MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Narendra Modi's vitu perative anti-minority utter ances during his current Gaurav Yatra. is now clearly
backing him to the hilt. When reports appeared in the media about Mr Modi describing the relief camps for
riot victims as child-producing factories, there was an outcry against such a com munal campaign. Certain
allies of die National Democ ratic Alliance also raised objections. Immediately thereafter, party spokesman
and general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told die media that party president M. Venkaiah Naidu had
tele phoned Mr Modi and raised this issue with him. (Asian Age 19.9.02)
EC makes strong case for Central rule in Gujarat (7)
New Delhi, September 18: MAKING A strong plea before the Supreme Court for returning the presidential
reference on Gujarat without giving any opin ion, the Election Commission on Wednesday said Central rule
was inevitable in a state where polls cannot be held within six months after the last sitting of the dissolved
assembly. Concluding his reply before the Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice B.N. Kirpal, EC
counsel K.K. Venugopal submit ted that the questions raised in the reference were "hypotheti cal" to law
with regard to the ap plicability of Articles 174 and 324 of the Constitution, and so it should be returned
without opinion. He said if elections could not be held due to natural calamity or serious law and order
situation in a state within the six-month peri od as prescribed under Article 174, then "the court should perceive
that the safety valve is pro vided under Article 356 for im posing President's rule to avoid any
constitutional crisis". (Hindustan Times 19.9.02)
20 th September
Minority body wants Modi Yatra be stopped (7)
New Delhi, Sept. 19: The Save India Front, an organisa tion of Dalits and minorities, has called for an
immediate end to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's Gaurav Yatra and has sought his trial under
criminal law. Talking to reporters, nation al chairman of the All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations
Udit Raj said that the National Human Rights Commission, National Minorities Commission, European
Union and other groups have all come out with findings that the Gujarat gov ernment machinerv under Mr
Modi is responsible for "ghastly, barbaric and inhu man acts." Giving details of a meet organised by the
Confedera tion and Jamiat — Ulama-i-Hind on Sunday, Mr Raj said the, participants have resolved ' that
RSS,' VHP and, 'Bajrang Dal, along with such other organizations should be banned immediately.
(Asian Age 20.9.02)
Jamiat to launch drive for Muslims (7)
New Delhi, Sept. 19: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, the organisa tion that had fought for free dom along with
Gandhiji, has decided to launch a "second satyagraha" from October 2, to "seek justice for the minorities
in the secular, independent India." Announcing the decision in New Delhi, Maulana Asad Madani — the
octogenarian president of the Jamiat, who was once a Rajya Sabha member with help from the Congress
— said he had sought an audience with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to seek his help to put an
end to the anti-Muslim propaganda in the country and get proper representation in jobs and legislatures,
but the Prime Minister refused to meet him. He has therefore, decided to launch a satyagraha from the
birthday of the Father of the Nation. (Asian Age 20.9.02)
Gujarat: Day of surprises in SC (7)
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 19: THE proceedings of the Gujarat reference today sprang surprises as the
BJP did not toe the Centre's new line on the extent to which an election can be postponed while the
Congress party con tradicted not just the Centre but also the Election Commis sion on that issue. The
Supreme Court, on its part, said that it may not reply to the controversial question in the reference about
whether the EC can ever factor in Arti cle 356 while framing an elec tion schedule. This is because the EC,
according to the court changed its stand by clarifying that its decision to postpone the Gujarat election was
taken without reference to Article 356. (Indian Express 20.9.02)
Gaurav Yatra tapes yet to reach NCM (7)
New Delhi, September 19: THE GUJARAT government has agreed to provide the National Commission
for Minorities (NCM) tapes of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "minority bashing" speech during his ongoing
'gaurav yatra'. The commission, which adopted a wait-and-watch policy following the Modi dispensation's
initial reluc tance to provide the tapes on the plea that it did not keep a tab on what was stated at a party
function, had not how ever received the tapes till Thursday evening. "In view of the state gov ernment's