MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

and Communalism Combat. In a statement issued here, Sahmat general-secretary Shabnam Hashmi
said, "Several testimonies by fathers, mothers, husbands and victims who managed to survive in all
independent reports show how rnobs can rape women — a fact that the BJP spokespersons find
impossible to accept.""The 40 survivors who came to Delhi recently narrated their terrible experiences to
the President of India and his statement to the nation reflects his anguish at the brutality they have been
subjected to. (Asian Age 4.5.02)
5 th May
Call to stop hate campaign among tribals (7)
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 4. The All-India Christian Council has accused the Sangh Parivar of
launching a "hate campaign" against Christians and other religious minorities in the tribal belt extending
from Gujarat in the west to Orissa in the east. Talking to The Hindu here on Saturday, the Council
secretary-general, John Dayal, alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamse-vak Sangh and its allied
organisations were making a "concerted effort" to vitiate tribal society. The hate campaign_was
aimed at turning the tribals against Christians and Muslims, he said. (Hindu 5.5.02)
5 th May
Modi Govt. doing well, says PM (7)
GWALIOR, MAY 4. Virtually giving a clean chit to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, the Prime
Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, tonight said that although there was a provision to issue notice to a State
Government under Article 355 of the Constitution, this was not needed in the case of Gujarat where the
Government was doing reasonably well. In an interaction with the media just before returning to New Delhi
after a brief visit to the city, the Prime Minister said that although Assembly elections were due soon in
Goa there was no possibility of holding them early in Gujarat. He said the BJP had not performed up to
expectations in the recent Assembly elections, but pointed out that it was gearing to do much better in the
Goa polls. (Hindu 5.5.02)
5th May
Reports on Godhra shocks Advani (7)
PORT BLAIR: Union home minister L K Advani on Friday expressed his shock at the fact that the
agencies probing the Godhra tragedy had been quoted as saying the incident was not pre-planned.
Though a number of newspapers, including this one, have quoted investigating officers from the Gujarat
police, Railway Protection Force and others to similar effect, Advani was reacting to a report on a private
TV channel broadcast Friday. Asked for his comment, he said, "I am myself surprised. I cannot comment
right now since the investigation is still on." While the fact that the investigation was on had not deterred
the home minister from commenting on the 'planned' nature of the train tragedy earlier, he told reporters
here that he would speak to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to clarify matters before commenting
further. (Times of India 5.5.02)
5 th May
In Gujarat, hate spread on SMS, Net (7)
New Delhi, May 4: The Gujarat riots were probably the first occasion when the digital media — including
cell phones, SMS messages and emails — was used extensively to threaten people and spread rumours.
The report of a fact-finding team of Editors' Guild Of India has pointed out that "the rioters and the
middle-class looters were directed on mobile phones. According to some who monitored it, the Gujarat
state web-site had little reference to the riots, barring information about the forthcoming examinations.
SMS messages were reportedly sent to some people warning them that the milk supplies ha been
poisoned. Others received telephone calls about a threatened rocket attack, setting off alarm and panic.
Chain messages were sent by emails." However, certain liberal persons like Mr M.N. Jowher of Manfin
Infotech Ltd. started websites like www.riotinfo.com following the eruption of mass violence where
communal harmony is being preached. (Asian Age 5.5.02)
5 th May
We were told to go slow, Gujarat cops tell Gill (7)