April 29th,
2002.
Headlines:
· NDA
sticks together ahead of Gujarat vote ( Times News Network )
· Paswan quits Cabinet over
Gujarat issue ( Times News Network )
· Minister quits over Gujarat ( BBC UK )
· Call for action against local media in Gujarat ( Deccan Herald )
·
GUJARAT RIOTS - Naming the guilty (
Deccan Herald )
DOCUMENT/ THE HIGHWAY TO
DEVASTATION (The Telegraph )
News Headlines
FERNANDES PLAYS DOWN PASWAN ABERRATION
TIMES
NEWS NETWORK [ MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 7:01:55 PM ]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=8380236
NEW
DELHI: Despite some last-moment realignments in the ruling
coalition,
the government seems set to come out victorious in
Tuesday's
censure motion on Gujarat.
In
a move that even surprised the NDA, Lok Janshakti leader and Union
Coal
and Mines Minister Ram Vilas Paswan resigned from the government
and
severed ties with the alliance.
But
the BJP-led government got the support of the BSP and the backing
of
the rest of the allies, putting it on secure ground in Tuesday's
vote,
with or without Paswan.
The
Prime Minister forwarded Paswan's resignation letter to the
President,
recommending it be accepted.
NDA
Convenor George Fernandes, after a meeting of the allies here,
said
he had spoken to Paswan's office twice — on Sunday night and
Monday
morning — and was told he would be attending the meeting.
Fernandes
said he was trying to contact Paswan "but he's not
available".
Paswan
resigned on moral grounds, saying he was unhappy with the
government's
handling of the Gujarat situation. The four Lok
Janshakti
MPs in the Lok Sabha will vote against the government.
Paswan
said the BJP government in Gujarat had failed to bring the law
and
order situation in the state under control. He has demanded CM
Narendra
Modi's ouster and that President's Rule be imposed in the
state.
Analysts,
however, said the BSP-BJP alliance in UP has led to
Paswan's
resignation, who would have been hoping to be the Dalit face
of
the NDA. With the BSP supporting the BJP-led alliance, Paswan
would
lose that position, they felt.
The
party has denied that this was the case.
Meanwhile,
the other NDA allies said they would vote with the
government.
Fernandes said all the parties in the ruling alliance had
issued
a three-line whip on the motion.
Fernandes,
however, seemed hesitant when asked about the National
Conference's
stand. "They didn't say anything at the meeting. I am
presuming
that the NC has also issued a whip," he said.
The
party has been vocal about its unhappiness with the way the BJP
government
has handled the Gujarat situation. An NC leader, however,
said,
"We will not disappoint the people."
Trinamul
Congress, the other NDA ally who has expressed concern over
Gujarat,
was clearer on its support. Mamata Banerjee said the
Trinamul's
Parliamentary Party had met in the morning and presented a
resolution
to the NDA. She said her party would vote with the
government
to ensure stability but wanted Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to
resign.
Samata
Party leader Nitish Kumar said they would back the government
and
that there was no dissent in the party.
This
leaves only the TDP undecided on what it should do on Tuesday.
It
will decide on its stand after hearing the Prime Minister's reply
during
the debate under the motion.
Copyright
© 2002 Times Internet Limited
Paswan
quits Cabinet over Gujarat issue
TIMES
NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES [ MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 5:10:06 PM ]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=8371946
NEW DELHI: Union Coal and Mines Minister Ram
Vilas Paswan has
resigned
from the government over its handling of the Gujarat
situation.
The Lok Janshakti leader also decided to severe ties with
the
NDA. The Lok Janshakti will vote against the government in the
Gujarat
debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Paswan
said the BJP government in Gujarat had failed to bring the law
and
order situation in the state under control. He has demanded CM
Narendra
Modi's ouster and that President's Rule be imposed in the
state.
Sources
close to Paswan said he met Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee
on Monday and handed over his resignation. The Lok Janshakti
has
four MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Lok
Janshakti spokesman R S Bidhuri said the country had to hang its
head
in shame because of the Gujarat developments.
Paswan's
resignation came just hours before an NDA meeting to discuss
the
strategy of the ruling combine for Tuesday's Opposition-sponsored
censure
motion against the government in Lok Sabha. The Lok Janshakti
will
not be attending the NDA meeting.
Analysts,
however, said the BSP-BJP alliance in UP has led to
Paswan's
resignation, who would have been hoping to be the Dalit face
of
the NDA. With the BSP supporting the BJP-led alliance, Paswan
would
lose that position, they felt.
The
party has denied that this was the case.
The
Opposition, meanwhile, said Gujarat was causing a rift within the
NDA.
Senior Congress leader Shivraj Patil said: "It shows the allies
have
become really uneasy about what the government is doing.
Whichever
way they vote, it shows they are uneasy. It would have been
better
if (Gujarat CM) Modi had resigned. If ministers are resigning,
and
yet the government is not owning responsibility, people will lose
faith
in it."
Copyright
© 2002 Times Internet Limited
Monday,
29 April, 2002, 16:29 GMT 17:29 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1957000/1957264.stm
Sporadic
violence has continued in Gujarat
A
member of the Indian Government has resigned in
protest
over the continuing religious violence in
Gujarat
state.
Ram
Vilas Paswan: His party has four MPs
Coal
and Mines Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has quit over
the
government's failure to contain the violence,
according
to his party.
"We
have been shamed by the incidents in Gujarat", Mr
Paswan
told the BBC.
"We
have been mute spectators for too long", he said.
Mr
Paswan said it would be a sad development if the
censure
motion is not passed.
The
Indian Government led by Prime Minister Atal
Behari
Vajpayee has been criticised over Gujarat and
faces
a censure motion in parliament on Tuesday.
More
than 800 people have died in clashes between
Hindus
and Muslims in Gujarat since late February.
Gujarat
vote
Mr
Paswan's resignation comes ahead of a key
parliamentary
debate on Gujarat, expected to severely
criticise
the government's handling of the crisis.
Our
government cannot be derailed. It is stable
Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
His
Lok Jan Shakti party has four parliamentary seats
and
is one of more than 20 parties making up the
federal
coalition.
The
opposition has been demanding the replacement of
Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi for failing to
check
the violence.
Voting
line-up
Tuesday's
parliamentary debate is not expected to
unseat
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government
-
but could embarrass it.
A
plea for Hindu-Muslim amity
A
meeting of the BJP's allies on Monday ended with a
pledge
to support the government in the vote.
But
at least three groups, the Trinamul Congress, the
Janata
Dal (United) and the National Conference, are
still
undecided about which way to vote.
Andt
the regional Telugu Desam Party, which is outside
the
government, has not yet decided its stand.
The
Telugu Desam is crucial as it is the largest party
backing
the BJP, but it has been very critical of the
Gujarat
violence.
But
the BJP received a boost on Monday with another
regional
party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, saying it
would
back the government.
The
BSP has 13 MPs and is poised to form a government
in
the politically influential state of Uttar Pradesh
in
alliance with the BJP.
For
his part, Mr Vajpayee is confident of surviving
the
debate.
"Our
government cannot be derailed. It is stable," he
told
a meeting of India's leading industrialists on
Sunday.
Continuing
violence
On
Sunday, hundreds of people took part in a peace
rally
in Ahmedabad, among them Defence Minister George
Fernandes
and Narendra Modi, to plead for unity
between
Hindus and Muslims.
Mr
Fernandes, who was representing the federal
government,
called on people to rid themselves of "all
sorts
of misunderstandings and feelings of anger and
revenge".
But
hours after the rally, violent clashes broke out
between
Hindus and Muslims.
Two
people were shot dead by police in a suburb of
Ahmedabad
after clashes between Hindus and Muslims.
In
another incident, two people were killed and five
others
injured when a mob hurled crude bombs at
another
group in Ahmedabad.
Sporadic
violence has continued in Gujarat since
February
when Hindus targeted Muslims in widespread
rioting.
It
followed an attack by Muslims on Hindu activists
returning
from Ayodhya, where hardliners want to build
a
Hindu temple on the ruins of a demolished mosque.
Copyright 2002 BBC UK. All Rights Reserved.
DECCAN HERALD
Monday,
April 29, 2002
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr29/n6.htm
A
congregation of prominent personalities, including former chief justices
of
India A M Ahmadi and Ranganath Mishra, has said deterrent punishment must
be
given to the culprits involved in the continuing violence in Gujarat and
demanded
Mr Narendra Modi’s removal as state chief minister.
They
also expressed concern over the role being played by sections of local
media
in fomenting communal passions after the Godhra incident and urged the
Press
Council of India (PCI) and Editors’ Guild of India (EGI) to take
action
against them.
Mr
Ahmadi, speaking at a “national dialogue” to discuss the Gujarat
scenario,
said that the violence should be seen in the context of the “might
it
right” saga of the Sangh Parivar that began with the 1992 Rath Yatra by
Home
Minister L K Advani and the subsequent destruction of the Babri Mosque.
Stressing
that democracy and Constitution were in danger due to the Gujarat
developments,
he said the polity of the country would have to send a clear
message
to the state that the situation there was harming India’s image
worldwide.
Criticising
bureaucrats and police of Gujarat for not being able to stand up
to
their political masters to protect the people, he expressed surprise that
no
action was taken against Sangh Parivar leaders like VHP international
vice-president
Pravin Togadia despite their rabid statements which were
punishable
under Section 153 (A) of the IPC.
Former
Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, alleging that Mr Modi had
a
“criminal mentality,” said he must be removed if Gujarat was to be saved
from
the present crisis.
Charging
BJP with inciting the violence as part of its “hidden agenda,” the
Congress
MP who was with the BJP when he was the chief minister, said: “If
you
have not seen Hitler, see BJP,” and alleged that Prime Minister Atal
Bihari
Vajpayee would not have visited the state unless he was to go on a
trip
abroad immediately after that.
The
participants, including Congress MP Eduardo Faleiro and senior
journalists
Vinod Mehta and Seema Mustafa, called for immediate efforts to
educate
and sensitise all sections of people against any provocation.
©
Copyright, 1999 The Printers (Mysore)Ltd.
[E-mail
to Editor] [Main Page..Text Version] [Main Page..Graphic Version]
OPINION
GUJARAT
RIOTS - Naming the guilty
DECCAN HERALD
Monday,
April 29, 2002
By
VALSON THAMPU
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr29/top.htm
Stating
the obvious has become a high art since Gujarat began to burn.
Countless
high-decibel speeches continue to be made each day denouncing the
VHP
and the Bajrang Dal for their role in the post-Godhra riots. Eloquent
efforts
to project the unspeakable agony of the riot-victims and pillory the
sub-human
callousness and mendacity of the Modi administration continue
unabated.
But all these would amount to nothing in the end unless we engage
the
crucial question as to who was responsible for this “kalank” on the
nation.
It
is naive, even dishonest, to put the blame for this national scandal
exclusively
at the door-step of the Sangh Parivar. The biting irony in the
Gujarat
scenario is that the coalition partners and the other political
rumps
that prop up the BJP-dominated NDA government at the Centre bear the
prime
responsibility for the genocide in Gujarat. Among them the spotlight
must
fall squarely on Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu. He would be
fooling
himself if he were to assume that, because he has kept his party out
of
the government, he would escape the condemnation for its failures.
Admittedly,
neither the NDA partners nor the TDP has advocated this
anti-Muslim
pogrom. Nor have their cadre workers participated in the
systematic
execution of Muslims or in the targeted destruction of their
houses
and business establishments.
Orchestrated
pogrom
But
the irrefutable fact is that, but for their unconscionable support to
the
NDA government, the tragedy of Gujarat would not have happened and
continued
so far. Modi could not have allowed the VHP-Bajrang Dal hit-squad
to
unleash a holocaust if a non-BJP government were at the Centre. That
being
the case, the hands of political tools like Chandrababu Naidu, George
Fernandes,
Mamta Banerjee, Farooq Abdullah and others are stained with the
blood
of the poor and innocent Muslims in Gujarat.
It
is they who have made it possible; and the one indulgence they will not
be
allowed is the luxury of ignorance. There is no getting away from the
awkward
fact that the orchestrated economic and psychological pogrom that
the
Sangh Parivar has launched on the Muslims of Gujarat would have been
simply
impossible but for the assured support from the Central dispensation.
The
way the Ayodhya melodrama fizzled out proves this beyond any doubt.
While
the VHP-BD storm-troopers are very valorous in attacking the helpless
members
of the minority communities, especially their women and children,
their
bravery vanishes in the face of adversity and opposition.
Act
of cowardice
Crowds
numbering five to ten thousand people roaming around for days
killing,
burning and pillaging under assured state patronage is not a
spectacle
of courage but of cowardice. They should have proved their
anti-Muslim
valour in Kargil, instead. Or by flushing out the terrorists
from
the valley. They are not even known to escort the pilgrims along
vulnerable
routes! The eagerness to sink into unimaginable cruelty and
bestiality
under guaranteed immunity and state complicity is only one side
of
the coin. The other side is extreme cowardice in times of adversity and
risk.
All those who have lent their support to the BJP-led government at the
Centre
have played a role in opening the door of immunity wide to these
cowardly
hoodlums to run amok in Gujarat. Morally, therefore, they are more
culpable
than these misguided and indoctrinated agents of terror.
At
the secondary level, the opposition parties must be held responsible for
the
continuation of the anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat. No matter how loudly
they
might protest, the fact remains that they have not put their whole
weight
behind arresting this communal madness. Did they not fight like
demons
and coerce the Gujarat government to revoke its decision to allow its
employees
to join the RSS? Nothing comparable has been attempted so far in
the
present instance and one wonders why. Every life lost in, and every new
wound
inflicted on, Gujarat stains their forehead too with the blood of the
innocents.
It is not only Vajpayee who is failing through his calculated or
compulsive
indecision. His bewildered inaction is complemented by the
ineffectiveness
of the opposition parties, especially the Congress. The
tragedy
of India today is that she has fallen between these two stools.
At
a tertiary level, the Muslim leaders have much to answer for. To see this
part
of our story in the right perspective, a brief recap of the Godhra
carnage
is necessary. The Muslims in Godhra (40 per cent approximately of
the
population) comprise largely of the Ganchi tribe, marked by near-total
illiteracy
and crass poverty. Their social image is amply indicated by the
fact
that they are deemed a “criminal tribe”. Godhra itself is virtually
divided
into two segments. The Hindu dominated section is popularly known as
“Hindustan”
and the Muslim-dominated section is nicknamed “Pakistan”. The
railway
station is right in the midst of the Muslim settlement and virtually
all
the vendors on the platform are Muslims, which makes it possible for a
huge
mob to assemble at short notice.
Provocative
conduct
We
were told by independent sources in Godhra that the so-called Karsevaks
would
order tea from the Muslim vendors and force them to shout “Jai Shri
Ram”
before serving the tea. Those who refused to oblige would be roughed
up.
This is part of the background to the tragic event that claimed the life
of
57 Karsevaks on February 27. Two aspects of this situation merit our
attention.
The first is the provocative conduct of the Karsevaks, which the
Muslims
could not have mended. The second is the crass under-development of
the
Muslims in Godhra, which they could have done something about. The time
is
come for the minorities in general and the Muslims in particular to
realise
that the perpetuation of their socio-economic under-development is a
greater
danger to them than even the brutality of the Sangh Parivar. The
socio-economic
backwardness of the minorities aids and abets the Parivar
agenda
to stigmatize and stereotype them. In this the Muslims oblige the
Parivar
more than any other religious community. Undoubtedly, it is on
account
of their retrograde and antediluvian leaders that the Muslim
community
is in such a sorry state today.
Greater
priority
The
Muslim leadership, both of the religious and the political varieties,
appear
to be keener to control than to empower their fellow Muslims.
Manipulating
a people is easier when they are illiterate and economically
dependent.
But this tarnishes the public image of a community to such an
extent
that it becomes easy to caricature them as sub-human and detestable.
Egalitarian
slogans and myths apart, no society anywhere in the world values
human
life equally. The life of the rich and the powerful is cherished and
protected
a great deal more than that of the poor and the socially
worthless.
Hundreds die in train and level-crossing accidents in this
country
without causing any heartburns anywhere. But 160 air passengers
being
held hostage for a week created paranoia in this country. That is a
reality
that should not be overlooked.
For
Muslim leaders to remain unmindful of the image of their community at
this
point in time is simply suicidal. Not being Muslims, we do not wish to
counsel
them on this count. But as those who love human beings more than
religions
and ideologies, we would argue that the all-round progress and
empowerment
of the Muslim community should be a greater priority for Muslim
leaders
than protecting a mosque or two. This could, we know, sound
heretical.
But it is a risk that we are constrained to take since our visit
to
the refugee camps in Gujarat.
©
Copyright, 1999 The Printers (Mysore)Ltd.
April
29, 2002.
http://www.telegraphindia.com
The extent of damage all over the state can
only be
imagined.
Our delegation visited Godhra by road from
Ahmedabad
and, on the way back, tried to count the
number
of Muslim properties that had been damaged on
either
side of the highway. A rough estimate of what
we
saw:
Between
Godhra and Timba Road Station — 11 shops, 3
houses,
2 trucks; Timba Road — a mosque, 23
establishments
in the main market, a large building, 4
railway
quarters; between Shivalaya and Ambava — 2
trucks,
some kiosks; Ambava — 11 stores/galas, 1
house;
Thasra — 2 houses and 1 timber godown; Dakor —
16
galas, 2 large houses, several cars; Alina — 10
houses;
Mirz- apur — 1 house; Mehmuda- bad — 8 galas,
Bhagyodaya
Hotel, 1 mazar, 1 petrol pump, 1 hotel, 4
handcarts,
4 houses; near Ramod Police Station —
Sarvottam
Hotel; Ramol — innumerable shops and houses
razed
to the ground, several large factories, garages,
petrol
pumps, Satkar Restaurant, Sarvod- aya Hotel and
Supreme
Hotel.
These
are only those visible from the main road. We
may
have missed many more. All the hotels mentioned
belong
to members of a Muslim community known as
Chelliyas
who are hoteliers/ restauranteurs. In the
last
few years they have built hotels and restaurants
with
seemingly “Hindu” names, many of which have
prominent
signboards proclaiming them to be “Pure
Vegetarian”.
A year ago a Gujarati newspaper, Sandesh,
published
a list of all hotels and restaurants owned
by
them, giving all the names as if to say whatever
you
do, you cannot disguise the fact that the
establishments
are owned by Muslims. Others say that
the
arsonists used this list. This is probably close
to
the truth, for otherwise identification would not
have
been possible. Eyewitnesses we spoke to said that
vehicles
with tins of petrol and trucks were moving on
the
main highway without any hindrance. Many of these
structures
look as though they have been demolished by
bulldozers.
Clearly it would have required time to
break
these buildings into the rubble now visible.
Where
was the police during this time?
But
what about compensation? In a situation where FIRs
are
not being filed in the camps and where affected
and
bereaved people cannot go to the police station
either
because they are terror-struck or because it is
physically
not possible to do so, the question of
payment
of compensation is reduced to a farce. Since
in
many areas all traces of the property are being
removed,
there is fear that the empty spaces will be
occupied
by criminals and looters. As for those who
have
died, since FIRs regarding their killings are not
being
registered, not only will their dependants be
denied
any compensation but also their killers,
whether
the rioters or police personnel, will never be
brought
to book...
In
the rural areas an even more horrible situation is
being
created. We were told by survivors that Muslim
peasants
and shop-keepers are being driven out in
droves
and their homes, shops, fields, livestock,
implements
are being torched. They are apprehensive
that
their land is being occupied.
...Ahmedabad
looks like a city ravaged by war. For the
first
time, even areas dominated by the Muslim
community
were targets of attack because of the
connivance
of the police. One such area was Bapunagar
and
its surroundings. Ansar Nagar, Sone ki Chali,
Rahat
Nagar, Medina Nagar, Akbar Nagar, Urban Nagar,
along
Highway 8...are all areas totally inhabited by
Muslims.
There are shops in front and rows of houses
at
the back. Nearby are high-rise buildings like
Gayatri
Nagar which are inhabited by the majority
community.
Until now, people living here felt quite
secure.
This time was different. Most of the people
who
live here are originally from Uttar Pradesh but
have
been in Ahmedabad for at least three generations
since
their ancestors had all come to work in the
textile
mills. After the mills closed down, many of
them
work in small factories as daily wager, petty
vendors,
drivers, shopkeepers, tradesmen or own small
businesses.
The houses are pucca and built in rows on
single
or double-storied tenements. There is a large
madrasah,
Qasimul uloom, and a large mosque, Medina
Masjid.
Our
delegation went around much of the area. We were
accompanied
by Shahabuddin, a CPI(M) and CITU leader
who
lives in the area and has been actively involved
in
the relief work, and many others of the area
including
Firoze, Rajabhai, Wali Mohammed and a few
women.
We saw that some of the families whose homes,
although
damaged, had not been destroyed completely
were
living in them and cooking their own food. Even
they
had lost most of their possession. Many others
had
to live in the camps because their homes had been
completely
burnt down.
Akbar
Nagar was a hutment colony just behind the
office
of the assistant commissioner of police, “H”
division.
It had been completely destroyed: burnt and
then
razed down and almost all traces of its existence
had
been obliterated. More than 300 families from here
were
in the Bapunagar Aman Chowk camp.
to
be concluded
Copyright 2002 The Telegraph . All Rights Reserved.