IMAC Digest 21 May 2002

http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/may/21guj2.htm

The Gujarat government has failed to file a
comprehensive report on communal riots in the state to
the National Human Rights Commission even after the
expiry of two-three days extension sought by it.

The NHRC had given time till May 15 to Gujarat
government to file its response to the Commission's
'confidential' observations on the situation leading
to riots in the state.

However, the state government sought 2-3 days extra
time to file the same, NHRC sources said.

"A specific reply was sought to this (confidential)
report to enable further consideration of the matter
in view of the allegations made which are mentioned in
that report," the NHRC had said.

The state government has failed to even abide by the
timeframe it had asked for, the sources said.

(c) 2002 rediff.com.

Gujarat violence victims uneasy as troops withdraw
By Indo-Asian News Service.
Tuesday May 21, 4:18 PM

http://in.news.yahoo.com/020521/43/1okd3.html

Ahmedabad, May 21 (IANS) Indian troops have begun
pulling out of Gujarat for redeployment along the
tense border with Pakistan, making some Muslim victims
of the state's sectarian violence uneasy.

The thousands of soldiers rushed to Gujarat from March
1 started withdrawing Tuesday and the process is
expected to finish soon, officials in the home
department here said.

Muslims, who have been the targets of sectarian
killings in many Gujarat cities and towns since
February-end, are somewhat uneasy about the troop
withdrawal but say the soldiers are needed more
urgently at the frontier as tensions with Pakistan
have spiralled.

"Yes, army presence did give us a sense of security.
But violence was taking place even when the army was
here. At least they used to reach troubled spots
quickly and the situation used to be brought under
control," said Ikram Beg of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a
religious organisation.

"In any case, if the army is required on the border
then we cannot expect soldiers to be maintaining law
and order here."

Inmates of relief camps for the violence-displaced
feared the troop withdrawal might encourage their
attackers to engage in violence again.

"Their presence was a kind of deterrent for the
hoodlums. There is talk of inmates going back to their
homes, but once the army is gone we will be vulnerable
again," said Ishaq Ahmed, an inmate of the Shah-e-Alam
relief camp where close to 8,000 Muslim victims have
taken shelter.

Police dispelled the victims' fear of renewed
violence.

"The situation has improved considerably. There has
been no violence for more than a week. The troops were
not even required to patrol the streets for about 10
days," said K.R. Kaushik, the new police chief of
Ahmedabad, which was the worst hit in the sectarian
strife.

"Conditions have improved considerably, prompting us
to recommend gradual withdrawal of the troops from the
state," said a senior home department official.

While soldiers from the Rajasthan and Gorkha regiments
have returned, troops from the Punjab, Bihar and Mahr
regiments are likely to go back soon.

Sources in the army said most troops sent to Gujarat
were from operational units positioned along the
Pakistan border since December, when India began a
military standoff to pressure Islamabad into ending
its support for trans-national terrorism.

"Some army formations and units, diverted from the
deployment along the Pakistan border, for internal
security duties in Gujarat, have been relieved of
these duties post haste and they've started moving to
their operational locations," defence ministry
spokesman P.K. Bandhopadhyay said in New Delhi.

"Such a move has been undertaken keeping in view the
emerging security scenario following the May 14
terrorist attack at Kaluchak in Kashmir."

"Under current circumstances, it would have been
unadvisable for the troops to remain away from their
units," an army officer said. "Besides, the situation
in Gujarat has stabilised."

The troops were rushed to restore peace in Gujarat
when communal violence erupted following the February
27 train torching in Godhra town in which 58
passengers, mostly volunteers of the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad, were killed. About 950 people were killed in
the carnage.

Copyright © 2001 IANS India Private Limited. All
rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2002 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

No foreign intervention needed in Gujarat: NHRC
rediff.com,
May 21, 2002.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/may/21guj1.htm

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice J S
Verma on Tuesday said there was 'no need' for foreign
intervention on the alleged human rights violations in
Gujarat.

Asked about the concerns expressed by the European
Union and some other countries on the human rights
violations, Verma said, "We have a well-built internal
mechanism for taking corrective actions. We have NHRC,
Supreme Court and vigilant and vibrant democracy to
take care of such things. There is no need for any
foreign intervention on this."

He cautioned the non-governmental voluntary bodies
against some 'vested interests hijacking their cause'.

Some individuals had resorted to filing PILs to
further their personal and political ends and
voluntary organisations had to exercise caution in
supporting their causes, he said.

Asked about the continued violation of human rights in
that state, he said, "You wait for my next order."

The NHRC also told US top human rights officials that
India was 'quite capable' of looking after its
minorities and, in fact, America should have a similar
commission.

"A delegation of US human rights officials, including
Assistant Secretary Michael Parmly dealing with racial
affairs and human rights met NHRC Member Virender
Dayal," NHRC sources said.

Besides discussing about the functioning of the
Commission, the delegation wanted to know about the
status and issues pertaining to the minority
communities in the country, the sources said.

It was learnt that in the meeting, Dayal made it clear
that India was quite capable to deal with problems, if
any, of the minorities and could take care of their
interests and welfare.

Due to 'pro-active judiciary' and vibrant democracy in
the country, India was capable enough to deal with the
issue, the delegation was told.

(c) 2002 rediff.com.

Army in war mode, withdraws from Gujarat
RAJAT PANDIT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

[ WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2002 12:27:44 AM ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=10602783

NEW DELHI: The armed forces are sparing no effort to crank up the war
machine following the latest round of heightened tensions along the
Indo-Pak border. The authorities are now contemplating ``recalling''
all personnel who are on leave and ``holding all military courses in
abeyance'', say top-level sources.

In a related development, the Army on Tuesday announced the
withdrawal of its troops engaged in law and order duties in Gujarat
for redeployment in ``their operational locations''.

Two Army brigades, with around 6,000 troops, had earlier been placed
under the civil administration in the state for internal security
duties.

It was after the December 13 Parliament attack that the three Service
HQs had issued orders to cancel leave and all ongoing courses, except
for the prestigious Staff College course, in the build-up to
Operation Parakram, the mobilisation of more than half-a-million
troops and strike formations along the border.

But the orders were later relaxed as the forward deployment became
prolonged. ``Now, the decision to recall all personnel from leave is
again being considered. This will, however, not affect those on leave
on extreme compassionate grounds,'' said a source.

The IAF too is maintaining ``a high state of operational readiness''
to tackle any exigency. Most of the fighters and other air assets
moved forward after the December 13 Parliament attack are back in
position after undergoing servicing in batches at their ``mother
bases'' in the rear.

MiG-21 Bis squadrons, virtually grounded after a jet crashed in
Jalandhar on May 3, are also being cleared for operational flying and
training sorties.`

Copyright © 2002 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.

Their homecoming is nothing to write home about
Indian Express,
Himanshu Kaushik.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=18179

Ahmedabad, May 20: THE riot victims may have returned
home from relief camp, but the nightmare is still far
from over. Fear of being attacked again is giving the
around 50-odd families who returned to Dosumiya ni
Chawl and Burhani Apartments in Saraspur on Sunday
sleepless nights. So much so that the first thing that
they’ve done after coming back is construct walls to
restrict entry.

Said Mustufa Miya, a resident of Dosumiya ni Chawl,
‘‘We are still living in terror. When we go to sleep
at night, we are not sure whether we will get up in
the morning or not.’’ Miya says they do not trust the
local police though the continuous patrolling by
paramilitary forces has reassured them to some extent.

But with the horrors of April 24 when a mob surrounded
them from all sides still fresh in their minds, the
residents are taking extra precautions. Miya says the
walls in the chawl have been raised to prevent
outsiders from coming in. Miya claimed that even on
Monday morning, miscreants entered the chawl and tried
to make them vacate.

Burhani Apartment did not have a compound wall at all
so residents have got to work on a high boundary wall
that people can’t jump over. Shards of glass will also
be placed to deter entry of outsiders.

Abdul Hajiz Shaikh agrees with Miya about the lack of
faith in the police but says there was no option but
to return home as they feared further damage to their
homes. Not that much has been left intact in their
homes. Shaikh said the looters had taken everything —
the TV, fridge, tubelights, ceiling fans, the motor
for water and even the doors and windows.

Usman Khabula — looters did a thorough job at his home
too — said that it appeared that the miscreants were
well-equipped with tools to take everything of value.

But after having run from one place to another since
the night of April 24, it’s time for them to start
life again. After the attack, residents first took
shelter in the nearby Vora na Roza. Once things
settled, the around 125 families of the Dosumiya ni
chawl and the nearby Baijivi ni Chawl and Narimanpura
Ki chawl shifted to safer places. Those who had
relatives in Muslim-dominated areas shifted to their
homes while others took shelter at G M Compound Camp.

Muniraben Dharojiwala, who had been living with a
relative, says they made several attempts to come back
but had to return each time.

She is one of the lucky few whose house was not looted
though the miscreants made several attempts to do so.
Muniraben says that even now, she has very little hope
of being able to stay here forever.

Yusuf Sakir Hussain, also a resident of Burhani
apartments, is also plagued by insecurity. He says
that of the 36 flats in his apartment, only 15-odd
families have returned.

The rest are probably waiting to make sure that peace
this time is not short-lived.

© 2002: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. All
rights reserved throughout the world.

Gujarat peaceful for eighth day
PTI

[ WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2002 12:31:52 AM ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=10603069

Ahmedabad: Gujarat remained incident-free for the eighth consecutive
day on Tuesday even as strict vigil was being maintained at sensitive
spots.

Day curfew has been lifted from the city though the night curfew
continued from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. as a precautionary measure, the
police said.

Curfew was in force at Danilimda, Gaekwad Haveli, Kalupur, Shahpur,
Vejalpur, Dariapur, Gomtipur, Karanj, Khadia, Madhavpura, Amdupura,
Saraspur, Saherkotda, Charodia, Hardasnagar in Bapunagar and Ranip.

Copyright © 2002 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved

As police change tack, peace makes comeback
Indian Express,
Janyala Sreenivas.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=18181

Ahmedabad, May 20: APRIL 21: Violence breaks out in
Gomtipur and Bapunagar. After teargas fails, police
open fire on mobs. The rioters disperse, only to
regroup as soon as cops leave. By the end of the day,
15 people are dead, 35 shops have been burnt down.

n Cut to May 10. There’s a flare-up in the same area.
Mobs gather, but this time the police chase the
rioters into lanes and by-lanes, weed them out and
make arrests.

MARCH 15: Police Inspector of Naroda K K Mysorewala is
transferred. A mob surrounds the police station in
protest and declares a bandh, disrupting peace in the
area.

On May 15, protestors surround Khadia police station
after both inspectors are transferred. The police
carry out a lathicharge, while leaders are warned of
strict action. In minutes, the protest is quelled and
peace restored to the area.

CLEARLY, the police have made a paradigm shift. Since
the first week of May when KPS Gill was appointed
security advisor to Chief Minister Narendra Modi and
city police was reshuffled, the police have changed
tack. And it’s showing results.

The death toll due to communal violence last week came
down to three — from 30 during April 21 to 28, and 24
during April 29 to May 5.

‘‘Now, the rank and file have clear instructions on
what is to be done. The police have a free hand to
make arrests, regardless of who the offenders may
be,’’ says K K Ojha, Deputy Director of Police
Academy, who has been given charge of Shahibaug and
Madhavpura.

‘‘No one interferes when we make arrests. We have
orders to use force effectively and impartially,’’ an
assistant commissioner in Gomtipur says.

‘‘Instead of controlling a riot at one place and then
leaving, we call the residents and sort out the
problems then and there so that the problem does not
arise again,’’ senior inspectors posted at Shahpur and
Madhavpura said.

Cops who’re not getting in on the action are facing
the heat. Inspectors of Khadia and Madhavpura, who
were found to be lenient in tackling mobs, were
transferred immediately.

‘‘All we have done is provide leadership. Till now,
instructions were not clear, tasks were not
well-defines. Now the line is clear: strict and
impartial action,’’ said Sector-I Additional
Commissioner Satish Sharma.

Satish Varma, his counterpart, puts it slightly
differently: administration, strategy and tactics, he
says. But the message is clear — interference will, in
no way, be brooked.

At Khadia Police Station, when a mob gathered to
protest against the transfer of an inspector, the
Sharma-Varma team was present.

While Sharma gave stern warnings to mob leaders, Verma
set his men on the demonstrating activists.

The demonstrators fled, leaving behind their vehicles.
In fact, none of them returned for their vehicles for
almost a week.

The strategy the cops have evolved can be listed:

They rush to the trouble spot and take charge.

They’ve also made it compulsory for officers in
neighbouring divisions to reach the spot with their
forces.

They flush out trouble-makers from lanes and by-lanes,
arresting them.

Elders of both communities are brought together to
arrange a compromise at the spot so as to prevent
recurrence.

Once a person is arrested from the spot, he should not
be released under any circumstances.

In fact, it’s the feelers that were sent as soon as K
R Kaushik took over as Police Commissioner that are
helping. Kaushik has visited almost all relief camps
and met people. He has also followed up on police
action by visiting every spot where there has been a
flare-up after he took over. He also told his officers
that they were to be immune to ‘‘any kind of
pressure.’’

The buzz in the Police Commissionarate these days is
whenever a Minister or MLA makes an odd phone call to
the Commissioner or to Additional Commissioners, they
are told to talk ‘‘above.’’ With not many having a
clear idea whether Minister of State for Home Gordhan
Zadaphia or KPS Gill or Narendra Modi are calling the
shots, the caller backs off.

In cases where Muslims complained they were
retaliating as they were being targeted, they were
told to leave the job to police. Says Varma: ‘‘We told
them that from now on police will take action
impartially. They were asked not to retaliate. The
next time there was violence in the area, the police
not only used a lot of force but also arrested a
number of people.’’

To utilise para-military forces better, the two
Additional Commissioners have also tried to integrate
them into the main force. ‘‘The SRP, which is the main
armed force, was not feeling it is a part of the city
police. For the first time, we held a meeting with
their inspectors and ranks below, made them feel a
part of the team and told them what our priorities
were. It did a lot to boost their morale,’’ says
Sharma.

© 2002: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. All
rights reserved throughout the world.

A home away from home for these widows
Express News Service

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=18185

Ahmedabad, May 20: IT is home away from home for these
39 widows from relief camps in Vatva, Dariyakhan
Ghummat and Sundaramnagar, who have been shifted to a
house in Javed Colony, Juhapura by Gujarat Masturat
(Mahila) Trust on Saturday.

Trust President Mehrunnisa Mansoori says, ‘‘We wanted
to do something for the riot-affected widows who do
not have any support. Here we will impart vocational
training in various activities like sewing, embroidery
work, making papads, etc, so that they will be
self-reliant.’’

Member of the Trust’s Advisory Committee Mohammed
Hussain Memon says, ‘‘These women can live here for
the rest of their lives along with their children. We
have already arranged for the children’s education at
New Age High School in Juhapura. We even plan to
organise adult education classes for these women.’’

The 39 widows, along with their 28 children are now
housed together and the Trust provides for them.
Treasurer Ameena Maachiswala says, ‘‘These women are
provided with foodgrains and other necessities by the
Trust. There are many who have lost everything in the
riots and have to now provide for their children. We
will enable them to get back on their feet.’’

Saliya Khatun Sheikh, a mother of two, whose husband
died in a police firing says, ‘‘I was staying at
Dariyakhan Ghummat Camp for the past two and a half
months. This place is certainly better than the hot,
stuffy camp.’’

60-year-old Khalimabiwi Sheikh, a resident of Vatva
and a heart patient too lost her husband in the riots.
She has a son, but says that she would like to stay at
the place provided by the Trust.

‘‘My son does not earn much. He has said that he would
not be able to provide for my medicines. So I have
decided to stay here, learn some work and then start
earning on my own.’’

Fidausbanu Sheikh of Chamanpura is in a difficult
situation as she has to bring up three children
single-handedly. ‘‘My husband was burnt alive while I
somehow managed to escape with the kids. My in-laws
are there, but I will not return to them. Here, at
least we are well provided. I will try to give them a
decent education with the help of the Trust,’’ she
says.

© 2002: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. All
rights reserved throughout the world.

Naroda-Patia well dug up, no bodies found
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
[ TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2002 2:11:05 AM ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=10510123

AHMEDABAD: A well at Naroda-Patia, where 93 local
residents were hacked and burnt to death by rioters on
February 28, was dug up late on Monday.

Two fire tenders whizzed through the deserted streets
of the city as the clock struck 10. No, not the
regular arson call this, the Ahmedabad Fire Brigade
personnel were called by officials of the city crime
branch -- to dig up a well.

The well, nick-named Teesra Kua, has been the origin
of many a rumour including one that 150 people were
killed, dumped inside the well and then set on fire.

A report published in The Times of India had started a
probe into the mystery behind this 'dry' well which
bore tell-tale marks like blackened walls and a
cemented base.

Monday's late-night exercise only revealed two
carcasses -- of pigs. Police said: "We were acting on
a tip-off that five persons had been killed and buried
inside the well which had a cemented base." AFB
personnel dug six feet into the well but nothing to
prove the rumours could be unearthed.

The two carcasses too were buried away from the well
so that "the stench cannot fuel anymore rumours."

Copyright © 2002 Times Internet Limited. All rights
reserved.

Commission probing violence restructured PTI

[ TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2002 9:55:35 PM ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=10592220

GANDHINAGAR: Partly agreeing to the demand for setting up of a
judicial commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge to probe into
violent incidents across Gujarat following the Godhra carnage on
February 27, the state government on Tuesday night restructured the
one-man commission headed by retired High Court Judge Justice K G
Shah.

The judicial commission, set up in March under the Inquiry Commission
Act to probe the circumstances leading to attack on Sabarmati Express
train at Godhra and the reprisal attacks that followed the incident,
has been enlarged by the state government to include Justice G T
Nanavati, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, according to an
official release.

The state government had appointed Justice K G Shah to head the
judicial commission to probe the carnage and post-Godhra violence but
people with vested interests dragged it into one controversies after
another, it said.

At least 59 people including women, children and many Ram sevaks
returning from Ayodhya were killed when a mob attacked the Sabarmati
Express train at Godhra on February 27 and over 900 persons mostly
belonging to the minority community were massacred in the state-wide
reprisal attacks that followed the railway station carnage.

The Judicial Commission has been restructured and enlarged to
maintain the dignity of the commission and in public interest, the
release added.

Copyright © 2002 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved

INTERVIEW

The Rediff Interview/K P S Gill
rediff.com,
May 21, 2002.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/may/20inter.htm

Two months after communal riots broke out on Gujarat,
the Union government appointed the former director
general of Punjab police, K P S Gill, as security
advisor to Chief Minister Narendra Modi to check
violence in the state.

Well known for crushing militancy in Punjab during the
Khalistan separatist movement, the now retired IPS
officer has earlier successfully tackled communal
incidents as chief of the Assam police.

In an interview to Senior Editor Sheela Bhatt in
Ahmedabad, Gill speaks about his new assignment.

What is your perception of the situation in Gujarat?

At the time of Partition, when the riots started, I
was in Lahore and was about 12 years old. One knows
what it is to be a minority in a riot situation. After
Godhra [massacre], the next day a very large number of
people turned out on the streets and indulged in
violence.

What happened in Gulmurg society and Naroda Patia is
inexcusable because it was a failure at the local
level.

I haven't visited Godhra. I can't say whether it was
pre-planned or not. I haven't spoken to the concerned
officers. I am concentrating on re-establishing peace.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi has asked the committees
to investigate rape cases, and offered help to
reconstruct religious places. He has also said that
new first information reports will be registered. He
has made many important announcements.

Today, I feel the shock about Godhra is over. There is
a realization that there should be peace in the state.
That is a factor that constantly helps the police. The
desire has come into the minds of people, and
converting that desire into actuality is not a
difficult task.

Your critics say you are a policeman while the
situation requires a socio-political solution.

[Loudly] Which our politicians and sociologists have
provided? I ask you this counter question. Is it so?
Call the politicians and leaders of the society to
handle the situation here.

In a meeting, a prominent Muslim leader said, "I don't
trust the prime minister, I don't trust the home
minister. I don't trust the chief minister. And you,
you are sent by these people I don't trust you." I
said, "To have a sense of distrust is alright. But to
remove this distrust is my duty."

Don't you think there was erosion of state authority
on February 28 when the will of the state to govern
was absent?

I wonder whether the erosion took place on February 28
or much earlier. Because I have seen tambu tent
pickets in communally sensitive areas -- which are
there at few places -- since the last 20 years. I
asked, 'Where was the state authority when the police
had to live in tambus all these years? What is the
state authority?'

It's the power of the state that is the police. If you
can't put up one police station there to handle
communal situations or proper accommodation for the
unit, then where is the state authority? What are you
talking about? The state authority did not exist here.
Okay these riots happened but how do you ensure that
such a thing never happens again?

Is the situation in Gujarat fit for the elections?

Yes. The state can face an election. Because if you
look at the state today, the disturbed areas are very
limited. At the most we could exclude those
constituencies. They are a maximum of two or three.
You have 182 constituencies and if two or three are
disturbed that is manageable. The process of an
election reasserts democracy. It's a corrective
process. It helps change political equations.

In any case we have to have elections early next year.
It will make a difference of two or three months here
or there.

Do you think Gujarat is a target of Pakistan's Inter
Services Intelligence?

For quite some time the ISI never used Indian Muslims.
Till recently. Most of the Muslims, I would say 99 per
cent have rejected the ISI. Only 1 per cent falls into
their trap. Look at the maturity of this country
today. If Gujarat had happened in 1992, the whole of
UP, Bihar and Rajasthan would have gone up in flames.
This time it has not happened.

This is the salute to the people of India. If they can
rise, I too thought that let me too rise and serve in
Gujarat. Aur agar reputation lose honi hai to hogi [if
I that embellishes my reputation, so be it]... at
least I tried. I wanted to understand the situation
here. The police says they could not find the
appropriate response anywhere, not even with the
higher-ups, so that was, one would say, a failure.

Design: Dominic Xavier

(c) 2002 rediff.com.

`ANALYSIS`

Doomed From Within
The Hindu extremists who fueled bloody riots in Gujarat are not likely to
impose their politics on India
By Ashutosh Varshney
NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL

http://www.msnbc.com/

March 18 issue — In recent years, relations between hindus and muslims in India
have played out along the same fault line: a battle between the secular,
multicultural vision espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, and the intolerant,
monoreligious view held by the right-wing Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse, who
killed him. The fact that bloody riots have racked the state of Gujarat, and in
particular its business capital, Ahmadabad, is in that sense ironic. Gujarat
was Gandhi’s home state, and Ahmadabad his adopted city. After he returned from
South Africa in 1915, until he left on the famous Salt March of 1930, Gandhi
made Ahmadabad his home, nurturing a large array of civic institutions,
developing an enormous mass following and leaving a formidable legacy of
voluntary social service and communal harmony.

AT THE SAME TIME, the bloodshed has largely been confined to Gujarat for a
reason—one that holds out hope for religious amity in the rest of the country.
Violence and bigotry have been spreading throughout the state for the past
three decades. For the most part, this can be traced to the steady decline of
the once mighty Congress party and its allied organizations, and their
replacement by Hindu nationalist groups. In some important ways, this
represents a local phenomenon.

In the first half of the 20th century, influenced by Gandhian ideology,
Congress routinely participated in social reconstruction, which entailed civic
activity such as grass-roots work for Hindu-Muslim unity, “Buy Indian”
campaigns, nationalist education and the uplift of women, tribals, peasants and
“untouchables.” As Congress grew more powerful politically, that civic role
declined. The more governments the party ran, the more it attracted people
interested in sharing the spoils of power, not cadres committed to ideology and
grass-roots work. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allied
organizations stepped into the void. Unlike Congress, they have the aim of
promoting Hindu solidarity across the various castes, not Hindu-Muslim unity;
their right wing is virulently anti-Muslim. They now run ideological camps for
youth, schools and dispensaries for tribals and lower castes, and organizations
for women. Through this extensive network, the Hindu nationalists have
penetrated Gujarat more than any other state.
The fact that Gujarat is, economically, the fastest-growing state in
India while the Gujarati diaspora in the United States, Britain and Africa is
fabulously wealthy has only exacerbated this process. A lot of the new Gujarati
wealth, at home and abroad, has gone to Hindu-nationalist organizations. In
fact, the upper middle classes have formed the base of the BJP’s support.
Wealth has in this case not led to political moderation.
In character, too, the latest riots are very specific. The violence was
not simply aimed at Muslims; it also represented a challenge from the far right
wing to the moderate right of Hindu nationalism. Extremists in the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad no longer seem to mind if their actions lead to the collapse of the
moderate, BJP-led coalition in New Delhi. The resurgence of militancy is, in
part, a response to their marginalization over the past decade: as the BJP has
wrestled with the exigencies of governing, party leaders have had to distance
themselves from their more doctrinaire supporters. Increasingly, a hard line on
Pakistan is the only major policy position that the two groups share.

What the riots actually indicate is the political weakness of this far
right wing. Since independence, no single Indian identity or
cleavage—religious, linguistic, caste—has had the power to override all other
identities at the national level. Parties emphasizing only one division can win
power in states like Gujarat, where BJP state officials are accused of openly
tolerating the burning of Muslim homes. But to come to power in Delhi,
politicians must build coalitions across these differences, especially as
regional and lower-caste parties have begun to proliferate. In short, because
of India’s endless diversity, its politics is oriented toward ideological
centrism: a multicaste, multiclass, multilinguistic and multireligious
political platform is necessary to capture and hold power.
The zealots who want to raise a Hindu temple on the ruins of a mosque
in the town of Ayodhya may well be obsessed with ideological purity. But in New
Delhi, their compatriots in the BJP, who govern at the head of a fractious and
fragile coalition, have had to gravitate toward a more centrist politics. This
has created a dilemma for the Hindu nationalists. If the extreme right succeeds
in bending the moderates to its will, it will likely doom the BJP’s chances of
holding on to power. But if the right relents, the movement’s ideological
purity will be compromised. Either way, a takeover of Indian politics by the
right wing of Hindu nationalism is highly improbable. Thankfully, the madness
of Gujarat is unlikely to engulf the rest of India.

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Varshney is director of the Center for South Asian Studies at the University of
Michigan. His book “Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in
India” was just published by Yale University Press.

© 2002 Newsweek, Inc.