2002 Gujarat riots

The term 2002 Gujarat violence refers to the riots that took place in Gujarat state in [India]] from February 27, 2002. The riots started a day after the Godhra Train Burning episode.

Officially 793 Muslims and 253 Hindus died as a result of the violence.[1]while the BBC and other humanitarian agancies put the toll at around 2000, mostly Muslims.

The Godhra Incident and aftermath

A long distance train - Sabarmati Express carrying Kar Sevaks returning from a hotly disputed shrine in the state of Uttar Pradesh known as the Babri Masjid among Muslims and Ram Janmabhoomi among Hindus caught fire either from inside or outside killing 59 of them including women and children.

The Kar Sevaks went to participate in the Chetavani (Warning) Yatra to pressurise the government to allow the building of a Rama Temple at this land which is under a court case to determine whether there was such a Ram Temple on this spot prior to the sixteenth century, and what effect that has on the rights to the property.A decade ago on December 6,1992 the mosque standing on this spot was demolished by the Kar Sevaks.

The Kar Sevaks travelling in the train in 2002 were returning from a ceremony called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to construct the temple at the spot - the name of the event was called Chetavani (Warning) Yatra. This train was stopped and came under attack at Signal Falia near Godhra Junction by a mob of local Muslims. The train's Coach S6 subsequently caught fire killing 59 passengers,including women and children.

The BJP government in Gujarat cited this as the primary provocation or the "first use" of violence. However, others alleged that Kar Sevaks riding the train were shouting anti-Muslim slogans before a mob attacked the train.

After the controversial Godhra Train Burning, which some evidence suggests was perpetrated by local muslims (while others claim that the fire was an unrelated event) a statewide Bandh was called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad eventually leading to the start of retaliatory attacks by Hindus.Time quoted that mobs burned families in their houses, demolished mosques, and sexually assaulted women.[2]

The riots

Many NGOs and newspapers reported that in Ahmedabad there were elements of planning in the violence. Some rioters were seen with documents and computer sheets listing Muslim families and their properties, which the Indian Express claimed were accessed from the electoral rolls of the areas. They also had detailed precise knowledge about buildings and businesses held by members of the minority community while there were also cases where Hindus living in mixed neighbourhood were attacked and driven out of their homes. [3]. Human Rights groups have alleged that the trucks carried quantities of gas cylinders. Rich homes of people belonging to the Muslim community and business establishments were first systematically looted, stripped down of all their valuables, then cooking gas was released from cylinders into the buildings for several minutes. In addition, certain mosques and dargahs were efficiently razed, and in some cases the traces are no longer visible.

There have been several well-publicised cases where charges were made subsequently withdrawn and again made, the most famous one being that of Zaheera Sheikh. The Indian judiciary is currently studying whether the witnesses have been victimised.

Compensation

A total of Rs. 150,000 ($3,400) had been paid to the next of kin of each person killed[4].The Gujarat government paid out a total of 2.04bn rupees towards relief and rehabilitation according to a minister.NGO's and newspapers slammed the Gujarat government for discriminating between the Hindus and Muslims in dispensing compensation.[5]

Claims and counterclaims

Previous claims by Teesta Setalvad of the death toll have been demonstrated as exaggerated.^{[citation needed]} Arundhati Roy , in her articles made several claims about the details of the situation in Gujarat at the time {fact}, particularly regarding the murder of former Congress MP Iqbal Ehsan Jaffri where she said that his daughters were raped and burnt by a mob which eventually killed at least 150 persons. BJP MP Balbir Punj, writing in Outlook India, has criticized her recounting of the events as highly questionable mentioning that Ehsaan Jaafri's daughters were not in Gujarat at the time of incident^{[citation needed]}.However, Punj did not deny the killing of 150 persons in this incident.

Retailation against Hindus by Muslims

Human Rights Watchsaid that "Hindus have also suffered greatly from the violence in Gujarat".It refers to attacks on Hindu Dalits by Muslim mobs in Danilimda, Modasa, Himmatnagar, Bharuch, Sindhi Market, Bhanderi Pole, and other localities in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The loss of life and property came from attacks involving arson through the use of molotov cocktails{fact}, stone throwing and stabbing. Some of the Hindu riot victims mentioned being helped by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and NGO doctors. The report also describes that "some Hindus feared retaliatory attacks by Muslims communities-promoted in some areas by false reports in the local language media -or fear of being mistaken for Muslim by Hindu mobs".[6].

Responsibility for the riots

Most Non Governmental organisations and Human rights champions blamed the "Sangh Parivar" for the riots.On the very next page where retaliation on Hindus was mentioned,"Human Rights Watch" said that the "Communal violence against Muslims in Gujarat is intimately connected to a rise of Hindu nationalism in the country and the state."[7]

Investigation

All riot cases are under investigation in an official inquiry comprising of Justice (retd.) G.T. Nanavati and Justice (retd.) K.G. Shah. The inquiry included gathering and analysis of 20,940 oral and written testimonies, both individual and collective, from survivors and independent human rights groups, women's groups, NGOs and academics.

The role of the Central and the Gujarat state government in the riots

Domestic criticism of the adminstration's actions during the riots

Various human rights organizations and major Indian newspapers have accused the Gujarat state government, led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi of supporting, and in some cases instigating, the riots.

The National Human Rights Commission had criticised the state government for 'a comprehensive failure to protect people's constitutional rights' while the Supreme Court of India criticising Modi observed that "modern day Neros" were looking elsewhere when innocent children and helpless women were burning and were probably deliberating how the perpetrators or the crime can be saved or protected... "[8]

The President of India at that time, K. R. Narayanan, formerly a Congress Party politician, later blamed the ruling BJP-NDA government.

In an interview to the Malayalam magazine Manava Samskriti on the eve of the third anniversary of the Gujarat riots he said :

There was governmental and administrative support for the communal riots in Gujarat. I gave several letters to Prime Minister Vajpayee in this regard on this issue. I met him personally and talked to him directly. But Vajpayee did not do anything effective. I requested him to send the army to Gujarat and suppress the riots. The military was sent, but they were not given powers to shoot. If the military was given powers to shoot then recurrence of tragedies in Gujarat could have been avoided. However, both the state(the Narendra Modi government) and central government did not do so. I feel there was a conspiracy involving the state and central governments behind the Gujarat riots.([9])([10])([11])

.

On the other hand, a defense expert believes that when thousands of people defy curfew and come on street, Army should not shoot-at-sight because the resultant killings will be huge. These killings will do more damage than good. ([12])

Some other allegations came from R.B. Sreekumar, who served as intelligence chief for the Gujrat Government during the riots. Mr. Sreekumar concluded that the violence was a planned massacre, with the consent of the State government[13][14]. He presented what he claimed were his notes at the time to India Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which investigates complaints by civil servants.

On it's part the Government of Gujarat refuted the allegations and chargesheeted R.B. Sreekumar in connection with his ‘‘semi-official’’ diary on the grounds of releasing official documents. [15]. Some critics of Mr. Sreekumar questioned the authenticity of the diary he submitted as evidence.[16]

International criticism of the administration

Mr. Narendra Modi applied for a diplomatic visa to visit the United States. On March 18, 2005, the United States Department of State denied Mr. Modi this visa under section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act because he was not coming for a purpose that qualified for a diplomatic visa.

Mr. Modi's existing tourist/business visa was also revoked under section 212 (a) (2) (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 212 (a) (2) (g) makes any foreign government official who "was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for a visa to the United States. [17]([18]) This decision was protested by the Indian government, but in response the US government pointed out that their decision was based on the report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India. [19].

An international women's enquiry committee condemned the "large-scale" violence against women belonging to minority community during the Gujarat communal violence and termed Gujarat worse than Bosnia.[20]

The United Nations International Human Rights Commission has not yet fully recognized the Gujarat riots as a human rights issue. However, campaigns to recognize it have been made by Islamic organizations like the World Muslim Congress demanding expediency in the process.[21]Discussions in UNHCR [22]General Assembly Document

Reaction of Hindutva Organisations

The Hindutva organisations expressed different views.The Vishwa Hindu Parishad said that "Gujarat riots had lord Ram’s blessings" according to the Press Trust of India reports.They said that " there was a plan to kill 2000 kar sevaks when they were returning from Ayodhya. The hapless kar sevaks in one of the compartments of the Sabarmati Express could not get out of the train and at least 49 of them were burnt alive"[23].

BJP's Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani said the the Gujarat riots as the only blot on the successful NDA rule.[24].

While Balbir Punj , a BJP MP said in India's parliament, The riots which took place in Gujarat are blot on any civilized society. We all are ashamed of what happened there.[25].

PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee further expressed that the Gujarat events were a "blot on India which enjoyed respect and prestige in the comity of nations because of the way the 100 crore people of diverse religion, culture and ethnic groups lived together happily, "share our griefs and joys, but never forget the message of peace and brotherhood. But what was happening in Gujarat was not only heart-rending but "most inhuman and horrible.[26]

Defence of the Gujarat administration

The BJP government has defended the actions of Narendra Modi's administration against charges of 'genocide'. They said that the killing of 254 Hindus, mostly in police firing, indicates how the state authorities took effective steps to curb the violence[27]. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal confirmed the Hindu death toll in the incident(s). He, in turn, accused the Congress for misrepresenting the extent of the riots as part of a political agenda. BJP MP Balbir Punj has also responded to criticisms from the press and advocates such as Arundhati Roy by accusing them of hyperbole and sensationalising the riots as part of an agenda of what he calls 'defamation' and 'left wing anti-India propaganda' [28]. In particular, Punj writes:

"She (Roy) terms Gujarat the “petri dish” of the Sangh parivar. The fact is that Godhra has been used as a crucible by the secular fundamentalists."

"Loss of 900-odd innocent lives (both Hindus and Muslims) is definitely not a “genocide” of any one community"

"The secular pack is not only guilty of parading half-truths but also of condoning and inciting violence. The banner headline of the Hindustan Times (February 28) reporting on Godhra set a trend for secularists when it said ‘Gujarat hit by Ayodhya backlash’. Scuttling beyond the ‘first-information-report’ with a cult of shady intellectualism, it thus immediately established a connection between the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the gruesome carnage."

Criticisms of the Gujarat justice system

India's Supreme Court, expressed its displeasure at the government's handling of the case. [29]. The Court also rebuked both the Gujarat High Court and the local justice system, stating, “Judicial criminal administration system must be kept clean and beyond the reach of whimsical political wills or agendas.” [30]

While some convictions have taken place,the National Human Rights Commission of India expressed dissatisfaction with the Gujarat government in its reports and observed that while in many cases members of the majority community were booked under offences - they were released soon and the charges framed against them were of lesser degree while the minority community was harassed by the police.National Human Rights Commission orders on Gujarat

Convictions

Independent India has witnessed thousands of anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit riots. Conviction in riot-cases is rare.[31] [32] The first of the convictions in post-Godhra riot cases came on Tuesday, November 25 2003 with the Kheda district court sentencing 12 persons to life imprisonment. [33].

Films on the riots

Final Solution explored the impact of the riots in creating a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims of the state of Gujarat and how the rift has affected everyday life in the state[34]. The film was criticized by BJP government at the time as being innacurate in its portrayal of the communal situation in Gujarat, which led to it being defended by some filmmakers. As a result of a wide publicity campaign the film is presently in public circulation.

A copy of the film is available online on * Final Solution[though it may or may not be the original version]. The film was widely recognised. [35]

Criticism of the "Final Solution" Documentary

The death toll figures claimed by the documentary are contrary to those published by news sources [36]. Many of the claims made in the movie are unverified by third parties^{[citation needed]}. Some of the claims made by the documentary that are peripherally connected to the Gujarat riots have been debunked. For instance, the film claims that Narendra Modi introduced 7/8th grade history textbook that glorifies Hitler and the Nazi regime. It, however, turns out that the books was actually prescribed under a Congress government in 1993[37]. This claim has been criticized as an ad-hominem attack against Modi^{[citation needed]}.

External references

Related to main story

Human Rights Organisations:

Citizen Panels

The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat An Interim Report
Crime Against Humanity - An Inquiry into the Carnage in Gujarat published by Citizens for Justice and Peace

National and International Newspapers and Magazines

Hindu Cultural and Political Organisations - related sites

Muslim Cultural and Political Organisations - related sites Others

Myths on Gujarat

Universities and Research Centres

Violences entre Hindous et Musulmans au Gujarat CERI France - French