MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

12 th June
Ahmedabad riot survivor to address Kolkata seminar (7)
Kolkata, June 11: Shah Alam camp of Ahmedabad has been in the news for over three months.
Every one, by now, is familiar with images of uprooted and traumatised victims of sectarian violence, who
are holed up in this relief camp. It is the same camp where the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee voiced
his outrage over the communal carnage in Gujarat. Now Kolkatans will get a chance to hear first hand the
daily ordeal of these unfortunate people, who have become refugees in their own homeland. The
Association of Indian Minorities is bringing over a representative of the Shah Alam camp to the city who
will recount their horror experience. (Asian Age 12.6.02)
13 th June
Muslims split over Kalam’s presidential candidature (7)
New Delhi, June 12: Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam may be all set to become the President of Hindu-majority
India, but the Muslim community is divided over the selection of the highly respected scientist. The
widespread violence against Muslims in Gujarat is not the dominant reason for misgivings about the
selection of a Muslim for the post of head of state. But many Muslims are happy that the world's largest
democracy will have a Muslim occupying the top post for a third time. Muslims number 140 million in
India's population of one billion and are the country's largest minority. India has more Muslims than any
other country except Indonesia. By nominating Mr Abdul Kalam, 70, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
has clearly signalled that the minorities would continue to play a key role in the country's affairs, a
cross-section of Muslims said. Some of them felt Mr Abdul Kalam would help refurbish India's image at a
time when the country's secular ethos has taken a terrible beating following the deaths of about 950
people, mostly Muslims, since February-end in Gujarat. (Asian Age 13.6.02)
13th June
Staines wasn’t into conversion: Widow (7)
Bhubaneswar, June 12: The widow of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines, Ms Gladys Staines,
on Wednesday ruled out any involvement of her husband and the Evangelical issionary Society of
Mayurbhanj district in Orissa in any conversion of local tribals. Ms Staines, who deposed before the
Khurda district and sessions court as a CBI witness, however, maintained that the Evangelical Missionary
Society was regularly sending reports to its headquarters in Australia about the conversion activities in the
district. Graham Staines was the secretary of the Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj. The
Australian missionary was burnt to death along with his two minor sons on the night of January 22, 1999 at
Manoharpur in Keonjhar district allegedly by Dara Singh and some of his aides. Ms Staines told the court
that Graham used to visit Manoharpur every year to attend a jungle camp. "On January 20, 1999, Graham
and my two sons — Philip and Timothy — and Graham's childhood friend Gilbert Benz went to
Manoharpur in two jeeps. (Asian Age 13.6.02)
13 th June
VHP fires minority salvo at Gill (7)
Ahmedabad: June 12: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has Launched a campaign against the chief
minister's security adviser, K.P.S. Gill, irked by his alleged "pro-minority stance". In a memorandum
submitted to chief minister Narendra Modi and Governor S.S. Bhandari, the VHP has questioned Gill's
impartiality. "The recent riots in Juhapura is a direct outcome of his pro-Muslim image as they now feel
that they can get away with anything," the VHP alleged. But Gill could not be contacted as he was away in
Delhi. The first charge that the VHP has levelled against Gill is that he has been visiting only Muslim relief
camps and meeting only Muslims and has not bothered to meet Hindu leaders or visit a Hindu relief camp.
The second charge is that Gill is reluctant to order combing operations in Muslim-dominated Juhapura and
Sarkhej areas, the trouble-spots. (Telegraph 13.6.02)
14 th June
Modi’s latest: 95% relief, rehab done (7)
New Delhi, June 13: GUJARATCM Narendra Modi today hinted at early polls to the state Assembly and
said that he would shortly formulate a plan to reform madrasas in the state.