MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

iots as "perfunctory" and sought a more comprehensive one in the next few days. (Telegraph 22.3.02)
23 rd March
Four die in fresh Gujarat violence (7)
AHMEDABAD/VADODARA: At least four persons were killed, three of them in Vadodara, as violence
flared up in the central Gujarat city where curfew was again imposed in six police station areas on Friday.
In Ahmedabad one person was killed and three were hi-jured in stabbing incidents in the Kagdapith and
Gomtipur areas while incidents of violence and arson wfcre reported from some areas of north Gujarat.
The body of a 35-year-old male was found near the Lal Akhada in the Fatehpura area of Vadodara, The
body had a slit throat. It is learnt that the deceased was a tailor by profession. The second case of
stabbing was reported in the Dandia Bazar area of the city.The person used to run an English learning
class in the Ap-sara Apartments and was attacked in his office in the afternoon. (Times of India 23.3.02)
23 rd March
Imam blames the Centre (7)
New Delhi, March 22: Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Friday blamed the Centre
for handling riots in Gujarat and said the country is sitting on a volcano of cominunalism. Delivering his
Friday sermon, Imam said if the peace loving people of the country did not activate themselves, the
situation would further aggravate and would lead to anarchy in the country. He alleged that "The genocide
of Muslims in Gujarat seemed to be part of the government's agenda and despite the worsening situation,
the Prime Minister, Union horn minister and Gujarat chief minister claim that the situation in the state is
under control." "The RSS's recent statement on Muslims is a challenge to the tenets of the constitution,"
he said. He alleged that the minorities are being discriminated in India.
"For the deceased of the victims of the Godhra violence, Rs 2 lakhs has been announced but for the
victims of the Gujarat carnage Rs 1 lakh has been announced. (Asian Age 23.3.02)
23rd March
Muslim MLA led riot mob(7)
Ahmedabad, March 22: In a glaring example of what appears to be police connivance with the ruling BJP
government in Gujarat, the Ahmedabad police put the name of a Muslim MLA in a FIR for instigating
mobs to burn Hindu establishments, when he was actually in the Gujarat Assembly attending the session
discussing the law and order situation in the state. Mr Faroukh Sheikh, a Congress MLA representing the
communally-sensitive Dariapur area, was in the state Assembly on Thursday. He has been named in a
FIR charging him with leading a mob to assault Hindu-owned business establishments in Sindh Bazaar
and Revdi Bazaar areas. Five Muslims were killed in police firing in this area on Thursday and, according
to the police complaint, over 90 Hindu shops were burnt down here. (Asian Age 23.3.02)
23 rd March
Christians meet, rift unbridged (7)
Bangalore, March 22: THE RSS met Christian representatives on Friday and stood by a recent resolution,
which had stated that the real safety of minorities depended on the goodwill of the majority. The RSS had
made the statement in the resolution it recently adopted at a meeting of its all-India general council. A
spokesman for the Christians described the meeting as an attempt to "bridge the gap" between the
Hindus and Christians. The meeting concluded with the understanding that Christians and Hindus should
earn each other's confidence and remove mutual suspicion. There were heated arguments during the
meeting. RSS Sarsanghchalak K.S. Sudarshan suggested a national church be set up, which would
separate Indian Christians from the Vatican. Christian representatives reacted with anger. (Hindustan
Times 23.3.02)
24 th March
RSS addresses Christian fears (7)
BANGALORE 22 MARCH: THOUGH it was supposed to be a dialogue between RSS and Christian
leaders, sixth hi the series of similar exercises in different cities starting from Delhi, the Bangalore meeting
turned out to be an opportunity for RSS chief K S Sudarshan to address Christian leaders for nearly 90
minutes after hearing about a dozen of them for brief spells of two to three minutes each. It was not dear