More than 10 years after the deadliest riots claimed over two thousand lives, Muslims continue to live in fear in Gujarat.
Addressing a meeting titled “Gujarat – 10 years of shame” organised by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen at Jubilee Hall here on Sunday, prominent personalities including former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and former Gujarat DGP BN Sri Kumar expressed concern over the violation of human rights and the discrimination that the Muslim community has been subjected to.
Lyngdoh said that thousands of Muslims were forced to migrate to safer places after the 2002 communal riots. They were deprived of their right to vote. However, as the Chief Election Commissioner, he ensured that the migrant Muslims get an opportunity to exercise their franchise. He said he had to face wrath of the then union minister Arun Jaitley for his move.
The former CEC said that steps should be taken to ensure that incidents like 2002 Gujarat riots do not recur anywhere in the country.
Former Director General of Police BN Sri Kumar alleged that he was under tremendous pressure from the Narendra Modi Government to suppress the facts related to riots. However, he said despite political pressure and opposition, he submitted the details before the Nanavati Commission. He said at most places the either local police officials themselves participated in the riots or supported the rioters. He also slammed the negative role played by the local media during the riots.
Sri Kumar said that the Modi Government did not provide any relief to the riot victims and also obstructed the relief measures taken up by some NGOs. He said still there were hundreds of Muslims who were afraid of returning to their homes. He praised the police officials who spoke the truth about the riots.
Resident Editor of Times of India Kingshuk Nag said that the Godhra train incident was termed as an accident and he himself spoke to the concerned DCP on that day about it. Even the bandh call given next day in protest against the incident went off peacefully. However, riots were started in an organised manner and police forces, including the traffic personnel, were withdrawn from the streets by the Modi Government.
Film producer Rahul Dholakia described the Gujarat riots as a conspiracy against humanity. Noted lawyer Shafeeq Mahajir said several evidences related to Gujarat riots were tampered and a sustained effort was made to saffronise the judiciary, police and bureaucracy in Gujarat.
MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi appreciated the role played by secular Hindus during and after the riots. He alleged that Muslim youth of Hyderabad were still being harassed by some communal officials. Demanding arrest of Gujarat police official Narendra Amin who killed a local youth Mujahid Saleem in front of DGP office, he said that the officials with communal mindset should not be spared. He also demanded that police officials involved in the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin and Kausar Bi should also be arrested and tried.
Owaisi hailed the relief work taken up by NGO from Hyderabad including the Urdu dailies Siasat and Munsif. (INN)