MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

New Delhi : LOK JANSHAKTI chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday lamented dilly dallying by Congress in
forging uni ty of "secular" forces in Gujarat, cautioning it that lack of unity with in the "secular" forces is
bound to be advantageous to the BJP. "Congress is adopting an ostrich-like complacency in forging unity
of secular forces in Gujarat on the eve of impending State Assembly elec tions. This is bound to prove
benefi cial to the BJP-led communal forces in the State during the forthcoming elections in November
/December." he said while addressing a newspersons conference. "Congress is the largest secular party
in the country. It owes moral responsibility to forge unity of secular forces well in time to ensure that there
is no division of secular votes in the impending Gujarat elec tions, which the BJP feels is a lab oratory to
test their communal the ory," said Mr Paswan. (Pioneer, 11.9.2002)
Modi under fire for ‘minority bashing’, (7)
New Delhi : GUJARAT CHIEF Minister Narendra Modi has once again come under fire from various
quarters for his snide re marks on Muslim community. While the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
has tak en strong exception to the mi nority bashing by Mr Modi, po litical parties condemned his "low level"
and "vulgar" views. The NCM, in a brief state ment, said, "such utterances go against the law of the land."
While reminding Mr Modi that India was a secular state, the statement said Mr Modi's speeches pertaining
to a mi nority were "inflammatory". The NCM has called for the full text of his speeches Before it
contemplates any action. Mr Modi in his speech in the course of his Gaurav Yalra. said that "those who
believe in multiplying population should be taught a lesson." He also made several other unchari table
remarks against the Muslims. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said Mr Modi's reported
statements against Muslims were intended to spread communal distress and haired. He charged that the
BJP's "hidden agenda" had now become its election man ifesto. (Pioneer, 11.9.2002)
12 TH September
Vaghela brings Gujarat yatra battle to capital (7)
New Delhi, Sept. 11: After challenging Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on his home turf, Gujarat
PCC chief Shankarsinh Vagehla raised the war cry in New Delhi and threatened that "so-called Guarav
Yatra would have to pass over our dead bodies" if there was commu nal violence. He attacked the BJP for
raising the foreign origin issue, saying that Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not need any certificate
from the saffron camp. He pointed out that "foreign er Sonia Gandhi" had managed to bring 14 states
under the Congress rule, while the swadeshi BJP was losing in all the state elec tions. (Asian Age 12.9.02)
The virus rides on the yatra (7)
GANDHINAGAR, SEPT. 11. The overwhelming response the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's
"gaurav rath yathra" received during the first leg of its journey through the riot-hit central and north regions
seems to indicate the percolation of the communal virus in the State. A loud cheer went up in the air
everytime Mr. Modi referred to the post-Godhra riots, suggesting that people were convinced of the role
played by the ruling party in the mayhem and were appreciative of its "unlawful actions". More than
personal popularity, his image as the "saviour of Hindus" seems to have attracted a large number of
people to Mr. Modi's meetings. And he took full advantage of the show. He expressed "sympathy" for the
riot-hits — describing the events as "unfortunate and condemnable" — but the stress was on the Godhra
carnage which he said led to the riots. He claimed that the State people would not allow the Congress to
come to "Gandhinagar via Godhra". His attack was focussed on all those who tried to come to the aid of
the affected. (Hindu 12.9.02)
Mayawati justifies Modi’s yatra (7)
JAIPUR, SEPT. 11. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, has justified her Gujarat coun terpart,
Narendra Modi, in tak ing out the "Gaurav Yatra". She also defended her coalition partner, the BJP, while
talking about the communal carnage in the wake of the Godhra killings in Gujarat. "Every party has got a
right to have its own campaigns in whichever style they find suit able. In fact, the whole issue of killings in
Gujarat started with the Godhra incident," she said talking to newspersons here on Tuesday. Ms.
Mayawati was on a two day visit to the Rajasthan capital to address the training camp of Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP) workers. Ms. Mayawati, also the na tional vice president of the BSP, is here to relaunch her
party in Rajasthan after some senior functionaries of the State unit deserted it recently. Interestingly, both
the BSP and the B1P today had their pro grammes at the same venue, the Birla auditorium complex, of
course, in different auditoriums. (Hindu 12.9.02)