MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Surat, Ahmedabad : WHEN THE Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a one-day bandh to
protest against the Akshardham temple attack, large parts of Muslim-dominated commercial areas
had shutters down for two con secutive days. On the day prior to the VHP bandh, they were
taking orders from the Congress leader ship in the State to stay at home. Partly, observing the
bandh meant avoiding trouble. The offi cial line is that the bandh is a protest against the terror
attacks in Gujarat. But political pundits in the State also read this as a silent way of defying the
Congress State leadership by supporting the VHP's bandh. There is some disquiet about the
unstinted support that the Congress took for granted from the Muslims in the State. The trouble is
not just having a former RSS swayamsevak to lead the Congress and his soft-Hindutva plank.
Muslim religious heads are also unhappy with the Congress' national leadership, es pecially on the
Ayodhya issue. "It might be the kar sevaks who brought down the Babri Masjid. But who
allowed the idol to be reinstat ed inside? Who allowed the worship (Pioneer, 17.10.2002)
AIADMK Govt. to move conversion ban Bill. (7)
CHENNAI, OCT. 16. Unfazed by the swelling criticism against its ordinance banning "forcible" religious
conversions in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK Government has decided to bring in a Bill to get legislative
sanction for the measure in the coming Assembly session. Even as minority institutions have threatened
to close down their educational institutions on October 24, when the week-long Assembly session begins,
the Government appears committed to moving the Bill to ban conversions through "allurement, force and
fraudulent means". This measure is among eight ordinances which will be replaced by Bills, the Legislative
Assembly Principal Secretary, C.S. Janakiraman, confirmed today. The ordinance slaps a fine of Rs.
50,000 and imprisonment up to a maximum of three years on those converting people by use of force and
allurements. If the converted persons are Dalits, women and minors, the penalty will go up to a maximum
of four years and the fine up to Rs. 1 lakh. entire Opposition including the DMK, which has 30 MLAs, and
the Congress with 25 MLAs, the AIADMK, which has a strength of 135 MLAs, can push through the
controversial law without a hurdle in the 234-strong House. Besides, the BJP, which has five members,
has offered "full support" for the ordinance. Hindustan Times, 17.10.2002)
Godhra train fire started from inside Coach S-6' (7)
Ahmedabad, Oct. 16: The inflammable material used to torch the ill-fated S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express
at Godhra railway station was poured in the passage near the last seat (No. 72) of the coach, according to
assistant director of Forensic Science Laboratory M.S. Dahia. On Wednesday, Mr Dahia deposed before
Justices G.T. Nanawati and K.G. Shah who are probing the Godhra carnage. Mr Dahia's statement
negates the earlier theory of investigating officials that the inflammable material was poured on the coach
from outside to start the fire that claimed 58 lives on February 27. During simulation tests of the Sabarmati
carnage, in which the fire was re-enact ed, the FSL officials found it was not possible to pour the
inflammable substance from outside, as the win dows of the bogie were seven feet above the ground level.
(Asian Age, 17.10.2002)
19 th October
Jayalalithaa justifies ordinance on conversion (7)
NEW DELHI, OCT. 18. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today justified the promul gation of an
ordinance banning forceful conversions stating that it was done in the interest of the State. Talking to
reporters at the conclusion of the Chief Minis ters' conference on fiscal re forms, she said, the aim was to
prevent conversions by induce ment. Asked what was the sudden need for the ordinance, Ms. Jayalalithaa
said that "what we have done is in the interest of the State. People were forced to convert through
fraudulent means and inducements and offered Rs, 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 ex ploiting their dire poverty. They
were doing so without knowing the consequences and the Gov ernment had to intervene to prevent this."
(Hindu 19.10.002)
Christian groups to observe prayer day (7)