MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

accused, the speakers said that even doctors were being a party to human right violations and that they
were polarised on communal lines,
"This was not a Hindu-. Muslim riot but a completely state-engineered affair," asserted Renu Khanna of
PUCL and Vadodara Shanti Abhiyan. She said that their teams had investigated incidents in Vadodara
and found that , police were greater perpetrators with their inaction. (Indian Exp 26.6.02)
26 th June
Poll pitch: BJP, VHP plan Gujarat yatra (7)
New Delhi: Indicating that early polls are likely in Gujarat, the BJP intends to organize a gaurav yatra
(pride march) to propagate the achievements of the Modi government. Pushing forward its Hindutva plank
in the state, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad also plans to hold a rath yatra in its full grandeur on July 12.
Though the Gujarat police authorites are not in favour of a rath yatra in view of the situation in the state,
the VHP is yet to drop the idea, according to sources. They disclosed that the state government was of the
view that the communal violence in the state has resulted in a "Hindu wave" and the party should
take advantage of it at the earliest. Though the elections are slated for February next year, strategists in
the Modi government are in favour of an early poll. They feel that chief minister Narendra Modi has
become the most popular leader among the Hindu community in the state and no time should be lost to
take advantage of his popularity. (Asian Age 26.6.02)
26 th June
Modi should have quit, violence was political: Shankaracharya (7)
NEW DELHI, JUNE 25: BREAKING his silence on the Gujarat riots, Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra
Saraswati Swamigal today said that the violence was triggered by "political reasons" which also ensured
its end. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said: "(Chief Minister Narendra) Modi did not resign when he
should have. So what is the point in talking about it now. The damage is done." Shankaracharya
added: "What happened in Gujarat was wrong, all of it. But the violence has ebbed and 90 per cent of the
state is peaceful now. Ideally, people should forget all that has happened and try to get on with life, loving
each other. We cannot keep going back to the past. We should look at the future. How else will life
proceed?" Stating that there is "unrest both within and without", the Kanchi seer added that "riots happen
wherever there is tension but it is the duty of the public ; to save innocents^ not help the : attackers.
(Indian Exp 26.6.02)
27th June
NGOs hold Modi responsible (7)
Baroda, June 26: In what may be called a "bold" attempt, People's Union For Civil Liberties and Vadodara
Shanti Abhiyan have held chief minister Narendra Modi responsible for the communal riots in the state in a
198-page report "Violence in Vadodara – a report. Both the organizations which have prepared the report
after talking to almost 2,000 affected persons in the city, allege that riots were not only
government-sponsored but in fact the government was party to it. The report has named many senior
police officials and political leaders of Baroda in connection with various charges. The members have
alleged that role of security advisor to chief minister K.P.S. Gill has not made much difference and was a
face saving exercise. (Asian Age 27.6.02)
27 th June
Homeless riot-hit now landless (7)
Vadodara: MONTH after they returned to their damaged houses, 181 families living in Noor Park
Society in Tarsali have received marching orders. The administration hass woken up to the fact that the
land on which their houses have stood all along belonged to the government and were hence
encroachments. It's been less than a month since the families returned from a relief camp. Every house in
the society had been damaged by a mob that killed one resident and injured two in a frenzy that lasted for
hours on March 1. After three months in a camp, Noor Park residents were happy to return to whatever
was left of their houses as action had been taken against miscreants and they had been provided security.
(Indian Exp 27.6.02)
27 th June