I want our PM Modi to ensure justice is delivered, says Tabrez Ansari’s wife Shahista

“I want our Prime Minister Modi to deliver justice. When he went to America, he showed so much concern for a fallen flower, will he show the same concern to my husband, who was murdered and me? Give me justice Modi,” cried out 19-year-old Shahista Parveen. Her husband Tabrez Ansari was lynched on June 17 and he succumbed to his injuries on June 22. They had barely been married for two months.

“Even the mehendi on my palms had not worn away completely when my husband died. Our lives had just started to blossom. We had plans and weren’t they valuable,” asks Shahista, who was in the capital on Wednesday, September 25, as a part of Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) protest. It was held to uphold the idea of a terror free India for everybody.

The Jharkhand government had recently dropped the murder charge against 11 accused in the mob lynching case. She had met the Ranchi District Collector and Superintendent of Police to demand that charges against the accused be changed to Section 302 (murder) from Section 304 (culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

“He was an innocent man. His only mistake was that he was a Muslim. That is why he was killed,” points out Shahista.

“After we met them, they slapped the murder charges on only two of the accused. We want them to charge all of them. They must all be given death penalty,” demanded a brooding Shahista, who said she will only think about herself after she has been able to deliver justice for her husband.

When reminded that she was only 19 and she has a long life ahead, Shahista asked with a heavy voice if there was no justice in this world, what is the point of studying to get a job or even living. “We all hope to live in a just world. I can only think of myself after justice is delivered. My husband was killed only because he was a Muslim and they added that he was trying to steal a motorcycle. If he has never done such a thing in his life, why would he do it then,” underscored Shahista, who had come to Delhi with her mother.

“I have no hope that the Jharkhand government will do anything. I have reached Delhi in the search of justice for my dead husband. Will the Supreme Court hear my plea? I will commit suicide if justice is not delivered in my husband’s case. I will hold the Supreme Court and Modi responsible for my death,” added Shahista, who is determined to fight for the case as long as she can.

“I don’t know if anyone will listen to my pleas, but unless the attackers are tried and convicted, I will not have any peace of mind. What will I do living like this? What life is it if I can’t even ensure justice for my murdered husband?” said a despondent Shahista, who seems adamant that she would commit suicide if there is justice is not delivered.

Shweta Bhatt, wife of incarcerated IAS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, IUML MPs ET Mohammed Basheer and PK Kunhalikutty were also at the protest.