightly newspaper from Gujarat. She is Editor and CEO of BILKUL fortnightly.

Source: Two Circles dot Net