MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

shops, and vehicles of Muslims. His name, however, does not figure in the FIR (No 100/2002) registered
at Naroda Police Station. (Indian Exp 5.6.02)
6 th June
Malegaon panel has no money, staff for inquiry (7)
NASHIK, JUNE 5: THE judicial inquiry into last year's Malegaon communal flare-up has come to a halt
for want of funds, manpower and an extension of tenure. The commission of retired High Court Justice
K-N. Paul has told the government it cannot continue with the probe. It was appointed to inquire into
communal riote of October 16,2001, in which 13 people were kflled. The commission, whose six-month
tenure ended on May 29, has now asked for a six-month extension. Over the past six months, the
commission said it was not provided the required staff of 12 people and fund of Rs 7 lakh. (Indian Exp
6.6.02)
6 th June
Situation in Gujarat conducive for polls, says Governor (7)
New Delhi, June 5: GUJARAT GOVERNOR Sunder Singh Bhandari on Wednesday said the law and
order situation in the state had improved and made a pitch for early Assembly elections. Speaking to
reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Home Minister L.K.Advani, Bhandari said elections in Gujarat,
due early next year, can now be held since the situation had normalised to a considerable extent. "There
are signs that it would be completely normal in the days to come. There have been no incidents of
communal violence either in Ahmedabad or other parts of the state in the last 15 days. The
environment is ready for elections to be held in the state," Bhandari said. (Hindustan Times 6.6.02)
6th June
Cong sacks MLA for praising Modi (7)
Ahmedabad, June 5 : A CONGRESS lawmaker in Gujarat who felicitated Chief Minister Narendra
Modi at a function in his constituency, was thrown out of the party on Tuesday. Khursheed Haider
Peerzada, MLA from Wankaner, Rajkot, paid the price of indiscipline" despite pleading not guilty in
his reply to the AICC's show-cause notice. His brother, Javed, has been expelled too. The MLA has
described the action as "anti- minorities". He has threatened to take the issue before Muslim voters. State
Congress president Amarsinh Chaudhry has, however, said the expulsions would not affect the party in
any manner (Hindustan Times 6.6.02)
8 th June
US panel to hear on Gujarat riots (7)
WASHINGTON, June 7.The Commission on International Religious Freedom, a federal agency that
advises the US administration, and Congress, plans to hold a hearing on Monday on the Gujarat riots. In
a.statement yesterday, the commission said the hearing is being . called to examine hew evidence
suggesting that the communal violence in the state, "which has killed at least 1,000 Muslims", was
"carefully planned,and involved state government officials and police".
The panel, which has no authority to sanction or punish any government for violations of religious
freedom, .said the hearing would* help it in developing further recommendations for US policy. "The
extremist violence in Gujarat threatens to exacerbate the already inflamed tensions between India and
Pakistan," the Commission chairman, Mr Michael K Young, said in the statement. (Statesman 8.6.02)
8 th June
Nineteen Godhra victims yet to be identified (7)
Ahmedabad, June 7: EVEN THREE months after the Godhra carnage, authorities here have been unable
to establish the identity of 19 of the 59 victims, leading to speculation over whether they were Kar Sewaks
or just common people who fell victim to the mob frenzy The bodies, charred beyond recognition, have
been cremated but their DNA samples have been preserved for possible identification at a later stage.
Significantly, contrary to earlier claims, VHP organizing secretary secretary Arunbhai Brahmbatt
admitted that the unidentified bodies could belong to passengers and not Kar Sewaks. He said the
bodies of the Kar Sewaks were , identified at Sola Civil hospital. However, three people were still reported
to be missing, he added. (Hindustan Times 8.6.02)