Rajasthan: communal violence in Asindtehsil of Bhilwara was pre-planned say's PUCL

From: The Times of India

‘Communal clash in Asind, Gulabpura were planned’
TNN | Feb 8, 2013, 02.46 AM IST
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JAIPUR: The recent communal violence in Asindtehsil of Bhilwara was being termed as a"planned attack to consolidate majority community and to financially weaken minorities", says a group of human rights activists. The violence broke out over a religious procession and a curfew imposed after the riot was lifted only on February 5.

The report was prepared by a group, including Kavita Srivastva of PUCL, Prof M Hasan, Tara Ahluwalia, Bhanwari Devi, Bhanwar Meghvanshi and Abid Husain.

According to the report, the procession of Milad-ul-Nabi or Barabafaat, was to be taken out on an old route mutually decided by RSS-VHP- Bajrang Dal activists, Muslim elders and district administration. During the procession, the right wing activists (particularly from the RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal and Gujjar Dev Sena) mobilized rioters by making inflammatory speeches against Muslims.

It resulted in selective looting and burning of 25 Muslim shops and thadis (small makeshift iron-sheet fabricated shops), according to majority of the Muslims interviewed by the team. They are traumatized with terror and wanted to leave the town. "Grabbing Muslim properties has become a motivating force for violence which is evident from the earlier rioting cases in the same areas," Hasan said. The group has listed previous riots which it said targeted to systematically destroy minorities financially.

They mentioned the victims were angry over politicians who ignored them even their life and properties are destroyed. "Visit to Gopalgarh by Congress politicians was necessitated because of the visit by Rahul Gandhi and national outcry against ten deaths in a mosque," said Hasan. It also raised questions on the working of police and intelligence for not acting on the alleged involvement of BJP MLA Ram Lal Gujjar and misreading the gathering of mobs in temples a night before the incident.

The group observed on basis of all communal riots since the government came to power that Congress believes terrorized Muslims wouldn't vote for the BJP.