first 3 days. After the first three days- riots were limited to Ahmedabad, Vadodara and some places near Godhra- and almost all were started by Muslims.7) In the first three days- Gujarat police shot dead 98 rioters- majority of whom were Hindus. On1st March, The Hindu reported that- "At least 10 people have been killed in police firing inAhmedabad alone by evening (of Feb 28)". Then on 2nd March, The Indian Express reportedthat "Police shot dead 20 people in Gujarat, 12 in Ahmedabad, on 1st March". Then on 3rdMarch, Indian Express reported-"77 more people have been killed in Police/ Army firing (on 2ndMarch)". Then on 2nd March 'The Hindu' reported that-"Unlike Feb 28 when one communitywas entirely at the receiving end, the minority backlash on 1st March has further worsened thesituation."8) The Times of India dated 18 March 2002 devoted a complete report titled, “Riots hit allclasses, people of all faith on Hindu victims of the riots and says, Contrary to popular belief thatonly Muslims have been affected in the recent riots more than 10,000 persons belonging to the Hindu community have also become homeless.9) The Indian Express devoted two full reports exclusively to Hindu victims in Ahmedabad in itsissues dated 7 May 2002 and 10th May 2002. The victims were not only homeless; they did noteven have relief camps to live in, and hence had to live in temples.10) India Today weekly reports in its issue dated 27 May 2002, a series of attacks by Muslims on policemen has further added to mutual lack of faith. Now strapped with the anti-Muslim label,the police has been slow in acting against Muslim fanatics.11) India Today (27 May 2002) also gives details of attacks on Hindus by Muslims. The sameweekly reports in its issue dated 15 April 2002 that- A young Hindu went to Himmatnagar (Muslim) area of Ahmedabad to do business and was found dead, with his eyes gouged out. Thisissue also gives details of Muslim aggression.12) India Today weekly dated 22 April 2002 also reports that ˜Gujarat police saved 2,500Muslims from certain death in Sanjeli, North Gujarat on 1st March 2002. The weekly also says-Like Sanjeli, 5,000 Muslims were also saved in Bodeli town in Vadodara district by the police and Thousands of Muslims were also saved in Viramgam town from 15,000 armedHindus by police and the Army. The UPA government- staunchly anti-BJP, has given figures of 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus killed in the Gujarat riots, and 223 missing, in Rajya Sabha on 11May 2005. A total of 790 Muslims were killed in the riots- more than thricethat number were saved on one day at a single place.13) Throughout Gujarat riots- there are only two instances of real anti-Muslim riots-The EhsanJafri case and the Naroda Patiya case. In the Ehsan Jafri case, the police shot dead 5 Hindusoutside his house and saved the lives of more than 200 Muslims. There were 250 people
Leave a Comment