Gehlot promises Aamir war on foeticide

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday assured actor Aamir Khan, whose TV show "Satyamev Jayate" on female foeticide has created a storm, that he will take up the issue of a fast track court with the state chief justice so that justice was expedited.

Addressing the media with Aamir by his side, Gehlot said the widely lauded show had brought reality to the forefront.

"I am moved by Aamir's programme and his gesture. I will definitely take up the issue and speak to the chief justice of Rajasthan to find a way," he said.

In his show, Aamir highlighted the story of a sting operation done seven years back by two Jaipur journalists to expose increasing female foeticide cases in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The sting by Meena Sharma and Shripal Shaktawat had covered 140 doctors involved in sex determination tests and abortions. None of the doctors has been penalized.

Aamir had said in his show that he would appeal to the Rajasthan chief minister to get the cases against the erring doctors clubbed together and try them in a fast track court.

He also urged the viewers to support his signature campaign.

Gehlot said after the show, he met senior health and medical officials to know more about the extent of the problem. "We are doing a lot of work towards the issue.

"There is a certain judicial process (involved) to club together cases for trial in a fast track court."

Aamir said he had made "a specific request to the chief minister that all cases related to the show" be decided at the earliest.

The star said he was hopeful that his debut TV show, telecast on Doordarshan and Star Plus, would "touch people's hearts".

"I am not an activist. I am an entertainer who tries to touch upon the feelings of people. I will take up 13 more issues in the upcoming episodes," he said.

"Wherever such incidents occur, we will go," he told reporters.

"I was expecting to touch people's heart with the show, and I am glad to see the effect of the show. I am happy about it.

"I am not here to talk about issues seven days a week.. I am an entertainer, and that is what I am passionate about.

"I want to touch people's emotions and know their feelings, whether it is through a film like 'Dhoom 3' or through this show.

"As an entertainer, it is not necessary that I only make people laugh, it means that I should be able to evoke all emotions in them."

According to Census 2011, Rajasthan has 883 girls between the ages of 0-6 for every 1,000 boys. The child sex ratio in 2001 was 909.

Alarmed over the skewed sex ratio, the state government recently announced steps to curb pre-natal sex determination tests at ultra sound clinics.