MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

in an outflow of crores of rupees of tax payers money. Their specific job will be to propagate the Hindutva
ideology on the eve of the state elections.
"The idea clearly is to further polarise the voters on communal basis and consolidate the Hindutva vote
bank of the BJP," Mr Gowda told The Asian Age. (Asian Age 24.6.02)
25 th June
Modi Govt turns the screws on relief camps (7)
Ahmedabad, June 24: DESPITE OFFICIAL assurances that the riot-hit people living in relief camps would
not be forced to go back till the process of rehabilitation is complete, the Gujarat Government is resorting
to many subtle ways to see that they close down as early as possible.
On Monday, many relief camps received either inadequate ration supplies or none at all. Camp organisers
said the Behram-pura camp housing 250 families and Gangshohda Kabristan housing 1,500 people has
been closed down from Monday evening as the ration supplies were stopped in the morning. At the Shah
Alam camp, the biggest in the state, the organisers refused to accept the ration for just 3,000 people
saying the number of inmates there still stood at around 4,500. - mostly from Naroda Patiya who are too
scared to return home. Another 52 families staying in the camp mobbed the Shah Alam camp organisers
Monday evening as they were told about the stoppage of their rations. The Citizen Relief Service had to
assure them that their ration needs would be borne by the organisers for some more days. (Hindustan
Times 25.6.02)
25 th June
Call to fight fascist elements (7)
HYDERABAD, JUNE 24. Muslims will live in "our beloved country" according to the principles of the
Shariat based on oneness of God, unity of humanity, peace, amity and honesty. They will continue the
endeavour to call upon people, without distinction, towards love and amity and wean them away from evil.
This is the crux of the "Hyderabad declaration" issued at the end of the three-day All-India Muslim
Personal Law Board conference. The 16th session of the Board urged justice-loving citizens, intellectuals
and journalists to join it in stopping a "handful of terrorists and fascist elements" who were misleading
people and pushing the country towards strife and lawlessness. While the Gujarat violence had broken all
previous records of 'State-sponsored terrorism', there were many instances of people and organisations
proving that humanism still existed. "Let us salute such people and hope in future, better interaction takes
places between us", said Moulana Syed Rabey Hasni Nadvi, the Board's newly-elected president. (Hindu
25.6.02)
25th June
Hindu partner best insurance in Gujarat (7)
AHMEDABAD, JUNE 24 : THE hospitality industry in Gujarat has been one of the worst-affected in riots
and as many as 695 hotels and restaurants owned by Muslims were looted and burnt across the state. So
while Muslims seem to have lost interest in running a business on this side of the river—a
Hindu-dominated area—it's a different story on the other side where many Muslim owners of relatively
newer restaurants are looking out for Hindu partners. And those who had Hindu partners all these years
are trying to make the fact known. President of the Hotel Owners' Assotiation Narendra Brahmbhatt says
that almost 25 per cent of restaurant and hotel owners have got themselves Hindu partners ever since the
riots. At the same time 75 per cent of those who had Hindu partners are publicly declaring the fact says
Brahmbhatt. (Indian Exp 25.6.02)
26 th June
Civil rights bodies release reports (7)
THE MEDICO Friends Circle (MFC) has demanded that the Medical Council of India and Indian Medical
Association act against doctors who have participated in the Gujarat violence. MFC along with the
People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Vadodara Shanti Abhiyan today released their findings on
the Gujarat carnage. While the MFC released the Carnage in Gujarat : A Public Health Crisis,' PUCL and
Vadodara Shanti Abhiyan, released 'Violence in Vadodara' and 'Women's Experience Of Violence in
Vadodara.' Citing the Sunday Express report on use of drugs to induce confessions from the Godhra