MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

former MLA from Kalupur said, "We had received a threat from the Bajrang Dal earlier following which we
lodged a complaint at the Ellisbridge police station". The hoodlums, allegedly led by Bhavin and Jaymin,
came in auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers. They broke into the gymnasium by opening the main lock with
a steel rod.
Glass-panes were shattered, mir rors broken and equipment stolen. "They also took away Rs 16,000 and
four to five cheques," alleged Hamid. However, no motive has been stated in the complaint. (Times of
India 10.10.02)
11 TH October
Muslim League condemns T.N. ordinance (7)
NEW DELHI, OCT. 10. The Indian Union Muslim League has de scribed the Tamil Nadu ordi nance on
conversion as "a serious assault on the right to profess, practice and propagate religion guaranteed by the
Constitution". In a statement, G.M. Banatwalla, MP and president of the League, said "it is mischievous as
it so defines the words "force" and "allurement" that it destroys the right to propagate religion insofar
as the definition includes divine pleasure, dis pleasure and gratification". He said it was shocking that the
Tamil Nadu Government was a victim of the misleading propaganda of the sangh parivar as regards
"conversion" or was attempting to appease the parivar. Pointing out that Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh and Orissa had similar Acts on con version, he said these had only led to inhibition and destruction
of legitimate religious rights. He said: "I have also in troduced in the Lok Sabha a Bill to repeal
these Acts and it is pending. (Hindu 11.10.02)
Minorities plan crusade against TN ordinance (7)
MADURAI, OCT. 10. In a show of solidarity against the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of
Religion Ordinance, Christian, Islamic and Dalit leaders, along with human rights activists, today chalked
out a plan of action demanding withdrawal of the controversial measure.
Briefing newspersons at the culmination of a day-long meeting here, the Archbishop of Madurai, M.
Arokiasamy, appealed to all secular forces to condemn the 'fascist ordinance , which went against the
basic tenets of the Constitution. To express their anguish at being let down by a Government which had
won the election on a secular plank, the minorities would organise fast in all district headquarters on
October 19. (Hindu 11.10.02)
U.S. report on Gujarat violence muted (7)
WASHINGTON, OCT. 10. Criticism of some of the countries in the State Department's Interna tional
Religious Freedom report of 2002 appears to have been muted, and in the case of India it shows a
"continuation of a trend of hesitancy to state conclusions," says the Chair of the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom, Felice Gaer. Ms. Gaer — who was one of two members who disagreed
with the Commission for plac ing India on the List of Coun tries of Particular Concern — told a
Congressional panel this afternoon that the State Depart ment ought to have gone be yond what "others"
had suggested that the State Gov ernment in Gujarat did not re spond adequately to acts of violence
against religious mi norities. (Hindu 11.10.02)
Godhra accused grilled, hunt on for two others (7)
VADODARA, OCTOBER 10: EVEN as the special in vestigation team began grilling Razzaq Kurkur, key
accused in the Godhra killings case, on Wednesday, the rail way police has intensified its search for two
others wanted, former Independent council lor Farooq Bhana and tea ven dor Salim Panwala. While Bhana
was report edly seen with Kurkur during the burning of the coach, Pan wala is reported to have shouted on
the platform that a Muslim girl had been dragged into the coach by the karsevaks. Sources said Kurkur,
who allegedly set coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express on fire, has provided some vital informa tion on the
killings. "While it was known that three others had entered the coach, it is now getting clear that Kurkur
had also played a role by throwing petrol inside the coach through the broken toilet window," said an
investigation official. (Indian Express 11.10.02)
Muslim traders scared after attack on gym (7)
Ahmedabad: The attack on a health club owned by Hamid Sheikh, son of for mer Congress MLA from
Kalupur, Farooq Sheikh, in the Ellisbridge area on Wednesday by suspected Bajrang Dal men has sent a
wave of panic among Muslims doing business in areas domi nated by Hindus in the city. Chief minister