Former Gujarat IPS officer DG Vanzara speaking at a rally in Vadodara. (Source: Express photo by Bhupendra Rana) Former Gujarat IPS officer DG Vanzara speaking at a rally in Vadodara. (Source: Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Announcing the beginning of his “public life” former Gujarat IPS officer DG Vanzara on Sunday, said that “anti-national forces” had thrown him into the darkness of the prison, along with other nationalists like Pragya Thakur and ‘Godman’ Asaram Bapu who have been framed in their own cases.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony in Vadodara, where he was addressed as “Veer Vanzara”, the former officer said, “I’m a police officer and I know that the entire case against Asaram Bapu is a frame up. The FIR against him is fake. Just like in the case of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur who spent eight years in prison like me. The then central government had forced the Maharashtra ATS to frame Sadhvi and the others, including a Lieutenant Colonel. There is nothing like Hindu terror. Just a few days back the NIA turned over the case. But, what about the eight years?” Vanzara said, after a young man, identifying himself as an Asaram supporter urged Vanzara to take a stand on the jailed spiritual guru.

Vanzara said, “Many years ago, India extended from Afghanistan to Myanmar as a part of a larger Hindustan. Today, the country has become so small and the other places are part of the SAARC nations of South Asia. Why did they get divided? Again, anti-national forces are working hard to snatch away this country. So nationalists like Sadhvi, Asaram and I were pushed into jails. They know Asaram is the protector of the Sanatan Hindu dharma.”

Addressing the audience at Vadodara’s Sayaji Nagar Gruh town hall, in presence of Mayor Bharat Dangar, Padmasri awardee writer Gunvant Shah and former VHP General Secretary Niraj Jain, who is the president of the Gujarat Asmita Manch that organized the felicitation, Vanzara said that he had not let the “jail enter in me”. Stating that he had decided to dedicate life to the service of the 6 crore Gujaratis, Vanzara said, “I entered the jail, but I didn’t let the jail enter me. I used this time to strengthen my spirituality and determination. I’m fit from head to the tip of my toenail and I want to offer myself for the service of the people of Gujarat. So, from this moment, I’m declaring my public life open,” he said.

Vanzara arrived at the venue from a rally across the city that marked significant tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Shaheed Bhagat Singh. At the statue of Bhagat Singh, Vanzara offered a revolver to pay his tribute to the freedom fighter. Vanzara’s wife, Gauri, also shared the dias and was hailed for her “strength in tough times”. Amidst chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Garvi Gujarat sloganeering, Vanzara said he was hurt that no one tried to meet him during his imprisonment except Gunvant Shah.

“I was hurt that no one came to meet me in prison except Gunvant Shah. People refused to speak to me over the phone. But the felicitation and love I have received from the time I have set foot in Gujarat after 8 years of jail and one year in exile has made me realize that my sacrifice has not gone in vain,” Vanzara said, adding that people are scared to speak the truth.

“Whenever a terrorist is caught, many people rise and say ‘innocents’ have been arrested. When I was jailed with my officers, I felt pained that no one said innocents have been arrested. Why are people scared to tell the truth? The rule is clear that until proven guilty, we’re innocent. We were innocent when we were arrested, When the charge sheet was filed and even today 8 years after being jailed without bail. Till today, there have been no charges framed, no trial. There is need for public opinion and awareness. When someone challenges the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country, people must stand united. People were quiet when we worked for the country,” Vanzara said.

Calling his jail term a “tapbhoomi”, Vanzara said that the love of the people is “not just mine, but a decoration for Gujarat police and the nationalists from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.” Vanzara said, “I do not take life negatively. I will continue to do what is my duty and my dharma without caring about its consequence.” Vanzara said that those responsible for sending him to jail must also be sent to prisons.

In his address hailing Vanzara, Gunvant Shah compared the officer to the mythological character of Bheem from Mahabharata, calling Ishrat Jahan the “bakasur” (a demon) of the story. Narrating the story of how Bheem slayed Bakasur, Shah said, “The intelligentsia were there at that time too who questioned the human rights of bakasur. Then they questioned the “Sati” Ishrat Jahan’s right to live. It is known that the terrorists came to kill then CM Narendra Modi. What about his human right to live? Saint Sohrabuddin had so many swords for peace keeping? And was Vanzara expected to welcome them with flowers and rice-shower?” Shah said.

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