MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Bajrang hand in Gujarat anti-Muslim conspiracy? (7)
Ahemdabad, Sept. 7 : THE POSSIBILITY that the Gujarat political establishment is targetting Muslims has
gained greater credence after a state intelligence bureau (SIB) report suggested that weapons found on
18 Muslims, who are now Jail, were made at the behest of a Bajrang Dal activist. The policemen who
made the arrest were given cash awards by the state government. SIB chief Shreekumar has sent a letter
to Ahmedabad police commissioner K.R. Kaushik saying the weapons found on the 18 Muslims had been
manufactured on the instructions of Prafuldas Manibhai Patel, a former Vishwa Hindu Parishad worker
and chief of Bajrang Dal in Vadgam taluk (in Sabarkantha district). (Hindustan Times, 8.9.2002)
9 th September
Modi Targets White Skin Sonia (7)
Ahmedabad/Phagvel, Sept 8: Giving a clarion call to Hindus, the BJP flagged off its election campaign in
the form of the Gaurav Rathyatra with state chief minister Narendra Modi igniting Hindu passions and
raking up the issue of Mrs Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins. Whether at Phagvel or Kashmir, it was going to
the BJP all the way, the party declared. The yatra, which was aimed at spreading awareness about
Gujarat's "achievements" (under BJP rule), thus became a tool to attack the Congress. Over one lakh
people in the nondescript village of Phagvel, part of the parliamentary constituency of state Congress
President Shankarsinh Vagheia, cheered Mr Modi, who was introduced to them as their "Hindu Hraday
Samrat" hero. The chief minister, launching a caustic attack against Mrs Sonia Gandhi, even invoked the
name of Mahatma Gandhi, noting that Gandhi had "waged a fight to ensure that the ‘goras' left India." He
said: "Bapu spent his life spreading the message that gori chamdi valo ko desh mein se nikalo but inhone
(Congress) to abhi Italian ki beti ko laake bitha diya. (Mahatma Gandhi and his Congress fought to drive
out the English from the country, but the Congress has now got an Italian's daughter to run the country).
(Asian Age 9.9.02)
11 TH September
Modi in danger of violating poll code. (7)
New Delhi: If chief minister Narendra Modi is to attack Congress president So nia Gandhi on her race once
the polls are notified, he stands to lose a great deal. During his gaurav yatra, Modi has re ferred to Sonia
as a gori chamdi wait, but has not as yet referred to her race specif ically. Should he do so once the
elections have been notified, the EC can rule him out of court. Railing against Sonia because of the
colour of her skin or indeed her place of birth or her pre-marriage nationality would be a breach of the
model code of conduct, sources said. The code says candidates must not canvass for votes on the basis
of attacking someone's reli gion, caste, community or race. Even personal abuse of a rival is barred. The
code, regulating party behaviour and putting numerous clamps on state authority till the poll is over, is
unique to India but lacks legal backing. It was cre ated in 1968 by a unanimous decision of all political
parties, a unanimity period ically reaffirmed. The EC enforces the code and has done so all along through
moral persua sion alone. (Times of India, 11.9.2002)
BJP tells CM to pipe down. (7)
New Delhi: An embarrassed Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday sought to distance itself from Gujarat
chief minister Narendra Modi’s latest diatribe against the minorities. Disassociating itself from Modi's
intemperate outburst, party presi dent Venkaiah Naidu called up Modi on Tuesday morning and ex pressed
his displeasure over the re marks. The chief min ister was told to refrain from making such "nega tive
statements". Addressing public meet ings during his ongoing 'gaurav yatra', Modi exhorted his supporters
to "teach a lesson to those who believe in multiplying themselves". Stepping up his attack against the
Mus lims, Modi remarked "we do not want to keep run ning relief camps for pro ducing children". Modi's
openly commu nal remarks resulted in some consternation in the BJP here. The matter was discussed at
length by par ty office bearers at a meet ing specially convened by Venkaiah Naidu. A gener al consensus
that emerged during the meeting was that such remarks do not reflect well on the party and should be
avoided. "The party president spoke to Modi and asked whether he had made the comments. He also
asked him to avoid making such statements in future," par ty general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told
mediapersons here. (Times of India, 11.9.2002)
United we win, divided we lose: Paswan. (7)