MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

BANDHINAGAR, AUG. 11. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's visit to Gujarat from tomor row close on
the heels of the three-day study tour by the Chief Election Commis sioner and his team has put the State
ad ministration on tenterhooks. The State authorities were baffled why the CEC, J. M. Lyngdoh, and the
two Elec tion Commissioners, T. S. Krishnamurthy, and B. B. Tandon, decided to visit the State even after
sending a nine-member fact-finding team. Now they are equally unnerv ed over Dr. Kalam's desire for an
interac tion with the riot victims in some relief camps. Apparently enraged over Mr. Lyngdoh's reprimand of
the Vadodara Collector and other officials in full view of the media, the authorities have taken the short cut
— ban the media from covering the President's g, visit to sensitive relief camps. f? Of the four places Dr.
Kalam is due to visit in Ahmedabad, the media would be allowed to cover the Sabarmati Ashram, where
he would pay tributes to the Father of the Nation, and Naroda-Patiya where about 90 persons were burnt
alive during the riots. In none of the places is the Presi dent expected to do any talking and the media
would be kept at a distance "for se curity reasons". (Hindu 12.8.02)
13 th Aug
Experts praise CEC for independent Gujarat action (7)
New Delhi, Aug. 12: Eminent constitutional experts have come out in strong support of the Chief
Election Commis sioner, Mr J.M. Lyngdoh, on his Gujarat visit. Attacking the BJP for taking exception to
his focus on relief and reha bilitation before announcing the election schedule for the strife-torn state, the
experts have categorically stated that the CEC is an independent and autonomous constitution al body
which is not subordinate to the government. Speaking to The Asian Age, eminent lawyer Fali S Nariman
said, The Chief Election Commissioner is a constitutional authority which is wholly independent. It is
expected to act independently. He asserted that nobody can exercise any sort of control over this body.
He also pointed out that whatever the CEC says has to be treated as something coming from a person
who is at par with a Supreme Court judge. (Asian Age 13.8.02)
13 th Aug
Kalam to Modi: Heal wounds (7)
Ahmedabad, Aug. 12: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Monday visited more riot-scarred areas in
Ahmedabad than any other VIP. Among the places he visited was Naroda Patiya, where more than 80
peo ple were torched to death. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi accompanied President Kalam
throughout the day. It was Mr Modi's first visit to Naroda Patiya. After personally interacting with scores of
riot victims, President Kalam categorically told the administration to speed up rehabilitation work and provide
a "healing touch" to the victims. President Kalam's first official visit after becoming President was
marked by poignant moments as riot vic tims shared their sorrow with the country's First Citizen. He is the
first VIP to visit Naroda Patiya five-and-a-half months after the carnage. Not worried about protocol, he
visited the remnants of the homes of the victims who poured their hearts out to him. He even interacted
with riot vic tims in an open forum and was visibly upset by hoardings like "Kalam ko Ahmedabad ke
dukhiyo ka salaam" and "Give us dignity or kill us." (Asian Age 13.8.02)
14th Aug
Back to the future in Gujarat (7)
Ahmedabad, Aug. 13: It was back to square one on Tuesday, a day after President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
visited riot-scarred areas in Ahmedabad and offered solace and hope to the victims. Riot victims who had
lost their family members and their homes huddled in relief camps because they felt terribly inse cure
within the four walls of what were once their homes. Mohammed Yasin, a victim who suffered nearly 90
per cent burns in the riots, was assured of total medical treat ment by Dr Kalam when he met him on
Monday. Yasin does not live in the Haj House, the relief camp where 2,000 people are still languishing. He
lives in Rakhial, and since the President was not scheduled to visit that area, Yasin was brought to the
camp by his rel atives. But a day after Dr Kalam left, Yasin too left for his Rakhial home. (Asian Age
14.8.02)
14 th Aug
Narayanan: Riots left me helpless (7)
(New Delhi, Aug. 13: Former president K.R. Narayanan said on Tuesday that he felt "helpless" on the
Gujarat issue and that the riots had left him sad, agonised and ashamed. Mr Narayanan broke his silence