(Times of India)
'Need for unity'
[ 27 Feb, 2007 2217hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
AHMEDABAD: It was an audience mainly comprising rights activists and those affected by the riots of 2002. A good reason for Mallika Sarabhai, noted dancer and speaker at the 'Sach Ki Yadein, Yadon Ka Sach' event, to say, "All those present here already know about injustice meted out to riot victims. How do we reach out to those who are denying what happened in Gujarat?"
While Sarabhai suggested "greater unity among secular forces", most speakers on the inaugural day of the week-long event on Monday spoke about the state government's complicity in the crimes against humanity and their silence on acknowledging it. The event is an attempt to look back at the Gujarat carnage of 2002.
Activist Teesta Setalvad came down strongly on the failure of the state government to adequately compensate riot victims. Citing a recent survey done by her NGO Citizens for Peace and Justice, Setalvad said that over 70 per cent of households have received less than Rs 5,000 as compensation instead of the allotted Rs 50,000. "Only around 15 households have been given Rs 40,000," she said. She warned the audience of a possibility of suppression of the Nanavati-Shah Commission's report on the riots due to be ready bky the end of this year.
"It's an election year and I won't be surprised if the commission's report is suppressed. But if that happens, we all need to be ready to raise our voices in protest," she said.
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