(The Hindu, 27 October 2007)
Karnataka - Bangalore
Forum demands dismissal of Modi Government
Special Correspondent
‘Post-Godhra violence was not spontaneous but was part of a pre-meditated genocide’
Tehelka expose showed Sangh Parivar activists boasting about killings
Judiciary urged to take suo motu action
— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
Seeking action: Members of the Karnataka Forum for Dignity staging a protest in Bangalore on Friday demanding the dismissal of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Bangalore: The Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) on Friday staged a demonstration demanding the dismissal of Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat in the light of the revelations made by the sting operation by Tehelka, a news magazine. The expose, broadcast on Headlines Today channel, showed Sangh Parivar activists boasting about killings of Muslims in the post-Godhra carnage in 2002.
Speaking at the protest, Syed Kaleemullah, Vice-President of KFD, said that the footage proved that the killings “were not spontaneous, but were part of a pre-meditated genocide.” The sting operation had proved beyond doubt that top Sangh Parivar functionaries and Mr. Modi were behind the “gruesome plot” against Muslims. The Centre should, therefore, dismiss the Modi Government without delay, he added. The statements of people such as Babu Bajrangi, an accused in the Naroda Patia violence, was “shocking to a civilised and democratic society,” said Mr. Kaleemullah.
‘Warning to Karnataka’
Gauri Lankesh of the Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike, speaking at the protest, said that the expose was a lesson to Karnataka, considering that Sangh Parivar members had “repeatedly declared that they were out to make the State into another Gujarat and Bababudangiri into another Ayodhya.”
Prof. G.K. Ramaswamy, also of the Vedike, said that all secular and democratic minded people should come together to defeat the designs of Sangh Parivar elements in spreading the poison of communal hatred.
Dismissing the Modi Government was important in the interest of Indian democracy and Constitution, he added.
‘Modi behaved like Hitler’
President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge told The Hindu, that Mr. Modi had “behaved like Hitler” while he was expected to protect all people including minorities. Terming the massacre as “a black spot on the civil society, democracy and the Constitution,” he said that people like Mr. Modi had no right to be in public life.
He denied the BJP criticism that the Congress was behind the operation. Who was behind it was immaterial in the light of the horrifying evidence of communal hatred, he added.
‘Irrefutable proof’
President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) Mirajuddeen Patel said that the sting operation was irrefutable proof of the involvement of Government machinery in the massacre. Mr. Modi should step down, as he can no longer deny his role in the killing of Muslims, he added.
Developments in Karnataka, including the burning of the Tamil Nadu-bound bus over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s reaction on the Ram Sethu issue, had proved what Sangh Parivar elements were capable of in the State of Karnataka when in power, said Mr. Patel.
Silent demonstration
Staff Correspondent reports from Mysore:
The KFD and Komu Souharda Vedike held a silent demonstration in front of the Gandhi Statue here demanding immediate dismissal of the BJP-led Government headed by Narendra Modi.
In a memorandum submitted to the President, the organisations said that that the sting operation exposed misdeeds of Mr. Modi and several of his Ministers.
Suo motu action sought
Human rights and civil liberties activists have demanded suo motu action against the alleged perpetrators of the crime.
Expressing shock over the confessions of Sangh Parivar functionaries, professor in Political Science at the University of Mysore and a member of People’s Union for Civil Liberties Muzaffar Assadi said that it was a known fact that post-Godhra violence was not spontaneous swell of anger but “genocide” planned and executed by Sangh Parivar activists.While the people in Gujarat were afraid to raise their voice against the “pogram,” it was secular and democratic forces, which exposed Sangh Parivar’s deeds, he said.
The Judiciary should take cognisance of the exposure and take suo motu action against the alleged perpetrators of the crime, as commissions of inquiry appointed by the State were not in a position to provide justice, he added.
Secretary of the district unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prabhakar said that there was nothing wrong in courts taking cognisance of the exposure and taking suo motu against the perpetrators. He said the Election Commission should bar the culprits, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from contesting in the coming elections to the Gujarat Assembly.
Noted writer and president of Sarvodaya Karnataka Party Devanuru Mahadev said that it was the judiciary, which could do something and take suo motu action against those who involved in the massacre.
President of the district unit of People’s Union for Civil Liberties Lakshminarayana said that it was horrifying evidence and courts and the National Human Rights Commission should take up this on priority basis and punish those involved in the massacre.
Convener of the district committee of Socialist Unity Centre of India Shashidhar said that though there was enough evidence for the genocide, the inquiry was not conducted impartially and perpetrators were roaming freely. Now the exposure of Tehelka pin-pointed the crime and it was time to act against those involved, however powerful they might be, he said.
Copyright © 2007, The Hindu
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