Search the Internet          Tips

Gujarat riots 'completely engineered' by Modi: Rights groups

Three human rights groups on Tuesday alleged that the violence in Gujarat was 'completely engineered' by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Sangh Parivar outfits and the police.

The People's Union of Civil Liberties, Gujarat-based Shanti Abhiyan and the Medico Friend Circle also claimed that a section of doctors and local media were a party to the 'polarisation'.

They also voiced concern over the taking out of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, saying it could escalate tension in the prevailing 'sensitive situation'.

"The violence witnessed in Gujarat was not perpetrated by Hindus. An agency was responsible for it," Renu Khanna of the PUCL said in Ahmedabad, while releasing reports on the violence and its impact.

"We don't feel anymore that it was Hindu-Muslim riots. It was completely engineered by the chief minister, VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS," she alleged.

Khanna, who is based at Vadodara, said the group had sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when violence was at its peak but 'little did we realise that nothing was going to happen even at that level'.

She also held the Centre responsible for the violence by its 'silence' over the issue.

Khanna said authorities, including K P S Gill, security adviser to the chief minister, were apprised of the incidents of attacks, but 'there has been no action'.

Jagdish Bhai of Shanti Abhiyan alleged that a section of local media, particularly two dailies, played a 'negative role by creating and spreading rumours, which fanned violence and led to misconceptions and hatred against the minority community'.

"If the media wished, it could have helped in curtailing the violence. But the local media played the role to the contrary," he charged.

He said that even today members of the minority community do not feel secure to return to their homes and tend to live with other members of their community.

"This is a bad reflection and can result in creation of Indias and Pakistans within Gujarat's cities," Jagdish Bhai said.

Sarojini of Medico Friend Circle alleged that even members of the medical fraternity were polarised and there were several instances when members of the minority community had to return from government hospitals without treatment as the 'doctors said their security could be threatened there'.

She said the rights groups were planning to move the National Human Rights Commission and the Medical Council of India against such doctors.

Sarojini also alleged that those arrested in connection with Godhra incident were being 'tortured' through administration of banned injections.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report