BJP’s latest headache: Gujarat IPS officer Rahul Sharma's new political party

Rahul Sharma, the former IPS officer in Gujarat, needs no introduction.

With his reputation of standing up for the right cause, he has locked horns with Gujarat government on many issues related to the communal riots in the state in 2002.

His actions over the years have managed to rub Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and their associates the wrong way.

In fact, Sharma was one of the brains behind last year's Una March to protest atrocities on Dalits. His explosive deposition before the Nanavati-Shah Commission probing the Godhra train burning incident of 2002 that was followed by an anti Muslim pogrom are well known.

Fresh innings

Now, with the intention of contesting the forthcoming assembly polls in Gujarat, Sharma is launching a political party called the ‘Smart Party’.

His goal is to get 'well educated and well meaning intellectuals and people from all walks of life' on board. Among those whom he has approached is Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of Reserve Bank of India.

“I have written to him and intend to meet him soon. The thing is why not have a person like him on board who is well meaning for the common man and the society. What is there to lose?” he told Catch.

Another pillar of his 'Smart Party' is Abhishek, an architect in his early thirties who was educated in Sweden.

“Our idea is that the society gets back the kind of representatives it chooses. If you elect criminals you will get back criminals and if you choose people who want to take the society forward you get more such elements back,” says Rahul.

Political paradoxes

It is the existing paradoxes in the Indian polity that led him to jump into the game.

“We as a society and the nation are stagnating. On one hand we are exploring Mars and sending rockets to Venus, while on the other gau mutra is being promoted. Where are we headed? There are absolutely no issues of public concern being addressed and this is across parties where vested interests are supreme and what is going on is deceiving and lying. Our attempt is to offer a new option,” he says.

Sharma also does not draw any parallel with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who have made a mark in national politics over the last five years. He believes that Kejriwal and AAP rose from the Anna Hazare movement against corruption and in places like Delhi people are more aware.

For the good of Gujarat

But in rural Gujarat, things are very different – which is what makes the context different for him.

The reason why he chose Gujarat to launch his party is that he has been based in this state for the last 25 years and has witnessed the political changes from close quarters. He understands the contribution of Gujarat to Indian polity very well and jokes, “A century ago a Gujarati (Mahatma Gandhi) had gone to Champaran in Bihar for a famous Satyagraha. It is time to give a return gift.”

Sharma wants to make a start and introduce the politics of deliverance instead of the politics of promises.

One of the most interesting aspects of his politics relates to the relaxing of prohibition in Gujarat, a subject that is a taboo in the state. The fact remains that the illicit liquor economy has always benefited the politicians and the officials in the state. He feels that this policy has done very little for the benefit of the common man and the priorities of the government remain misplaced.

“My question is that is drinking an addiction or a crime? If it is an addiction why do we put people in jail instead of rehabilitating and counselling them? Poor people spend days going to courts and missing out on their livelihood. And the conviction rate is around 1%. Now, even if you secure that conviction what has the society gained? Has it won or lost?” he asks.

“On the other hand when you see states like Tamil Nadu earning a revenue of Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore. With that kind of money we can give Rs 2,000 to every student per month and people will be educated in real terms.”

Similarly he points out that despite having the longest coastline the state doesn't have a single beach that is a tourist destination. He points out that one needs to understand the kind of employment tourism can generate.

A hounded man

Sharma had sought retirement in February 2015 to become a lawyer. He was 'hounded' for his stand on the 2002 anti Muslim riots and for his deposition before the Nanavati-Shah commission where he had submitted a CD with call details of important state functionaries and some political leaders which described their movement when the killings and arson were on.

During his deposition he had also disclosed the attack on a Madarsa in Bhavnagar by Hindu rioters where he was posted as the Superintendent of Police. Five people were killed in the police action there.

Sharma had narrated that how over the telephone the then home minister Gordhan Zadaphia had said that the ratio of Hindus and Muslims killed in the police action was not appropriate as the number of Hindus killed was more.

Sharma had also shot into limelight after he filed a PIL on behalf of former Gujarat DGP Julio Riberio challenging the appointment of PP Pandey as the state DGP as he was an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. The Gujarat High Court later dismissed the PIL.

When asked about his taking on Modi and his regime, he says, “For me the man is insignificant. It is the issue that is important.”