TURNING GUJARAT RIOTS INTO A RIOT OF POLITICS

TURNING GUJARAT RIOTS INTO A RIOT OF POLITICS

By A. C. Vashishth

New claims surfacing every other day about the 2002 Gujarat riots are puzzling and, to an extent, intriguing because of the contradictory nature of the claims and the counter-claims. This game of one-upmanship is likely only to hinder the process of reaching down to the bottom of the truth. The only hope remains the Supreme Court which is sure to clear the untimely clouds of doubts raised by contradictory and conflicting statements and claims.

A Gujarat IPS officer, Sanjeev Bhatt, in his affidavit in the Supreme Court has claimed that the Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting held on February 27, 2002 expressed the view that Hindus be allowed to vent out their anger.” Media reports quoting sources close to him said he was referring to the affidavit in the Zakia Jaffery case. (http://www.dayandnightnews.com/2011/04/gujarat-ips-officer-alleges-modis-complicity-in-2002-riots/)

The media has gone on to describe this disclosure as a great blow to Mr. Modi and raised finger at his involvement.

On the other hand, K. Chakrabarthi, Gujarat's Director General of Police at the time of post-Godhra riots has said: "He (Sanjiv Bhatt) was not present in that particular meeting held with the Chief Minister and other high-ranking officials. I have told this to the Special Investigation Team (probing the riots) during my deposition." (http://www.asianage.com/india/ips-officer-bhatt-not-present-meeting-modi-guj-ex-dgp-561)

Another queer allegation has been hurled by another IAS officer Mr. Pradeep Sharma, an officer suspended by the Modi government. Mr. Sharma is behind bars for his involvement in an alleged land scam case. He says that he was called by the chief minister’s office and told to ask his elder brother Kuldip, then posted as IG of Ahmedabad range, “that he should abstain from taking any proactive measures in favour of minorities”. (Mail Today, April 26m 2011, P.3)

Does it imply that Mr. Modi thought that IG Kuldip was so high an official that a chief minister dare not speak directly to him and, therefore, he had to seek the assistance of a junior officer and Kuldip’s younger brother to convey his wishes? Does it also mean that the CM perhaps thought that Mr. Kuldip may defy him but will comply with the wishes and directions of his younger brother, Mr. Pradeep Sharma?

Efforts seem to be afoot to put some words in the mouth of Mr. Narendra Modi and to prove through the evidence of certain persons who have now preferred to open their mouth, for unexplained reasons, only after nine years.

But surprisingly our media and politicians are more willing to jump at the ‘truth’ of Mr. Pradeep Sharma’s and Mr. Bhatt’s statement than giving weight to the words of latter’s boss.
GUJARAT & ANTI-SIKH RIOTS
Anti-Sikh riots broke out following the unfortunate assassination of late prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi but, surprisingly, remained confined only to Congress-ruled States in the country resulting in merciless killing of more than 5,000 Sikhs (almost more than double the number that died in Gujarat riots). The then Prime Minister late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi is on record having justified the Sikh genocide saying, “When a big tree falls the earth shakes around it.” The tremors will be felt all the way up to Delhi. (http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/columnists/print.php?content_id=85795)
Yet, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi continues be a great ‘secular’ icon. Nobody raises fingers at him. This also exposes the hypocrisy, morality, impartiality and fairness of our ‘secular’ intelligentsia.
That is the way of Indian politics, ‘secularism’ and system of justice. No court, so far, seems to have taken cognizance of this confession. More than half a commissions of inquiry into the anti-Sikh riots have testified to the fact that the Police administration and the then Lt. Governor had stood like a silent spectator to the orgy against Sikhs. No official has been punished. No leader is behind bars. In Gujarat numerous politicians have been convicted and many are languishing behind bars. Justice still eludes the women widowed, children orphaned and elders snatched their life support during the anti-Sikh riots even after 26 years.
Compare where do Mr. Rajiv Gandhi and Mr. Narendra Modi stand in the estimation of our ‘secular’ media, intelligentsia and human rights activists all over the world? ***