Only two days back that we have celebrated the 53rd Independence Day of our country ... It is a matter of regret that still we have to discuss the atrocities committed on minorities (as they face) consistent threats, harassment and atrocities ... There are elements in this country (to the) minorities and (they) are creating many problems not only for the Government ... and for the peace-loving people ...(Recently) destruction of ... the properties, business places and industrial units belonging to the Muslims ... in Surat - with the connivance of the administration, is shocking for all right-thinking Indians ..
On 9th. August I went to Ahmedabad and on 10 and 11, I visited Surat ... What have I seen? ... In Gujarat, the VHP had called the Bandh on 3td August. While Muslims were participating in the Bandh ... their properties, their business places, their houses and their industrial units had been destroyed, I am a witness to it - material and machinery worth crores of rupees had been destroyed. Why? ... I ask why such crimes and atrocities are taking places against Muslims. Did they not support this Government on the sensitive issue of Kashmir? ...
... Every time incidents involving Muslims are being linked with ISI. If there is ISI hand, the government should take action against ISI. There was a promise made by the Home Minister (for) a White Paper on ISI. Why has it not been given so far? ...
We have absolutely nothing against taking whatever action that deserves to be taken by the Government against ISI. But the poor innocent and the hapless people of the minority community must be spared.
.. The activities of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad are creating a lot of heartburn among the minorities ... (Even) the Samata Party's National Council passed a resolution (which said):
"We must however ensure that organizations like the VHP and Bajrang Dal are not allowed to fan tension or tarnish the image of NDA. They are not the true representatives of the Hindu community.".
This is the view even among those who are in the NDA. Then. why have they not been curbed or controlled.
... It is the duty of the Home Minister to take steps, stringent action, whenever, there is violence and terror against minorities.
While inaugurating a meeting of the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and the Directors-General of Police of different States, the Home Minister is reported to have said:
"These incidents that is, the atrocities against minorities, specially Christians, do not appear to be emanating from any tension between the communities. As the sequence of these incidents indicate the possibility of an anti-Indian element trying to create disaffection in society and give the country a bad name cannot be ruled out". This is what Shri Advani said. Who are these elements? Then why is the Government shying away from controlling these elements? Why has the Government not taken action against them? Who is protecting them? ...
Police Collaboration with Sangh Parivar in Surat
Shahabuddin's Letter HM Advani, 14 Aug., 2000
The Jamiat-ul-Ulama-Hind team which has just returned from a visit to Surat has reported that the material loss suffered by the Muslim community of Surat in the recent disturbances runs into crores as valuable, immovable and moveable property including residential houses and household effects, shops with their goods of trade and factories with their machinery, equipment, raw material and finished products and vehicles, both personal and commercial, have been looted and burnt, not to count the loss of life and honour. All these losses were inflicted by mobs with the negligence and connivance, if not the collaboration, of the local police.
I request you to advise the Government of Gujarat to appoint a Claims Commissioner to register and examine all claims from the sufferers and announce a comprehensive scheme of compensation as in the case of Delhi Disturbances of 1984.
Words and Deeds Editorial, Hindustan Times, 4 Sept., 2000
After the self-cleansing ritual at Nagpur, this is bad news for the BJP. The National Commission on Minorities has squarely blamed the VHP and Bajrang Dal for the riots in Surat ... "Since the riots in Surat were a sequel to the Gujarat bandh call given by the VHP/Bajrang Dal, the state Government should impress upon the organisers of the bandh to publicly accept full moral responsibility for failing to prevent their field functionaries from resorting to violence while enforcing the bandh. This will have a lasting impact on the prevention of riots in Gujarat," the report says. Indeed, with the increasing number of attacks against Christians and Muslims, Gujarat is fast carning the unenviable reputation of being the stomping ground of Sangh Parivar outfits, which are seemingly doing their best to refute the fatuous saffron claim that the BJP is working towards a riot-free India ... The state provides a frightening example of what Hindu Rashtra really means for the minorities.
The NCM's indictment has poured cold water on the party's bid to flaunt a pro-minority outlook. In this context, the NCM's conclusions have only reinforced what is widely believed, that it will take much more than a declaration of pious intent to dispel the suspicion that the projected new face of the BJP is nothing but a mask born of the exigencies of realpolitik, while its anti-minority agenda remains deeply entrenched within the rank and file as well among sections of the leadership ...
Joydeep Ray On Role of VHP & BD in Ahmedabad
Every time Ahmedabad has communal trouble, two names invariably crop up - Babu Bajrangi and Harshad Gllerwala. Police admit they are perpetual trouble-makers. Yet there is no stopping these Bajrang Dal activists, who have a string of criminal cases pending against them, including murder, cheating, riots and hatching conspiracy. Both have been arrested several times.
Many senior city police officers prefer not to comment on their activities because whenever they take any action, the VHP accuses them of framing charges agninst "The innocent Gau-Raksha activists".
.Assistant Commissioner R.J. Savani who has seen Babu Patel alias Babu Bajrangi in action. (But) this man was behind the law and order problem in Naroda area on March 16, on the eve of Bakr-Id. He also did some mischief on August 3 - the day of the statewide bandh ealled by the VHP", Sayani told.
Offences like instigating riots, possession of illegal arms, cases of cheating and forging documents also remain pending against Bajrangi. A case was registered by the Sardarnagar Police in mid-April against Bajrangi and his associates for cheating residents of Rs.32 lakh, forging documents, using fake seals and even forcible possession of someone else's property. But even four months after the case was registered, police says: "investigation is on".
Same is the case with Harshad Giletwala, who was allegedly involved in the sensational Bhagyodaya restaurant arson case in Drive-In area in July 1999. Giletwala and one of his associates Bhaskar Bhatt, had allegedly set ablaze Imdar Momin, Manager of the restaurant, on July 30 following communal tension in the city. Giletwala was released on bail and was back in action in the walled city. The August 3 looting and communal violence in Saraspur was master-minded by Giletwala, police says. A senior police official said: "Even if we arrest them, they come out on bail, making us feel helpless ... (Source: The Indian Express, 12 August, 2000)
A.A. Engineer On Prosecution for Bal Thackeray
... If the Government of Maharashtra is really serious . it should implement ... the Srikrishna Commission Report which is gathering dust in the Government shelves so far. It has not until now even undone the ATR filed by the Shiv Sena-BJP government dubbing the report as 'biased against the Hindus' ... The Government of Maharashtra (should, therefore,) immediately ... bring to hook not only Bal Thackeray but all those named by Justice Srikrishna including the police officials. This way it will not only redeem its pledge but also enhance its credibility in the eyes of public.
Rathin Das On Hindu-Muslim Solidarity in Surat
Neighbours protected people of other communities from the dagger-wielding rioters, the sprawling Limbayat area of (Surat) when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had called for a band in protest against the killings of Amarnath-bound pilgrims in Kashmir.
The Limbayat area, which was under night curfew ...following the bandh on August 3, is a virtual mini-India with labourers from all parts of the country making a living out of small menial jobs ..
(On August 4) nforning a crowd with saffron scarves on head and assorted weaponry in hand had swooped down on the Limbayat in search of minorities who they said didn't deserve to live in this country. As the crowd straightaway charged at the first minority house and slayed 45-year-old Yusuf Gulam Khatki, the Hindu neighbours in other lanes quickly ran to the other minority houses and hurriedly escorted them inside various houses of majority community people.
The simple and prompt effort of the majority community people saved as many as 54 minority lives ... Yusuf Gulam Khatki died on the spot despite the best efforts of one of his ... neighbours ... Autorickshaw driver Yusuf ran to his Hindu neighbour's house who came to his rescue. But the rioters ... went on inflicting more wounds to Yusuf (and) snuffed out his life on the spot.
So scared are the (Muslim) survivors that they would not even reveal the name of the Hindu saviours ... (Source: The Hindustan Times, 15 August, 2000)
Malkani: Distinction Between Riot and Mass Murder
The media keeps referring to the 1984 carnage that followed Mrs. Gandhi's killing, as a "riot". But was it really a riot ..
A riot is defined as a confrontation between two angry and armed groups of individuals. But in this case, it was a number of organized and armed bands of hoodlums that went on a spree murdering some three thousand unarmed Sikhs in cold blood -apparently with the police looking the other way.
It was "mass murder", pure and simple, and not any "riot". It is about time we called it by its proper name. (Source: The Times of India, 26 June, 2000)
