MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Gujarat in September. The BJP's central observer for Gujarat, Mr Ramdas Agarwal, stressed that the
yatra would kick off the party's election campaign. Details of a fresh route of the yatra are being dis cussed
and the BJP wants the yatra to start before August-end. (Asian Age 9.8.02)
10 th Aug
Riot victims protest non-payment of compensation (7)
Ahmedabad, August 9: EVEN AS the Election Commis sion members visited destroyed minority homes
and relief camps, a rally of nearly 2,000 people on Friday protested against the alleged non-payment
of compensation to riot victims. Significantly, not all who took part in the rally were inmates of relief camps.
Many of the par ticipants came from far off places like Dahod and Sanjeli where relief camps have
officially been closed and "peace" has returned. The rally passed through only minority-dominated areas.
"We were not allowed to take out the rally through the main city areas like Ashram poad or C.G.Road in
western Ahmedabad as the po lice felt it would not be safe for us", said a spokes person of the Society for
promotion of Ratio nal Thinking (SPRAT), one of the sponsors of the rally. Those who took part in the ral ly
carried half burnt belongings like scooters, household goods, clothes, books and electrical goods. Some
placards carried by the rallyists were enlarged pho tocopies of compensation cheques worth Rs 100 and
Rs 180 (Hindustan Times 10.8.02)
10 th Aug
EC sees empty houses in Gulbarg, frightened riot victims in Naroda (7)
AHMEDABAD, AUGUST 9: REFUSING guides from the lo cal administration, Chief Election
Commissioner J M Lyngdoh and Election Commissioners T S Krish-namurthy and B B landon trudged
through the riot-affected areas in Ahmedabad today asking questions and listening to what the victims had
to say on holding polls in the state. "It's too delicate a thing to speak about now ... I won't say anything
here. A statement will be issued after we reach Delhi," Lyngdoh main tained. The team first visited Gulbarg
Society, scene of the massacre of several residents, including former MP Ehsan Jafri, only to find that not
a single person had returned to live in the colony. Voter list in hand, Lyngdoh and the commissioners tried
to locate at least some residents at their addresses, but in vain. (Indian Express 10.8.02)
11th Aug
Lyngdoh reprimands Vadodara officials (7)
GANDHINAGAR, Aug. 10. — The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr J M Lyngdoh, today reprimanded
Vado-dara district officials for providing him with inaccurate information about ri ots in the district. The EC
team today toured Vadoda town and the district for a final assess ment of the situation. It met Vadodara
district collector Mr Bhagesh Jha and police commissioner Mr DT Tuteja. The election commissioners
visited Best Bakery where 14 people had been burnt to death and spoke to the resi dents. Mr Lyngdoh
rapped Mr Jha for saving that the violence at Best Bak ery was "sporadic". The CEC said: "How can you
say the situation has improved? What kind of stories have been telling me ? ... You should be ashamed of
yourself?" (Statesman 11.8.02)
12 th Aug
Long list of missing minority voters worrying EC officials (7)
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 11: THE Election Commission is ex pected to take a final decision on con ducting
polls in Gujarat by Wednesday. Though the EC has not revealed its mind, the BJP seems quite rattled by
the way Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh made news in Gujarat. Senior party leaders were
today fielded to virtually tell the EC that its job was to conduct elec tions, and only that. While Lyngdoh, who
returned with his team to New Delhi today after a three-day tour of AhmedaJ^ad and Vado-lara, said a
decision would come in a few days, it is learnt that the conclusions of the nine-member EC team that
visited the state earlier may be reinforced in the second tour. One of the facts the team found, and which
may influence the final decision, is the long list of voters from the minority community who are missing,
especially in the two cities worst hit by the riots. (Indian Express 12.8.02)
12 th Aug
Curbs on media during Kalam’s visit (7)