This was the first time I saw Madhu Kishwar in the role of atrocity denier and white washer as she attacked the activists -
However, the Gujarat riots of 2002 converted Modi bashing into an extremely rewarding career advancement strategy for media persons, NGO activists, academics and sundry intellectuals. Conversely, you are condemned to lifelong perdition, treated as a political and intellectual outcast subject to unending vilification campaigns starting with being labelled a fascist if you dare say one word either in defence of Modi or suggest a bit of caution to Modi bashers.
**********************
The most unforgivable crime attributed to Modi is that he orchestrated the “ethnic cleansing” of Muslims in 2002. He is alleged to be a man with a fascist mindset with Muslims of Gujarat supposedly living as an endangered minority in perpetual fear and insecurity. Interestingly this charge is most loudly and aggressively levelled by NGO activists who have received massive support—financial material and political form the Congress party and its governments as well as powerful international donor agencies.
Many of the points that she raised were rebutted, but there has been no response from her. According to her, she was unaware of these, Well, now she has been aware for 3 months when I brought them to her notice Some of her claims and actual facts are presented below
Even the highly partisan Sachar committee report provides concrete evidence that Muslims of Gujarat are doing far better than Muslims of Congress or Left ruled states in matters of education, jobs, business opportunities as well as crime-free environment. Recently, the Times of India reported that Gujarat with a 9 % Muslim population has 10% Muslim personnel in its police stations. No other state matches this figure. If this is not proof of inclusive governance, what is? Not a single TV channel thought this vital piece of information worth 5 minutes discussion even though it belies the myth of systematic discrimination against Muslims.
Here is what I found from Frontline of 2006 that Muslim population in Gujarat as about 9% while in Police the figure was under 6% as per National Crime Records Bureau Record for2004; www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2324/stories/20061215002503300.htm So Muslim representation in Police force in Gujarat had jumped to 10 or 11% under the benign rule of Modi! I was impressed. But knowing of Times of India's record for planted stories, paid news etc., decided to do some independent investigation.
As per National Crime Records Bureau, ncrb.nic.in/ during the year 2011 the total police personnel in Gujarat was 71670 out of which muslims constituted 3087 making 4.3% of the total. Andhra Pradesh during 2011 had 8933 muslim police personnel out of a total of 89404 making a total of 10% of the total while in the general population as per 2001 census muslims constituted 9.17% of the population. Of course there are other states with worse figure; Gujarat is not at the bottom, it is not at the top. It is one of the average states.
Times of India and Economic Times had earlier come up with stories of Teesta Spicing up Gujarat atrocity stories. The rebutta lawandotherthings.blogspot.in/2009/04/expose-of-activism-and-truth.html has not been given enough publicity and even after verdict in Naroda Patiya case, there are sites which repeat the TOI story.
----------------------------------
The systematic demonisation of Narendra Modi in the media began with Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan. Though Patkar has played a historic role in raising awareness about the plight of villagers whose lands are arbitrarily taken away for mega dams and “development projects”, she did an incalculable harm to her own cause by overstating her case, especially with regard to resettlement operations of dam oustees in Gujarat. It projected Modi government in particular and all Gujaratis in general as intrinsically demonic forces that were out to decimate the “poor tribals”.
Till I read Madhu Kishwar's write up in Outlook, I did not even link up her opposition to NBA with Modi. Looking back, I realise that her opposition to NBA was strong only in 2000s. This is what she had written in 2000 (before Modi) --
Sardar Sarovar Project which has been embroiled in a fiery controversy for more than a decade. Opinion is sharply divided. The pro-Dam lobby projects it as a big boon whereas the anti-Dam group has dubbed it as a monumental disaster. Those who have tried to take more balanced or nuanced positions based on the extensive information now available have been effectively marginalized. Even the Supreme Court has failed to resolve the stalemate because the Court can at best grant temporary stay orders but is not in a position to terminate construction of the dam. Numerous international agencies have got involved in the anti-Dam Campaign, leading to still greater confusion and polarization. The two sides have hurled endless accusations through the press but have seldom been brought together to work out a plausible solution except through bureaucratic committees where each side reiterates its position and charges. The stalemate however continues. Despite extensive media coverage of the issue, even highly educated, technically qualified people have been unable to figure out whose claims are more genuine—the environmental concerns, or whether the relief and rehabilitation packages being offered are adequate or unjust. In fact, even journalists are divided along pro-dam and anti-dam lines. Therefore, the coverage has been equally polarized. Articles in the media can be neatly divided into pro NBA (Narmada Bachao Andolan) and pro-SSP (Sardar Sarovar Project) positions.
And she continues in her article --
Those who wish to be counted among the problem solvers of India need to:
* Keep an open mind, especially with regard to facts, no matter how convinced one is about the correctness of one’s own position.
*One must guard against the tendency to simply trash and reject outright the views of those who are taking an opposing position.
*Avoid the temptation to stick to or seek out only like minded people for debate and discussion.
*Be willing to concede the legitimate grievances of even those they consider political opponents. It is only when one displays the ability to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate grievances and has the political courage to accede to the legitimate demands of even the most unreasonable groups, that one earns the moral right to take a firm, unyielding stance against their unreasonable demands.
*Have a realistic appreciation of what solutions can actually be carried through while bridging the gap between conflicting groups.
---------------------------------------------
Then she deals with position of agriculture and in particular cash crops like Bt-Cotton
Moreover, Gujarat government is providing 90% subsidy for drip irrigation in order to being about efficient water utilisation.
Now in Tamil Nadu as far as drip irrigation is concerned,
"While 100 per cent subsidy (maximum of Rs.43,816 per acre) is given to small and marginal farmers, other farmers would be able to get 75 per cent subsidy to adopt drip irrigation to cultivate crops like long staple cotton, maize, groundnut and sugarcane." www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3773858.ece
About recharging ground water, Gujarat is in a better position because of Narmada. But other states are not lagging behind as far as check dams etc are concerned. twadboard.gov.in/twad/check_dam.aspx
No one in TN is tom toming about the next the PM being Karunanidhi or Jayalalitha.
Gulati also explains that Bt Cotton has produced an economic miracle in Gujarat. Cotton yields have gone up by 80% in Gujarat while pesticide consumption has come down dramatically. Gujarat government made it easy for its farmers to access high yielding sturdy seeds whereas the UPA government under pressure from ill-informed NGOs is putting all manners of hurdles in farmers acquiring better seeds. As per Gulati’s estimates, Bt cotton has created a Rs 10,000 cr export potential per year. However, in Maharashtra Bt cotton is comparatively less successful; it has even led to farmer suicides and economic distress. This is because over 50% of the cotton crop area in Gujarat is irrigated while Vidarbha is growing cotton with less than 5% area under irrigation. Bt cotton can’t grow without assured irrigation.
There is very sparse coverage of rural news in Main stream English media. However about Bt cotton story in Gujarat -
After eight years of uninterrupted success, Bt Cotton seems to have run into trouble in Gujarat. Scientists of Monsanto, the multinational giant that developed Bt Cotton in India with Mahyco, have detected unusual survival of pink bollworm (a pest) while monitoring the 2009 cotton crop in Gujarat. Pink bollworm was found in the cotton crop of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagarh and Rajkot districts. These districts had reportedly started using Bt Cotton illegally since 1998, four years before the genetically modified variety of cotton was launched for commercial use in the country. Scientists have found unusual survival of pink bollworm to first-generation single-protein Bollgard cotton. Testing was conducted to assess resistance to Cry1Ac, the Bt protein in Bollgard cotton. Similarly pink bollworm resistance to Cry1Ac was confirmed in the four districts. www.dnaindia.com/india/report_resistant-bt-cotton-gives-away-to-pest-in-gujarat_1355817 Also, escalating costs and other problems have reduced the percentage of farmers growing GM crops in Gujarat. While 80 per cent of Khedbrahma’s farmers were known to be growing Bt cotton till recently, of late the figure has reduced to 10 to 15 per cent. Arvind Bhai, a leading Bt farmer in earlier days, said with exasperation, “I tried all kinds of treatments, spent a lot of money, but my Bt cotton crop did not recover. So I decided to give up this crop.” A similar experience was shared by other farmers of the village like Ashok Bhai. www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/society/a-call-against-bt-cotton/article3784160.ece
To be fair, Madhu Kishwar has pointed out the importance of irrigation for the success of Bt.cotton. Opinions are still divided over it. It is not a simple case of bigotted NGOs on one hand and a progressive CM on the other.
This is one in a series of posts critically assessing Madhu Kishwar's articles under the name Modinama. The others in this series (work under progress) are --
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (This is work in progress. There are explosive leads in the petition which I hope to combine with other reports available) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actions Taken by Narendra Modi to Control the Riots following Godhra Train Massacre
On 27/02/2002: CM reaches Godhra at about 4.30 p.m. and goes to inspect the rail bogies which had been set on fire and ....Madhu Kishwar
--------------------------------------------------------
From the protest Petition -
The tragic train fire on the S-6 Coach of the Sabarmati Express took place at 7.55 a.m. and was over by 8.13 a.m. at Godhra on 27.2.2002. This information about the Godhra incident was conveyed by the district magistrate Godhra, Mrs. Jayanti Ravi to Mr. Ashok Narayan, ACS Home, at 9 am and at the same time chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi (A-1) and DGP Mr. K. Chakravarti (A-25) were also informed. Therefore, by about 9 a.m. of 27.2.2002 both Mr. Ashok Narayan (A-28) and Mr. K. Nityanandam (A-34), and Mr. Modi (A-1) had information about the said incident. In this information it has been conveyed that it was the provocative sloganeering and behavior of the karsevaks that had caused the mob to gather and start pelting stones at the train. Independently, through sources of the VHP other co-accused, Mr. Ashok Bhatt (A-2), Mr. Gordhan Zadaphiya (A-5) and Mr Jaideep Patel (A-21) were also informed of the incident. At 10.30 a.m. a meeting had taken place at the residence of Accused No 1 at Gandhinagar. In the said meeting Gordhan Zadaphiya, (Accused No. 5), Ashok Narayan (Accused No. 28), K Chakravarti (Accused no 25) and PC Pande (Accused No. 29) and other Zadaphia of the chief minister‘s secretariat were present. .Before this official meeting following the Godhra incident could take place, however, Accused No. 1 had in the first instance, already called Mr Jaideep Patel (Accused No. 21) from the mobile of his PA (09825037439). There was another call made by Accused No. 1 to Mr Jaideep Patel on his mobile at Mobile No.09825023887. Mr Jaideep Patel, who was at that time at Naroda, left that place for Godhra and reached Godhra around 1 p.m. The moment the Chief Minister‘s Office (CMO) and the Gujarat Home Department also headed by Accused No.1 received information of the Godhra incident at Gandhinagar, and this was obviously conveyed to Accused No. 1, he makes a telephone call using the mobile phone of his PA, AP Patel (09825037439) to his collaborator and chief executor of the conspiracy Accused No. 21 Mr Jaideep Patel (09825023887) first at 9:39:38 (77 seconds), then again at 9:41:39 (20 seconds). That is, within minutes of Accused No. 1 receiving official intimation of the Godhra tragedy, he (chief minister) gets in touch with none less than the Secretary of the Gujarat unit of the VHP, Mr Jaideep Patel
Call
Type
Cell-No
(Name
Duration
Secs
Date-Time
Dialed / Received No
– Name
Outgoing
9825037439
A P Patel
(Accused No 1,
Mr Modi)
77
27.2.2002
09:39:38
9825023887
Mr Jaideep Patel VHP
General Secretary
(Accused No 21)
Outgoing
9825037439
A P Patel
(Accused No 1,
Mr Modi)
20
27.2.2002
09:41:39
9825023887
Mr Jaideep Patel VHP
General Secretary
(Accused No 21)
These phone calls in quick succession soon after he receives knowledge of the Godhra tragedy is significant and evidence of A-1 speaking and conferring with the VHP‘s front man, who in Naroda at the time of the call thereafter left for Godhra. There was, therefore, a direct contact between the Chief Minister‘s Office (CMO) and VHP even before Accused No. 1 Mr Modi met with his officials after receiving news of the Godhra incident, or attended the Vidhan Sabha, or left for Godhra clearly establishing that plans for the conspiracy for the orchestration of the post-Godhra violent reprisals was being carefully hatched.
Only after first speaking to his co-conspirators did the chief minister (Accused No. 1) call a meeting at his residence at about 1030 hrs at which meeting he discussed the matter with Mr. Gordhan Zadaphia (Accused No 5), the then Minister of State (MOS) for Home, Ashok Narayan, the then ACS, Home (Accused No 28), K. Chakravarti, the then DGP (Accused No 25), P.C. Pande, the then CP, Ahmedabad City (Accused No 29) and other Zadaphia of the CM‘s secretariat. Mr. Ashok Narayan stated to the SIT that until then no news had been received about the exact number of casualties and the information was being received piecemeal.
On instructions of A-1, Ashok Bhatt (A-2) also leaves Ahmedabad and reaches Godhra around 1 p.m. (Statements to the media officially released by A-21 Mr Jaideep Patel and A-19 KaushikMehta also an office bearer of the VHP also provoke and distort facts. This is done with the full knowledge of A-1.) Curfew was declared at about 10 a.m. in the Godhra town.
A-21 Mr Jaideep Patel has shown his criminal intent being part of the conspiracy hatched by A-1 Mr Modi and himself. A fax message recorded by the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) (Annexure III, File XVIII-D-160 at 188 dated 27.2.2002 states that A- 21 Mr Jaideep Patel, A- 19 Kaushik Mehta, also senior functionary of the VHP and Dilip Trivedi another general secretary of the VHP had, in a joint statement issued by them declared that ―hundreds‖ of Ram sevaks had been attacked in a preplanned conspiratorial attack, that compartments set on fire and women molested. This message coming from Vadodara are proof that such misinformation and provocative sloganeering had begun and had been allowed at Godhra. The remarks in this message says that though no such incident as alleged has happened (molestation of women) and also says that such propaganda has been ―recklessly made‖. The SIT could have scrutinized such records to ascertain the build up to the conspiracy. This message also suggests that a written statement may have been issued by the VHP. Why has SIT not bothered to look into such material at all?
There is absolutely no discussion in the SIT report about what transpired between 9 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and Accused No. 1‘s role therein. The crucial evidence related to the calls made by A-1 to fellow conspirators and co-accused during that time have been completely omitted/ignored. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thereafter, A-1 visited the civil
hospital accompanied by A-2 Mr.Ashok Bhatt and A-5 Mr. Gordhan
Zadaphia. Thereafter there was a meeting at the Circuit House where
the DM was also present. DM had stated before the Concerned
Citizens Tribunal that, in the first instance the government desired to
transport the dead bodies of the Godhra victims by the same train
on to Ahmedabad. But, she had advised against it. Before the
SIT, Mrs. Ravi has denied this completely. The train had left Godhra
station by detaching the burnt bogeys by 1300 hours. Accused No 2
Ashok Bhatt and A-21 Mr Jaideep Patel were already in Godhra
by then and therefore they must have communicated the CM‘s
decision on this matter to the DM.
SIT admits at Page 60 in its final report dated
8.2.2012 that Mrs Jayanti Ravi has
stated that in the meeting held at the Collectorate, A-21 Mr Jaideep
Patel, a VHP leader was also present. However, under Allegation No.
IV, the SIT still goes on to assert that A-1 Mr.Modi had never met
A-21, Mr. Jaideep Patel (SIT Report, 8.2.2012). The SIT
has not dealt with this aspect that the postmortems of the dead bodies
was taking place in the presence of A-1 and was not stopped
by him though it was an illegal act. The SIT also does not deal
with the presence of a large crowd of VHP workers and the
presence of Mr Jaideep Patel general secretary of VHP Gujarat besides
the presence of A-2 Mr Ashok Bhatt and A-5 Mr Zadaphiya. Worst
of all, the SIT has not bothered to even look at the required legal
procedures necessary to be observed in the wake of the Godhra
tragedy. There are strict laws against allowing such hasty
post-mortems to happen without proper procedures of identification and
without family members being present; there is a strict prohibition
against allowing photographs of corpses in a gory or mutilated
condition from being taken, shot or telecast. By not even dealing
with this grave offence, the SIT has shown its
unprofessionalism and distinct bias. SIT has
deliberately left un-investigated the whole question of the illegal and hasty
post-mortems conducted in the open in the rail yard, with large and
aggressive crows of the VHP, RSS and BD present, despite the
fact that these facts are made known to them in the statements of
then DM Jayanti Ravi and others. SIT has not investigated how gory
photographs were allowed to be taken, telecast and
broadcast not just by newspapers like the Sandesh but also publications
brought out by the VHP. SIT obviously did not consider
investigating such serious facts as emerged in the Investigation that too in such a sensitive
case
There is a statement recorded of Mr. Shankar Menon, retired I.A.S.,on 11.5.2010 by IO, SIT, A.K. Malhotra that contains valuable bits of information that have not been investigated further by the SIT This can be read at Sr.no.179 Annexure I, Vol.I in theinvestigation paper. Mr. Menon who had volunteered his statement before the SIT states that he used to regularly write articles in the newspapers after his retirement, including in The Asian Age from 1999 till 2004 to 2005. He states that he used to write on matters related to public services and also related to bureaucracy. He states in his statement before Malhotra after the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002, he hired a taxi from Bombay and visited Godhra around end of Mach 2002 or beginning of April 2002 to try and get a first-hand account of the whole episode for his weekly column. He states that he went straight to the office of the Collector and met Mrs. Jayanti Ravi. He states that as per his recollection he had fixed up an appointment with her through one of her relatives placed in Mumbai. He states that being of the same class and a junior colleague (IAS hierarchy) she was extensively forthcoming about the entire incident. Menon states that Mrs. Ravi told him in strictest confidence that the fire that led to the incident appears to have started from within the bogey. After the incident, the accused no.1 visited Godhra and the site of the incident and he had closeted himself in the Circuit House with his close political workers and colleagues. She says that though it was a confidential meeting from which she and other government officers were kept out, a recently transferred Dy. Collector who was not recognised by anyone locally found his way into the meeting. At this meeting, the Deputy Collector said he heard accused no.1 say that for every person killed in the train incident, his workers should avenge the death with at least 3 times the number of Muslims. According to the statement of Mr. Shankar Menon, Mrs. Ravi told him that this Dy. Collector who had observed the meeting closely heard the accused no.1 saying that the law and order force would be suitably kept away until the deaths of the killings have been avenged. Mr. Menon states that Mrs. Ravi did not disclose the name of the Dy. Collector, nor did he ask for the name. It appears clear that the agitation and discomfort felt by DM & Collector has been neutralised or mellowed over time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The earliest web story that I know of denying Modi Action Reaction theory was here Here the case is against the version published in TOI and that no interview was given to TOI. However Modi did give an interview to Zee TV A case has been made by Modifans that Modi's utterances are twisted and given unintended meanings. An oft quoted example is his interview to Zee TV granted on Ist March 2002. According to Madhu Kishwar (Modinama 8) -
Teesta Setalvad’s NGO and others targeting Narendra Modi for his alleged complicity in the post Godhra riots of 2002 have tried attributing a similar statement to Narendra Modi. The Supreme Court appointed SIT examined the charge in –depth. The charge is that when asked about the post Godhra violence, Modi quoted Newton’s third law of motion which states that ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’ - “Har kriya ki pratikriya hoti hai” (Quoted in Communalism Combat, pg. 107, “Genocide Gujarat 2002” (Mar-Apr.2002),Ms Setalvad’s case is that this proves Modi justified the anti Muslim violencethat followed the burning down of a rail bogie leading to 58 Hindus being charred to death.
However, the Special Investigative Team appointed by the Supreme Court exonerated Modi of this charge on the ground that that the actual statement was- “Kriya pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum chhate hain ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya” (A chain of action–reaction is going on. We want that there should be neither “action” nor “reaction”)
It all started with an incomplete statement telecast on Zee TV based on an interview conducted by Zee correspondent Sudhir Chaudhary. As per the testimony of Sudhir Chaudhary, Zee TV Correspondent to the SIT, he had attended a press conference held by Narendra Modi on 01-03-2002, in the Circuit House at the outskirts of Gandhinagar. He requested Narendra Modi for a short interview after the press conference. The latter agreed and was interviewed for about 10 minutes. (SIT report page no.187)
When Chaudhary questioned the CM about the Chamanpura (Gulberg Society) massacre in which the former Congress MP, Ehsan Jafri was killed along with more than 50 others, the Chief Minister in his replies referred to the reports that Jafri had first fired at the violent mob, which infuriated the crowd further and that the mob thereafter stormed the Housing Society and set it on fire. (SIT report page no.187)
According to Chaudhary, Narendra Modi referred to Jafri’s firing as “action” and the massacre that followed as “reaction”. Modi’s exact quote was: “Kriya pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum chahte hain ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya”. A chain of action – reaction is going on. We want that there should be neither “action” nor “reaction”)
However, in the Zee TV telecast, as well as newspapers that picked up Modi’s statement, the last line saying, “Hum chahte hai ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya.”(We want that there should neither be “action” nor “reaction”) was deliberately omitted.
........................................................................................................................ Siddharth Varadarajan has a blog entry on this controversy--
The first use of this morally perverse ‘Newtonian’ logic of action and reaction to justify the killing of Muslims after Godhra was made by Modi in an interview to Zee Television on 1 March, even as the violence was at its peak. And ironically, it wasn’t so much a reference to the burning of the Sabarmati Express as to press reports that former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri—who was lynched by a Sangh Parivar-led mob at his residence in Chamanpura, Ahmedabad on 28 February—had fired at the mob in order to try and disperse them. Modi said that Jafri’s ‘action’ of firing had infuriated the mob and that the massacre which followed was a ‘reaction’. Since his remark generated a huge controversy and led the Gujarat information department to deny that he had said any such thing, it is worth reproducing his exact quote: ‘Kriya pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum chahate hain ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya. (What is happening is a chain of action and reaction. What I want is that there should be no action and no reaction).’ Asked about the violence which erupted throughout Gujarat on the day of the VHP-sponsored bandh, he said:
Godhra mein jo parson hua, jahan par chalees mahilaon aur bacchon ko zinda jala diya, is mein desh mein aur videsh mein sadma pahunchna swabhavik tha. Godhra ke is ilake ke logon ki criminal tendencies rahi hain. In logon ne pahele mahila teachers ka khoon kiya. Aur ab yeh jaghanya apraadh kiya hai jiski pratikria ho rahi hai. (It is natural that what happened in Godhra day before yesterday, where forty women and children were burnt alive, has shocked the country and the world. The people in that part of Godhra have had criminal tendencies. Earlier, these people had murdered women teachers. And now they have done this terrible crime for which a reaction is going on).
Varadarajan's blog and The Editors' Guild report ( which came out in the beginning of May 2002) from where the quote is taken, have given the full quote. The inclusion or exclusion of the last line makes no difference to the conclusions drawn.
Extracts from SIT preliminary and Final reports dealing with this statement follows preceded by the charge in Zakia- CJP petition. The variations in the two SIT reports are in blue colour. It is amusing to note that the death toll in Gulberg Society in the preliminary report is more than 20 while in the final report it is more than 50. The official toll now is 69. No wonder activists claim higher death toll than official figures overall in Gujarat. The preliminary report accuses Modi of callousness while the final report claims his words twisted. There is no controversy over what Modi said. Yet SIT tried to get the original CD etc and has spent quite some effort here.
ØALLEGATION NO. XII :
A press statement was made by Shri Narendra Modi that the reaction
against the muslim community was the operation of Newton’s law of reaction.
Enquiries conducted by
SIT revealed that the book titled as “Rights and Wrongs” published by
Editor’s Guild Fact Finding Mission Report By Aakar Patel, Dileep Padgaonkar
and B.G.Verghese contained the extract of the Zee TV interview carried out by
Shri Sudhir Chaudhary with Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister on 01-03-2002.
The Zee TV correspondent questioned Shri Narendra Modi about the Chamanpura
massacre in which the former Congress MP, Ehesan Jafri was killed with atleast 20 others. The Chief minister
in his replies referred to the reports that Jafri had first fired at the
violent mob, which infuriated the crowd further and that the mob thereafter
stormed the Housing Society and set it on fire. According to the Zee TV
correspondent, Shri Narendra Modi referred to Jafri’s firing as “action” and
the massacre that followed thereafter as “reaction” His exact quote was : “Kriya
pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum chhate hain ki na kriya ho aur na
pratikriya” . When asked about the widespread
violence in Gujarat post Godhra the CM’s reply was :
Enquiries conducted by
SIT revealed that the book titled as “Rights and Wrongs” published by
Editor’s Guild Fact Finding Mission Report By Aakar Patel, Dileep Padgaonkar
and B.G.Verghese contained the extract of the Zee TV interview carried out by
Shri Sudhir Chaudhary with Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister on 01-03-2002.
The Zee TV correspondent questioned Shri Narendra Modi about the Chamanpura
massacre in which the former Congress MP, Ehesan Jafri was killed with more than 50 others. The Chief minister in
his replies referred to the reports that Jafri had first fired at the violent
mob, which infuriated the crowd further and that the mob thereafter stormed
the Housing Society and set it on fire. According to the Zee TV
correspondent, Shri Narendra Modi referred to Jafri’s firing as “action” and
the massacre that followed thereafter as “reaction”> His exact quote was :
“Kriya pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum
chhate hain ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya” . When
asked about the widespread violence in Gujarat post Godhra the CM’s reply was
:
“Godhra main jo parso hua jahan par chalees(40),
mahilaon aur bacchon ko zinda jala diya, is main desh main aur videsh main
sadma pahuchna swabhavik tha. Godhra ke is ilake ke logon ki criminal
tendencies rahi hai. In logon ne pahele mahila teachers ka khoon kiya. Aur ab
yeh jaghanya apraadh kiya hai jiski pratikria ho rahi hai.”
“Godhra main jo parso hua jahan par chalees(40),
mahilaon aur bacchon ko zinda jala diya, is main desh main aur videsh main
sadma pahuchna swabhavik tha. Godhra ke is ilake ke logon ki criminal
tendencies rahi hai. In logon ne pahele mahila teachers ka khoon kiya. Aur ab
yeh jaghanya apraadh kiya hai jiski pratikria ho rahi hai.”
During further investigation, a requisition was
sent to the Zee TV to make available a copy of the CD of a television
interview of Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat, conducted by their
correspondent, Shri Sudhir Chaudhary on 01-03-2002. Despite two reminders and
a notice u/s 91 Cr PC sent to them, the CD was not made available to
the SIT.
Shri Sudhir Chaudhary, Zee TV Correspondent has
stated that he attended a press conference held by Shri Narendra Modi on
01-03-2002 at a Circuit House at the outskirts of Gandhinagar. Shri
Sudhir Chaudhary has stated to have requested Shri Narendra Modi for a short
interview after the conference and to which, the latter agreedand as such he
was interviewed for about 10 minutes. After going through the Editor’s Guild
Fact Finding Mission report dated 03-05-2002, Shri Chaudhary has stated
thatthe same were only a few excerpts from the said interview and that the
original CD of the said interview was not before him. As per his
recollection, he had questioned Shri Narendra Modi about the Chamanpura
massacre (Gulberg Society Case), in which former Congress MP Late Ahesan
Jafri had been killed with many others to which the Chief Minister had
replied that the mob had reacted on account of private firing done by Late
Ahesan Jafri, Ex-MP. After refreshing his memory from the Editor’s Guild
report, Shri Sudhir Chaudhary has stated that the chief Minister was of the
view that he neither wanted action nor reaction. Shri Sudhir Chaudhary has
shown his inability to elaborate the same, as he has not been able to
recollect the exact sequence of events after a span of 9 years and moreover,
the CD was not before him.
When questioned about the aforesaid interview given to Zee
TV on 01-03-2002, the CM stated that those who have read the history of
Gujarat would definitely be aware that communal violence in Gujarat has a
long history and the State had witnessed serious incidents of such communal
violence. As regards the Zee TV interview of 01-03-2002 is concerned, he told
SIT that after a period of eight years he did not recollect the exact words,
but he had always appealed only and only for peace. He has further stated
that he had further tried to appeal to the people to shun violence in
straight and simple language. He has also stated that if his words cited in
this question are considered in the correct perspective, then it would be
evident that there is a very earnest appeal for people refraining from any
kind of violence, He has denied all the allegations against him in this
regard.
Shri Narendra Modi had
been questioned about the aforesaid interview given to Zee TV on 01-03-2002.
He has stated that those who have read the history of Gujarat would definitely
be aware that communal violence in Gujarat has a long history and the State
had witnessed serious incidents of such communal violence. As regards the Zee
TV interview of 01-03-2002 is concerned, he told SIT that after a period of
eight years he did not recollect the exact words, but he had always appealed
only and only for peace. He has further stated that he had further tried to
appeal to the people to shun violence in straight and simple language. He has
also stated that if his words cited in this question are considered in the
correct perspective, then it would be evident that there is a very earnest
appeal for people refraining from any kind of violence, He has denied all the
allegations against him in this regard.
Regarding the statement
made to the media about post Godhra riots by citing Newton’s law that every
action has equal and opposite reaction, Shri Narendra Modi has stated that
the Times of India had published a news item purportedly as though he had
given an interview to them. According to Shri Modi, the truth is that nobody
met him. He has further stated that the falsehoods of his so-called
justification “Action-Reaction Theory” is evident from this fact. According
to Shri Modi, the State Govt issued a denial with regard to his not having
given any interview and the same was belatedly published in a remote corner
of the newspaper. He has also stated that it has been his considered opinion
that violence can not be replied to by violence and he had appealed for
peace. As per Shri Modi’s version before SIT, he had not and would never
justify any action or reaction by a mob against innocents. He has denied all
allegations in this regard.
Regarding the statement
made to the media about post Godhra riots by citing Newton’s law that every
action has equal and opposite reaction, Shri Narendra Modi has stated that
the Times of India had published a news item on 03-03-2002 purportedly as
though he had given an interview to them. According to Shri Modi, the truth
is that nobody met him. He has further stated that the falsehoods of his
so-called justification “Action-Reaction Theory” is evident from this fact.
According to Shri Modi, the State Govt issued a denial with regard to his not
having given any interview and the same was belatedly published in a remote
corner of the newspaper. He has also stated that it has been his considered
opinion that violence can not be replied to by violence and he had appealed
for peace. As per Shri Modi’s version before SIT, he had not and would never
justify any action or reaction by a mob against innocents. He has denied all
allegations in this regard.
In this connection, it is to be stated that
Shri Narendra Modi has clearly stated in his Zee TV interview that it was
Late Ahesan Jafri, Ex-MP, who first fired at violent mob and the provoked mob
stormed the society and set it on fire. In this interview, he has clearly
referred to Jafri’s firing as “action” and the massacre that followed as
“reaction”. It may be clarified here that in case Late Ahesan Jafri,
Ex-MP fired at the mob, this could be an immediate provocation to the mob,
which had assembled there to take revenge of Godhra incident from the
muslims. Again, with respect to the Godhra incident, he clearly stated that
the day before yesterday 40 ladies and children were burnt alive at Godhra
and the incident had shocked the nation as well as prople abroad, and that
the people belonging to this area had a criminal tendency and these people
had earlier killed lady teachers and now they had committed heinous crime,
for which the reactions were being felt.
In this connection, it is
to be stated that Shri Narendra Modi has clearly stated in his Zee TV
interview that it was Late Ahesan Jafri, Ex-MP, who first fired at violent
mob and the provoked mob stormed the society and set it on fire. In this
interview, he has clearly referred to Jafri’s firing as “action” and the
massacre that followed as “reaction”. It may be clarified here that in
case Late Ahesan Jafri, Ex-MP fired at the mob, this could be an immediate
provocation to the mob, which had assembled there to take revenge of Godhra
incident from the muslims. Again, with respect to the Godhra incident, he
clearly stated that the day before yesterday 40 ladies and children were
burnt alive at Godhra and the incident had shocked the nation as well as
prople abroad, and that the people belonging to this area had a criminal
tendency and these people had earlier killed lady teachers and now they had
committed heinous crime, for which the reactions were being felt.
It may thus been seen
that in spite of the fact that ghastly violent attacks had taken place on
Muslims at Gulberg Society and elsewhere, the reaction of the Govt was not
the type which would have been expected by anyone. The above discussion also
show that the Chief Minister had tried to water down the seriousness of the
situation at Gulberg Society, Naroda Patiya and other places by saying that
every “action” has an equal and opposite “reaction”. However this utterance
by itself is not sufficient to make out a case against Shri Narendra Modi.
No doubt, during riots ghastly violent attacks
had taken place on Muslims at Gulberg Society, Naroda Patiya and elsewhere by
unruly mob, yet the alleged statements made by Chief Minister Narendra Modi
appear to have been quoted out of context and therefore, based on these
statements, no case is made against him.
Now. here is the much cited 28-02-2002 address through Doordarshan
Here Modi is appealing for peace, condemning the violence at Godhra and promising to bring justice to the victims by punishing the pertetrators in such a way that they will never dare to repeat their crime. There is an appeal to let law to take its own course. I hate to be politically correct nitpicker. But there is no condemnation of retaliatory violence, nor any assurance that the perpetrators will be punished. (Is there a single speech/statement by Modi during this period, where he threatens punishment to anti- muslim rioters?) Yet this appeal for peace and restraint convinces SIT that illegal orders( ie asking police to go slow on hindu rioters) could not have been given in the night of 27th Feb 2002. SIT Final Report page 241-242
...when Chief Minister visited Godhra on 27-02-2002
evening, he addressed the media at the collectorate and asserted that the
culprits would not be spared and the victims would be paid Rs. 2 lakh each. The
CM also appealed to the public through media to maintain peace. Furthermore, on
28-02-2002, that is within less than 12 hours of the alleged meeting that took
place on the night of 27-02-2002, the CM has stated on the floor of the
assembly, where the opposition was also present, that the State Govt. has taken
this heinous, inhuman and organised violent act very seriously and is committed
to give exemplary punishment to the culprits so that such incident never recur
anywhere. The Chief Minister repeated almost the similar facts at his press
conference held on 28-02-2002 afternoon at Circuit House Annexe, Ahmedabad.It
would not be out of place to mention here that in his appeal made to the public
through Doordarshan on 28-02-2002, Chief Minister reiterated that Gujarat will
never tolerate any such incident and that guilty will be punished gor their
heinous crime. He also said that the culprits would be awarded such exemplary
punishment so that no one would dare to involve himself in such an incident.
This would go to show that atleast on five occasions, which are fully
documented, during 27-02-2002 & 28-02-2002 Chief Minister addressed Media,
Assembly and General publicand everywhere the genesis and intention was one and
the same, ie to punish the culprits responsible for the Godhra incident in an
exemplary manner, so that such incidents did not recur ever again. In the light
of aforesaid discussion, the interpretations made on alleged illegal
instructions given by the Chief Minister by Shri R. B. Sreekumar and Shri
Sanjiv Bhatt, appear to be without any basis. Further, even if such allegations
were believed for the sake of argument, mere statement of alleged words in the
four walls of a room does not constitute any offence.
So Narendra Modi was appealing for peace on Doordarshan on 28th Feb 2002 after hundreds had been slaughtered in Ahmedabad itself in retaliation to Godhra attack. Note that there is no condemnation of these attacks nor assurance that these attackers will be punished. Yet SIT cites this Doordarshan address as an evidence that illegal instructions could not have been given on 27th Feb night.
Given below is a speech of Modi in course of Gaurav Yatra and how SIT final report yet again sanitises it while in the initial report it found the speech communal --
Here is a translaion of Modi's speech at Becharaji http://www.cjponline.org/hatespmodi/CM%20SPEECH-BECHARJI[TEXT%7D.pdf Gaurav Yatra has now reached the holy land of Bahucharaji, from Fagwel, by blowing the bugle of self-respect of Gujarat. This is the holy place of Shakti, the power for extermination of Ashuras. We have resolved to destroy and stamp out all forces of evil, who are a threat to the self respect of Gujarat. A set of people, who are not concerned about ordinary Gujarati citizens, are keen to impede progress of Gujarat State and its future, are out to defame Gujarat State. In this holy land of Bahucharaji, let the 5 Crores Gujaratis acquire such power and energy, which will build tomorrow’s prosperous Gujarat. There is allegation against us that we are Hinduwadis. Oh! brothers, for the development of Bahucharaji Devi temple, our Govt. has allotted 8 Crore Rupees. Is it a crime done by us? Have we become communal by allotting 8 Crore Rupees for the development of Bahucharaji.
Our Congress friends have come out with another charge. They say, this Narendrabhai has brought Narmada water to Sabarmati river and this man is so much clever that he brought the water in the month of Shravan (a holy month for Hindus). My dear brothers, we built the dam and so water is available. Let me ask a question to my Congress friends, if water is brought during Shravan month, those mothers / ladies residing on the banks of Sabarmati river can take bath in Narnada water and feel holiness and blessedness. Then what is paining them? Since, we (means BJP) are here, we brought water in Sabarmati during the month of Shravan, when you are there, you can bring it in the month of Ramdan (the holy month of Muslims). When, we brought water in the month of Shravan, you feel bad. When we spend money for the development of Bahucharaji also, you feel bad.
What brother, should we run relief camps? (referring to relief camps for riot affected Muslims). Should I start children producing centers there, i.e relief camps? We want to achieve progress by pursuing the policy of family planning with determination. We are 5 and our 25 !!! (Ame panch, Amara panch, referring the Muslim polygamy). On whose name such a development is pursued? Cant Gujarat implement family planning? Whose inhibitions are coming in our way? Which religious sect is coming in the way? Why money is not reaching to the poor? If some people go on producing children, the children will do cycle puncture repair only? If we want to develop Gujarat, every child born in Gujarat should get education, enlightenment, livelihood and the economic order should be built up accordingly. For this purpose, there is a need for teaching a lesson to those people, who are expanding their population (Hinting at Muslims). If we object to the explosion of population, they feel bad. Can somebody tell me, is there any Nation like ours? Is China ruled by BJP? Still China had enacted a law to curb population explosion. Here some people say no
no, Are we religious fundamentalists. Brothers, in this matter, how religion is involved?
In Gujarat, Madrasas are coming up in large numbers. The children have right to get primary education. But, Madrassa going child is deprived of primary education. What will such a child do, when he grows up? Suppose, normal education is not available and only religious education is available, will it not be a burden on Gujarat. We are scrutinizing Madrassas from Kachchh (district) onwards. Now these people may say that we are communalists. If West Bengal Govt. put restrictions on Madrassas, it is secular, but when it is done in Gujarat, how do we become communal? Any institution needs regulation. If we want peace in Gujarat, we have to make long term plans. We cannot permit merchants of murder freely operate in Gujarat. I am sitting in the holy place of Shakti (energy), in the lotus feet of Bahucharaji Mata. I want to assure you that I may lose the chair tomorrow or today. But, I will not allow those plotting to destroy Gujarat and harm the innocent, to carry out their plans. Gujarat wants happiness, Gujarat wants peace, 5 Crores Gujaratis are united and progressing. The days of somebody like Daud Ibrahim sitting in Karanchi and playing games of murder and destruction are over. We would not permit it. For what purpose all this is done. My chair may go today or tomorrow. We are not sticking to the chair with fevikol. Brothers, we are sitting at the feet of the Gujaratis. If the people feel that this person (referring to himself) will work, then they will put him as their head. And if the people don’t feel, then they will kick us out. Brothers, we are a set of people, who are always at your service. The Congress is afraid of going to the people; they do not want the election. Oh brothers, if you do not want the election because you are going to be defeated and so you want to delay the holding of election? Smt. Indira Gandhi was afraid of going to the election. Therefore, she extended the tenure of the Parliament to 6 years. Why don’t you do the same thing? But you are afraid of doing that.
What do you talk? There are disturbances in Gujarat. The people of Gujarat indulge in riots. If you don’t want face election you have no right to abuse 5 Crores Gujaratis. This is not acceptable to us. If you have courage, brothers, why don’t you bare your chests and face us in the battle field of election? Why do you run away? If one has to run away, we have to do it. There is propaganda is against me through out the World. It is done by you (Congress men). We are willing to go to the people and you are running away from the people. Why don’t you go to Italy?, Go, and offer aarti (offering by holy flame) to the Election Commission. You are shouting, stop elections, stop elections, Oh mother ! stop elections, Oh Congress friends ! We have taken the dust from the feet of 5 Crores Gujarati on our head. We are one with them and we are proud of telling that. We are not cheats. If you go to collect the dust from the feet of the people of Gujarat they will kick you. We have no selfishness. This daughter of Italy (Sonia Gandhi) had given us open certificate that we had insulted the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. We have to demand your answer in this matter.
How much did you insult Sardar Patel? The Nehru dynasty of Congress people, develop fever hearing the name of Sardar Patel. You may feel sad, Sanjay Gandhi was no great man other than being the husband of Menka Gandhi. But, there is samadhi of Sanjay Gandhi at Rajgadh. Oh my Brothers and Sisters of Gujarat ! Sardar Patel does not have a samadhi (in Delhi). We feel very sad about it. You Congress people, you are toiling for effacing out the name and image of Sardar Patel, but I warn you, Beware, if you try to wipe out the fame and name of Sardar, we are here to sacrifice our lives for keeping the flag of Sardar at high pedestal. We believe that, if we have to do good of the Nation, we have to adopt the path of Sardar Patel. If you want to save Kashmir, you have to walk in the path of Sardar Patel. If you want to bring unity in Gujarat, you have to adopt the path of Sardar Patel. If you want to contain and check the merchants of murder, we have to follow the path of Sardar Patel. Our motto is to pursue the path of Sardar. There are people, bent upon destroying Gujarat. We have come out for awakening the self-respect of Gujarat. If we raise the self-respect and morale of 5 Crores Gujratis, the schemes of Alis, Malis and Jamalis (referring to Muslims) will not be successful to do any harm to us. These 5 Crores Gujaratis will decide about their future. The buffoons of Delhi will not decide the future of Gujarat.
In Delhi, there is a crowd of Ex. Prime Ministers, who are sitting idle. In the evening, these Ex.Prime Ministers meet. They issued Fatva (royal proclamation) that in Gujarat the Rathyatra of Jagannathji should not be taken out. We asserted that it will be taken out. In Gujarat, if the Rathyatra of Jagannathji is not taken out, whose Rathyatra should come out ? People sitting in Culcutta (referring to the communists), do not want the Rathyatra to come out. It will be better to go out of the Govt. instead of not taking out Jagannath Rathyatra. I don’t care if I loose political power and authority. We have decided that Jagannath Rathyatra will be taken out. Then, the whole crowd of Congress people rushed to Delhi, to Madam (Sonia Gandhi), appealing, Madam save us, this Narendra Modi is a mad man, and we cannot compete with him. Save us, solve the problem of Narendra Modi. Madam said, what happened? Stop Jagannath Rathyatra, if the Rathyatra of Jagannathji is taken out Gujarat will burn. Muslims will be massacred, there will be wide spread hue and cry, stop the Rathyatra of Jagannathji, stop the Rathyatra of Jagannathji, stop the Rathyatra of Jagannathji. When Congress men told this thing to Madam, finally she asked, brothers, tell me this Jagannathji is belonging to which political party? Is this Jagannath Rathyatra like Advani’s Rathyatra ? (The Congress men replied) Oh Madam, this Jagannath is not worker of any Party. Jagannath is God (Bhagwan). Does Bhagwan Jagannath belong to any Party? See, such (ignorant) people are set our for serving the Nation !!! Mahatma Gandhi used to say “Drive away these white men”, “Oh white men, quit our Country”. But, what did Congress do? Oh white people, please come, be our Congress President, Oh white people, please come, be our Congress President. Congress is like a Dharmashala. They (Congress men) are set out for destroying Gujarat. Therefore, there is a need for awakening the self-respect of Gujarat. In this holy place of Mother Goddess, let us pray God, to bestow us fresh energy, let there be new ideas. By serving the Mother India, let us make Gujarat also proud. We should enhance and brighten the image and identity of Gujarat. Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Matram, Vande Matram, Vande Matram.
SIT Prelim Report page 160
SIT Final
Report pp 241-242
As
regards the public speech delivered at Becharaji, Mehsana District on
09-09-2002, as a part of Gaurav Yatra, Shri Narendra Modi has explained that
the speech did not refer to any particular community or religion. According
to Shri Modi, this was a political speech in which he has pointed out the
increasing population of India and had remarked that “can’t Gujarat implement
family planning?” Shri Narendra Modi has claimed that his speech has been
distorted by some interested elements, who had misinterpreted the same to
suit their designs. He has also stated that there were no riots or tension
after his election speech. The explanation given by Shri Modi is unconvincing
and it definitely hinted at the growing minority population.
As
regards the public speech delivered at Becharaji, Mehsana District on
09-09-2002, as a part of Gaurav Yatra, Shri Narendra Modi has explained that
the speech did not refer to any particular community or religion. According
to Shri Modi, this was a political speech in which he has pointed out the
increasing population of India and had remarked that “can’t Gujarat implement
family planning?” Shri Narendra Modi has claimed that his speech has been
distorted by some interested elements, who had misinterpreted the same to
suit their designs. He has also stated that there were no riots or tension
after his election speech. No criminality has come on record in respect of
this aspect of allegation
To get a flavour of the carnival like atmosphere in Gaurav Yatra, see the following video from 00:05:00 onwards. Modi's speech is interspersed with accounts of survivors.
Case against Modi rests on much stronger grounds than his statements. But that will be another post.However a comparison of SIT preliminary & final reports can be found in Communalism Combat
