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The term 2002 Gujarat violence refers to the riots that took place in parts of Gujarat state in India from February 27, 2002. The riots started a day after an 59 Hindu Kar Sevaks died in a controversial fire when their train had stopped at the town of Godhra.
According to an Indian Central Government report based on Gujarat government statistics released in 2005, by Minister for State for Home Affairs, Sri Prakash Jaiswal, 253 Hindus and 793 Muslims were killed...The BBC and other humanitarian agancies put the toll at around 2000, mostly Muslims.
The Godhra Incident
The Sabarmati Express was carrying Kar Sevaks coming from a hotly disputed shrine in the state of Uttar Pradesh; this shrine, in Ayodhya, is known as the Babri Masjid or Ram Janmabhoomi. Proceedings are underway in court to determine whether there was a Ram Temple on this spot prior to the sixteenth century, and what effect that has on the rights to the property.
On December 6,1993 the mosque standing on this spot was destroyed by the Kar Sevaks.The Kar Sevaks travelling in the train in 2002 were returning from a ceremony called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishadto construct the temple at the spot - the name of the event was called Chetavani (Warning) Yatra. This train was stopped and came under attack at Signal Falia near Godhra Junction by a mob presumed to be Ghanchi Muslims. Eventually it got burnt either from outside or inside the train.
Coach S6 caught fire killing 59 passengers,including women and children.. BJP government in Gujarat cited this as the primary provocation or the "first use" of violence. However, others alleged that Kar Sevaks riding the train were shouting anti-Muslim slogans before a mob attacked the train.
Moreover, police uncovered proof of large purchase of petrol from a local petrol station. Godhra township fire-chief stated that attackers did not allow fire-engines to immediately reach on the spot.
Two years after the incident Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav appointed Justice Banerjee to investigate the cause of the fire. Justice Banerjee submitted an interim report concluding that the fire and attack are two separate events. It concluded that the fire was likely started from within the train, and not by a mob gathered outside the train . The BJP believed that the release of the report on the eve of legislative elections in Mr. Yadav's native Bihar cast doubt on the reliability of the report.
However, observers maintained that though the timing of the commission report could be suspect the fact that the forensic research laboratory of the same state studied and came to the same conclusions mentioned in the report is significant.67 . These claims are hotly disputed.
Sequence of Events
- Sequence of events
- Godhra, February 27, 2002.
- 7-42 a.m.: The train arrives at Godhra station.
- 7-42 to 7.47 a.m.: During the five-minute halt there is a scuffle between a kar sevak and a Muslim tea vendor.
- 7-47 a.m.: The train starts from Godhra station, leaving some passengers on the platform.
- 7-48 a.m.: The train stops after the chain is pulled in four coaches.
- 7-48 to 8-00 a.m.: There is stone-throwing between passengers on the train and Muslim residents who hide behind the parcel office of Godhra station.
- 8-00 a.m.: Train starts moving again.
- 8-05 a.m.: Train stops for the second time near Cabin 'A' of Godhra station.
- 8-05 to 8-17 a.m.: A group of people come running from the parcel office towards the train and there is more stone-throwing and violence. The coach is set on fire.
- 8-25 a.m.: The police arrive and open fire to disperse the mob.
- 7-42 a.m.: The train arrives at Godhra station.
- Source - Volume 19 - Issue 15, July 20 - August 02, 2002
- India's National Magazine from the publishers of THE HINDU
The riots
There have been several well-publicised cases where charges were made subsequently withdrawn and again made, the most famous one being that of Zaheera Sheikh. The Indian judiciary is currently studying whether the witnesses have been victimised.
It has been alleged by many NGOs (links below} and newspaper columnists that in Ahmedabad there were elements of planning in the violence. Some rioters were seen with documents and computer sheets listing Muslim families and their properties, which the Indian Express claimed at the time were accessed from the electoral rolls of the areas. They also had detailed precise knowledge about buildings and businesses held by members of the minority community while there were also cases where Hindus living in mixed neighbourhood were attacked and driven out of their homes. . Human Rights groups have alleged that the trucks carried quantities of gas cylinders. Rich homes of people belonging to the Muslim community and business establishments were first systematically looted, stripped down of all their valuables, then cooking gas was released from cylinders into the buildings for several minutes. In addition, certain mosques and dargahs were efficiently razed, and in some cases the traces are no longer visible.
Previous claims by Teesta Setalvad of the death toll have been demonstrated as exaggerated. Arundhati Roy has made several claims about the details of the situation in Gujarat at the time, particularly regarding the murder of former Congress MP Iqbal Ehsan Jaffri. BJP MP Balbir Punj, writing in Outlook India, has criticized her recounting of the events as pure 'fiction'.
What Human Rights Watch described as 'retaliatory' acts of violence were perpetrated on several Hindu communities, especially Dalits .
All riot cases are under investigation in an official inquiry comprising of Justice (retd.) G.T. Nanavati and Justice (retd.) K.G. Shah. The inquiry included gathering and analysis of 20,940 oral and written testimonies, both individual and collective, from survivors and independent human rights groups, women's groups, NGOs and academics.
The role of the Central and the Gujarat state government in the riots
Domestic criticism of the adminstration's actions during the riots
Various human rights organizations and major Indian newspapers have accused the Gujarat state government, led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi of supporting, and in some cases instigating, the riots.
The National Human Rights Commission had criticised the state government for 'a comprehensive failure to protect people's constitutional rights' while the Supreme Court of India called Mr. Modi Nero for his failure to contain the killings of civilians of the minority community.
The President of India at that time, K. R. Narayanan, formerly a Congress Party politician, later blamed the ruling BJP government.
In an interview to the Malayalam magazine Manava Samskriti on the eve of the third anniversary of the Gujarat riots he said :
There was governmental and administrative support for the communal riots in Gujarat. I gave several letters to Prime Minister Vajpayee in this regard on this issue. I met him personally and talked to him directly. But Vajpayee did not do anything effective. I requested him to send the army to Gujarat and suppress the riots. The military was sent, but they were not given powers to shoot. If the military was given powers to shoot then recurrence of tragedies in Gujarat could have been avoided. However, both the state(the Narendra Modi government) and central government did not do so. I feel there was a conspiracy involving the state and central governments behind the Gujarat riots.()()()
.
On the other hand, a defense expert believes that when thousands of people defy curfew and come on street, Army should not shoot-at-sight because the resultant killings will be huge. These killings will do more damage than good. ()
Some other allegations came from R.B. Sreekumar, who served as intelligence chief for the Gujrat Government during the riots. Mr. Sreekumar concluded that the violence was a planned massacre, with the consent of the State government. He presented what he claimed were his notes at the time to India Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which investigates complaints by civil servants.
On it's part the Government of Gujarat refuted the allegations and chargesheeted R.B. Sreekumar in connection with his ‘‘semi-official’’ diary on the grounds of releasing official documents. . Some critics of Mr. Sreekumar questioned the authenticity of the diary he submitted as evidence.
International criticism of the administration
Several Republican Congressmen, and non-resident Indian organisations intensely lobbied US government to revoke Narendra Modi's US visa. As a result, his visa was revoked under Section 212 (a)(2)(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes any foreign government official who was "responsible or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom", ineligible for the visa. () This decision was protested by the Indian government, but in response the US government pointed out that their decision was based on the report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India. .
The United Nations International Human Rights Commission has not yet fully recognized the Gujarat riots as a human rights issue. However, campaigns to recognize it have been made by Islamic organizations like the world muslim congress demanding expediency in the process.Discussions in UNHCRGeneral Assembly Document
Defence of the Gujarat administration
The BJP government has defended the actions of Narendra Modi's administration against charges of 'genocide'. They said that the killing of 254 Hindus, mostly in police firing, indicates how the state authorities took effective steps to curb the violence. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal confirmed the Hindu death toll in the incident(s). He, in turn, accused the Congress for misrepresenting the extent of the riots as part of a political agenda.
Criticisms of the Gujarat justice system
India's Supreme Court, expressed its displeasure at the government's handling of the case. . The Court also rebuked both the Gujarat High Court and the local justice system, stating, “Judicial criminal administration system must be kept clean and beyond the reach of whimsical political wills or agendas.”
While some convictions have taken place,the National Human Rights Commission of India expressed dissatisfaction with the Gujarat government in its reports and observed that while in many cases members of the majority community were booked under offences - they were released soon and the charges framed against them were of lesser degree while the minority community was harassed by the police.National Human Rights Commission orders on Gujarat
Convictions
Independent India has witnessed thousands of anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit riots. Conviction in riot-cases is rare. Gujrat Pogrom The first of the convictions in post-Godhra riot cases came on Tuesday, November 25 2003 with the Kheda district court sentencing 12 persons to life imprisonment. .
Films on the riots
Final Solution explored the impact of the riots in creating a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims of the state of Gujarat and how the rift has affected everyday life in the state. The film was criticized by BJP government at the time as being innacurate in its portrayal of the communal situation in Gujarat, which led to it being defended by some filmmakers. As a result of a wide publicity campaign the film is presently in public circulation.
A copy of the film is available online on * Final Solution. The film was widely recognised, and has been screened in over 80 film festivals. Among other awards, it has won:
- The Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Documentary, at the Hong Kong International film festival (2004).
- Montgolfiere d’Or (Best Documentary) & Le Prix Fip/Pil’ du Public (Audience award), Festival des 3 Continents at Nantes (France; 2004)
- Best Film, Freedom of Expression awards by Index on Censorship (UK; 2005)
- Silver Dhow, Zanzibar International film festival (2004)
- Best documentary, Big MiniDV (USA; 2004)
- Special Jury Award, Karafest (Karachi; 2004)
- Special Jury Award, Film South Asia (Kathmandu; 2005)
- Human Rights Award, Docupolis (Barcelona; 2005)
- Special Jury Mention, Munich Dokfest (2004)
- Special Jury Mention, Bangkok International filmfest (2005)
- Nominee, Best Foreign Film, Grierson Awards (UK; 2004)
- Best Documentary/Short Film, Apsara Awards(India;2006)
- Special Award by NRIs for a Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI), NY-NJ, USA (2004)
- Special Award by AFMI, USA-Canada (2004)
- Special Jury Award, Worldfest 2005 (Houston)
- Special Jury Award, Mar Del Plata Independent film festival (2005; Argentina)
It has also received attention from the BBC.
Criticism of the facts in the "Final Solution" Documentary
The death toll figures claimed by the documentary have been questioned . Many of the claims made in the movie are unverified by third parties. Some of the claims made by the documentary that are peripherally connected to the Gujarat riots have been debunked. For instance, the film claims that Narendra Modi introduced 7/8th grade history textbook that glorifies Hitler and the Nazi regime. It, however, turns out that the books was actually prescribed under a Congress government in 1993. This claim has been criticized as an ad-hominem attack against Modi.
External references
Unrelated to main story
Related to main story
- Human Rights Watch (HRW) report 'We have no orders to save you'
- Amnesty International Report
- Crime Against Humanity - An Inquiry into the Carnage in Gujarat published by Citizens for Justice and Peace
- Amnesty International report 'India Justice, the victim - Gujarat state fails to protect women from violence'
- The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat An Interim Report
- BJP questions Banerjee Committee's findings
- Outlook Special Feature on Gujarat Carnage
- National Human Rights Commission orders on Gujarat
- Letter that prompted US to deny Visa to Narendra Modi
- Time Magazine Special Feature
Compilations of newspaper articles
- Indian Express-Full Coverage
- The Gujarat Riots Homepage
- Efforts to bring justice to the victims of the violence
- Violences entre Hindous et Musulmans au Gujarat CERI France - French
Newspaper articles
- Early news reports on the violence
- The sufferings of victims
- India: Hate speeches on the violence in Gujarat must be stopped