The Hindu : Seeds of hatred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Seeds of hatred

Sir, — I went on a compassion `yatra' led by Swami Agnivesh and others to Godhra, Baroda and Ahmedabad. This group had religious heads of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. We saw that apart from the carnage and inhumanity of the whole pogrom, a distressing outcome of the events was a burning hatred and desire for revenge amongst the Hindu and Muslim youth. The seeds are being sown for a `Mahabharata' in which India can only lose. Unless concrete measures are taken, we may be taking our country towards a civil war.

The group stayed one night at a trust building in Navrangpura. The next morning threats were received that the Muslims must leave. Since this was not acceptable, the whole group was shifted to the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati. This place is closely identified with the apostle of non-violence.

At night, a threat was again received to the effect that the words "peace, Muslims and Gandhi" were unacceptable. Phone calls were made to some Ministers and other powers, consequent to which a police contingent came to guard us. If we needed police to be safe in Gandhi Ashram, what will be the fate of the poor who lead a life of terror every day? I had hoped that the Gandhi Ashram at least would be allowed to be a symbol of peace and non-violence.

Shailesh Gandhi,
Mumbai

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