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| India-Pakistan |
| Seven facts that nail the lies about Gujarat |
| 2007-12-24 |
| By B. P. Singhal Late month there was an attempt to revive the secularists' campaign of calumny against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Government on the basis of the same old fiction about the post-Godhra violence of 2002. On October 25, Aaj Tak, while broadcasting Tehelka's 'sting operation', harped on the same old refrain that Mr Modi "did not call in the Army until three days had passed". When Aaj Tak contacted me to get my response, I told the anchor that the Godhra carnage took place on February 27, 2002, that the Hindu backlash commenced on February 28, and the Army was conducting a flag march on the forenoon of March 1. He cut me short by saying that "this is exactly what we have said, no action was taken by Mr Modi on the 29th, 30th and 31st, thus giving three clear days to the murderers... ". I had to remind him at this point that the date 28th was February 28 and there was no 29th, 30th or 31st in that month. The 'phono' was disconnected. It is imperative that certain facts are stated to prevent the perpetuation of lies being propagated since 2002. Here are some of them: Fact 1: Shoot at sight orders had been issued by the Government on February 28, 2002, itself. Being an Ex-DGP and a Member of Parliament at that time, I was in touch with the office of DGP Gujarat and the Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad. I was keen to tell them: (a) Call in the Army at once; and (b) issue "shoot at sight" orders to all officers of the rank of Sub-Inspector and above. It was comforting to learn that the Gujarat Government had already taken both steps by 2.30 pm on February 28. The State Government had also requested for armed police reinforcements from neighbouring States, besides calling for the Army. Fact 2: On the February 28 police had shot dead 10 Hindus and wounded 16 Hindus. Fact 3: On the next day, that is, March 1, another 24 Hindus were shot dead and 40 Hindus wounded by the police. Fact 4: In the entire period of riots, the police had shot dead 80 Hindus and wounded 207 Hindus. But no Delhi-based media showed any interest in reporting these casualties. Fact 5: The Muslim counter-attack, which commenced from March 1, was no less ferocious. In the first three days alone, of a total of 611 deaths, 101 were caused by police firing. Of these, 61 were Hindus and 40 were Muslims. Fact 6: As on March 5, as many as 40,000 Hindus had to be given shelter in relief camps. Plenty of media coverage was given to the plight of Muslims in relief camps but no Delhi-based media covered any Hindu relief camps. Fact 7: In answer to Parliament questions, the UPA Home Minister provided the figures of casualties during the Gujarat riots: 790 Muslims killed, 254 Hindus killed, 2,500 wounded in all and 223 missing. These details nail the lie that what happened in Gujarat was a 'one-sided affair': For every three Muslims who died in Gujarat , one Hindu was also killed. Such heavy casualties in riot control are unprecedented in the entire history of the Indian police. The figures of casualties caused by police firing in the first three days alone indicate the ferocity of police action. Yet, the 'secular' parties and their cohorts in media even to this day proclaim unabashedly that Mr Modi ordered the police "to look the other way" to give a free hand to 'murderers' for three days. If they have any respect for the truth, they can cross-check the casualties with hospital records. The police is duty bound to carry those killed and wounded in police firing to Government hospitals. With the Muslim counter-attack commencing from March 1 till the riots were quelled altogether, what took place in Gujarat was a full-fledged Hindu-Muslim riot. It was no "genocide", "pogrom" or "state terrorism" against Muslims. No "modern day Nero was looking the other way". The modern day Chief Minister was dealing with the situation as best as was possible with the highly limited forces at his command. Because of the spontaneous conflagration at scores and scores of locations, it is entirely possible that the police or Fire Brigade may have failed to reach a scene for hours, or, having been spread so thin, the police force that did reach a scene was deterred from intervening by the sheer ferocity of violence at that point in time. But to say that the police was restrained as a measure of Government policy is completely belied by the large number of casualties caused by police firing. The insane ferocity and brutality with which Ram bhakts, including innocent children and helpless women, were roasted alive at Godhra, set the benchmark for the equally insane ferocity of the Hindu backlash and that was followed by an equally insanely ferocious counter-attack by Muslims. The Delhi-based media made out as though the whole of Gujarat was in flames. It concealed the fact that of 18,600 villages, 240 municipal towns and 25 districts, the number of places affected by the riots was just 60. Not a single man-day was lost in the 200-odd industrial townships in Gujarat because of the riots. Examinations in schools, colleges and universities were conducted as per schedule during the period of riots. Irrefutable confirmation that it was a communal riot and not a "genocide" or "pogrom" has come from the verdicts of courts hearing the post-Godhra riot cases. Here are some examples: (i) The Deccan Herald reported in May 2004: "Conviction of 3 confessing Muslims for 7 years for attempted murder";While the 'secular' parties and the 'secular' Delhi-based media singled out the Hindu backlash for mega-publicity, they blacked out the Godhra carnage as well as the Muslim counter-attack for reasons best known to them. Nevertheless, not only the minority community of Gujarat but the entire population of that State is well aware of the truth about Gujarat , or "Gujarat Ka Sach". Tehelka and the sponsors of Tehelka have tried to vitiate the communal harmony not only of Gujarat but also of the entire country. Tehelka 'sting operation' clearly attracts Section 153A of the IPC. As Tehelka, and the television channels that broadcast studio simulated images of the riots, are headquartered in Delhi , it is incumbent upon Delhi Police, and consequently the Government of India, to take legal action against them under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #3 One interesting thing about the riots. They occurred during the massive militray mobilization along the border following the attack on the Indian Parliament. The diversion of troops from that theatre to riot control duties in Gujarat pretty much killed the momentum for war against Pakistan. The Indian Government was far too preoccupied with Gujarat and lost focus. Anger over the Parliament attack faded as the riots dominated the TV screens. The riots were started by the burning alive of Hindu pilgrims on a train. Interesting that this attack saved Pakistan. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-24 11:09 |
| #2 . I had to remind him at this point that the date 28th was February 28 and there was no 29th, 30th or 31st in that month. The 'phono' was disconnected. Many media persons are confused about such things. Science is hard. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-24 09:45 |
| #1 Many thanks for posting this, Mr. Frum. |
| Posted by: Skunky Elmomosh5044 2007-12-24 09:20 |