MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Nagar to convert to Christianity, promising them that he would get them loans and also bring in basic
amenities to the colony. (Indian Express 20.11.02)
21 st Nov.
Shekhawat sees threat to national integration (7)
NEW DELHI, NOV. 20. In his first major public pronouncement as the presiding officer of the Rajya
Sabha, the Vice President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, today sought to rise above his life-long association
with the BJP, expressing concern over "a serious threat to the bonds of national integration as also the
secular fabric of our Republic". He reminded the members that rulers have to "be guided by Raj Dharma".
Mr. Shekhawat was thanking the Rajya Sabha for felicitating him as the Chairman of the House. He
regretted that "manifestations of social and religious disharmony have sadly been on the increase" and
suggested a "proactive effort towards weaving a stronger secular fabric". Reminding the members that the
enemies of India were using terrorism as a weapon to stall the country's development, he said in order to
combat the menace, it was imperative that we remained united and shared the vision of a resurgent India.
(Hindu 21.11.02)
22 nd Nov.
Citizens’ report indicts Modi Govt for riots (7)
Ahmedabad: In the worst-ever indict ment of the BJP government in Gujarat after the communal riots, the
Con cerned Citizens' Tribunal, headed by re tired Supreme Court judge Justice Kr ishna lyer, released a*
Comprehensive report on the "genocide" in which over 1,000 people were killed.
Talking of the state's complicity in the violence, the report, released on Thursday, said: "The post-Godhra
car nage in Gujarat was an organised crime perpetrated by the chief minister and his government." It also
names the state's chief secre tary, home secretary and director gener al of police as "accused" in the eyes
of the victims. The report is expected to be submitted to President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday. Titled
'Crime Against Humanity' the report runs into two huge volumes, and is based on as many as 2,094
statements. The report has not spared anybody. But it specially mentions Modi in the chapter on 'state
complicity'. (Times of India 22.11.02)
23rd Nov.
BJP members stop Buddhist meeting over book contents (7)
BHOPAL: BJP MLAs today disrupted an international Bud dhist convention inaugurated by Qhief Minister
Digvijay Singh within the Assembly premises in Bhopal, protesting against the contents of a book being
sold there. Party MLA Karan Singh Verma said the book, Ramayanba ke Mahapatra by K.M. Sant
contained objectionable parts about Sita. There was an uproar inside the Assembly as well when Leader
of Opposi tion Babu Lal Gaur attempted to read out portions from the book BJP MLAs marched into the
hall where the convention was on and raised slogans. They had a scuffle with Home Minis ter Mahendra
Bodh. (Indian Express 23.11.02)
BJP slams report on Gujarat massacres (7)
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party today rubbished the Justice Krishna Iyer Concerned Citizens
Tribunal report on the Gujarat massacres, while the Congress promised all possible legal action on the
report if voted to power, including arrest and trial of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi who has
been directly indicted by the Tribunal for the post Godhra violence. "The report is entirely false, it is full if
lies and is politically motiva ted," the BJP spokesperson, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said even as he admitted
that "neither the party, nor the Gujarat Government, nor any Hindu organisation cooperated with the
Tribunal." Its conclusions were foregone, Mr. Malhotra added, even as he lashed out at
"pseudo-secularists and Hindu haters". (Hindu 23.11.02)
24 th Nov.
Christian leaders meet Deshmukh (7)
MUMBAl, NOV. 23. Christian lead ers on Friday met the Maha-rashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh,
and conveyed their apprehensions about the di-I minishing safety for the com munity after a "spate
of ' attacks". ' According to a press release, ' the delegation, including Mr. ' Abraham Mathai, Secretary of
the All India Christian Council, | who is also a member of the ' State Minorities Commission, was