MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Gandhi." In the last seven days, the Gujarat chief minister has shifted his focus of attack from the national
press and secularists to Mr Lyngdoh. Mr Modi always calls Mr Lyngdoh by his full name at the public
rallies he addresses. "My government is the most popular one and I am the best chief minister of India.
This is a matter of gaurav (pride) for all of us. But still we are not getting elections," he said.
Mr Modi's reference to the Congress chief as "Italy-born Sonia" was hailed by applause by over 20,000
tribals who attended the rally. The BJP's vanvasi kendras in the tribal belt are very active and have
started a concerted campaign to "recon vert adivasis from Christians to vanvasis." The communal riots in
Gujarat saw tribals actively participating in the pogrom against the Muslims. (Asian Age, 22.8.2002)
22nd Aug
Godhra carnage: Railways release passenger list (7)
NEW DELHI, AUC. 21. After much dilly-dallying, the Railways has-come out with the list of passengers
who had reservation in the S-6 compartment of the Sabarmati Express which was torched by mis creants
at Godhra, resulting in the death of 58 persons. The incident had sparked communal riots that engulfed
most parts of Gujarat for a prolonged spell. Significantly, the list of reserved passengers reveals that only
four of the 56 passengers who had booked themselves in the S-6 compartment had died, with nine injured
and seven missing. The Railway Ministry figures and subsequent inquiry show that as many as 32 of the
56 listed passengers are alive. The Ministry had detailed about 40 inspectors and 100 other staff to conduct
the inquiry. (Hindu 22.8.02)
23 rd Aug
VHP lawyers for riot-hit(7)
Ahmedabad: Dilipbhai Trivedi, state general-secretary of the Vishwa Hin du Parishad, is also a public
prosecu tor in Mehsana, pleading in courts on behalf of Muslim riot victims. Several other public
prosecutors owing allegiance to the BJP and the VHP, will be entrusted with the re sponsibility of
representing riot vic tims in courts all over the state. Many of them are office-bearers. In Ahmedabad, it is
reported that at least nine of the 16 public prosecu tors are active workers of Sangh Parivar groups.
Among the prosecutor panel in Ahmedabad are two VHP members, who also fought cases of the riot-accused
free. There are apprehensions that their ideological leanings could derail the process of justice. For,
in many cases, the accused and the public prosecutor belong to the same organisation. Yusuf Charkha, a
Godhra lawyer, says, "you should see some of these government pleaders in action. In stead of pinning
down the accused, they seem to be pleading their cases." (Times of India 23.8.02)
23rd Aug
Armitage likely to discuss Gujarat (7)
New Delhi, Aug. 22: "I have great admiration for Hinduism. Historically, Hinduism had been the most
tolerant and peaceful faith. The violence in Gujarat was not because of Hinduism. It was a result of
extremism. extremism is a religion in itself. Converts to this faith include ***fUndus, Muslims, Christians
and many others. But Gujarat arises when the elements of the extremist faith enter the govern ment, or the
government is con trolled by the followers of extremism," were the opening remarks of Mr Najid Husain,
son-in-law of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, before the US Commission on International Religious
Freedom. US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage is expected to take cognisance of the
strongly-worded letter written to him by the commission on August 15 to "publicly state the profound
concern" of the Bush adminis tration about the "widespread killing of Muslims in the state of Gujarat."
(Asian Age 23.8.02)
23 rd Aug
Shankaracharya is Cong’s weapon for BJP’s Hindutva war (7)
GANDHINAGAR, AUGUST 22 : AS Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi stri dently raises the pitch
slamming Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh and referring to his Christian faith, the Congress,
led by former RSS member Shankersinh Vaghela, is using theBJP's own weapon— sants and seers
to counter the Hindutva card. Govardhan Puri Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshjanand Tirthji is
camping at Vaghela's native village of Vasan near Gandhinagar, ostensibly to de liver religious discourses
for the Hindu chaturmas of fast ing and prayer. (Indian Exp 23.8.02)