MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

17 TH May
Film on Godhra glosses over riots, blasts media, NHRC (7)
NEW DELHI, MAY 16: A 40-MINUTE film on the Godhra attack, Gujarat ki Vedana, screened today
picked on the media for biased reporting. Home Minister L.K. Advani, who was expected to attend, did not
turn up at the screening. The film based on video footage of interviews with Godhra eyewitnesses and
victims, was screened at the Mahadev Auditorium.
In the audience were Minister of State Chaman Lal Gupta, Gujarat Heavy Industries Minister Vallabhai
Kathuria and Balbir Punj, MP. The three year old Council For International Affairs and Human Rights
made the film that indicted the media, particularly the English language press, National Human Rights
Commission and the administration. The film never moved beyond Godhra as most victims talked of
events leading to the attack. (Indian Exp 17.5.02)
17 th May
Privilege motion against PM rejected (7)
NEW DELHI, MAY 16. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, today rejected the. privilege motion
moved against the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee. The Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha,
Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, had moved the motion, alleging that the Prime Minister had misled the
House on May 1 while participating in the discussion on the Gujarat situation. Mr. Dasmunshi had said
that while seeking to clarify in the Lok Sabha certain portions of the controversial speech made by him
in Goa, Mr Vajpayee had "deliberately" inserted the word "such" in a sentence which did not exist in the
original speech. Mr. Dasmunshi had produced a video copy of the speech to prove his point that the word
"such" had not been used before the word "Muslims". (Hindu 17.5.02)
18th May
Gujarat riot panel extends deadline (7)
GANDHINAGAR, May 17. — The deadline for filing statements or affidavits before Jus-' tice KG Shah
Commission, investigating the Gujarat riots, has been extended from 15"May to 31 May. The commission
secretary Mr HR Kamodia; said the reasons behind the move are that "people have prayed for more time
and the riots are still con^ tinuing". Till 15 May, the commission "had received 378 statements/affidavits,
including applications for adjournments," Mr Kamodia said. The body of a police constable, missing since
yesterday, was today found at Makarba area of Ju-huapura area of Sarkhej in Ah-medabad rural district,
adds FIX Police said Parvatsinh Kesaji was attached to Vejalpur police station on the outskirts of the city
and he might have become soft target of the assailants while passing through that area.The body has
several wound marks inflicted by some blunt and sharp-edged weapons, police said. (Statesman 18.5.02)
18 th May
Gujarat govt changes rules for orphans (7)
THE Gujarat government has decided to change the procedure of giving compensation to children
orphaned in the recent violence in order to protect their interests and ensure their proper care till they
attain adulthood. The government has also decided to do away with the rider of obtaining the counter
signature of a civil surgeon by those injured or rendered handicapped for getting compensation. Instead,
the medical officer of a municipal-run hospital can issue a certificate, with the counter signature of the
superintendent, to victims. The new procedures are laid down in two separate government resolutions
issued here on Thursday.
The compensation amount of Rs 3 lakh (Rs 1.50 lakh for the death of each parent), given to orphans, will
fee invested in 'Srinidhi' bonds of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam in a joint account with the district
collector/DDO concerned. (Indian Exp 18.5.02)
17 th May
Order to scam madarsas (7)
Hyderabad, May 18: The Centre has directed all state governments to keep a "close watch" on madarsas,
particularly those oprating in the border areas of the country. Union minister of state for home affairs K.
Vidyasagar Rao said the decision followed a report by a group of Union ministers on internal security that
some organisations were misusing their minority status and were involved in anti-national activities in
places of worship. The minister, however, discounted suggestions that the BJP-led government was