The advent of the BJP as the ruling party in Gujarat (has) been accompanied by communal riots. Not that the state remained peaceful at other times. Communal riots have almost become a part of the life of Gujarat, which the Hindutva brigade earlier called the laboratory of Hindutva and now proudly calls "The First Hindu Rashtra".

Only in July, 1999 Juhapur village witnessed a riot which uprooted 900 tribal families. Almost simultaneously state capital Ahmedabad was rocked by a communal riot. These were preceded by the attacks on the Christians all over the state, particularly at Dangs, where the churches were burnt. The Christians ... live under a perpetual threat of riot .... At the entrance of over 1,200 villages hang banners welcoming the visitor to the "First Hindu Rashtra" ... (Source: The New Age, 5-11 September, 1999)