The Hindu : `Rein in elements holding nation to ransom'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 02, 2002

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`Rein in elements holding nation to ransom'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 1. Likening the prevailing situation in the country following the Godhra killings to the "national perfidy perpetrated on December 6, 1992'', peace activists today urged the Government to rein in the elements within the ruling alliance who are holding the nation to ransom for petty political gains.

While they observed satyagraha at Rajghat here in the hope of acting as a sobering influence on heightened communal passions, the peace activists are also planning to get retired Supreme Court judges to move a petition in the Supreme Court to push the Government to take strong action in Ayodhya. As part of their multi-pronged strategy to help restore peace, they also propose to meet the President and Opposition leaders.

In a joint statement, the peace activists have taken the position that "in the context of the communal tension created on account of the Ram mandir issue, these events demonstrate a grave crisis for the rule of law in this country''. Having said this, they have asserted that the threat to build the temple in "total defiance of court orders belongs to the realm of terrorism, and needs to be handled as such''.

Condemning the "ghastly episode in Godhra'', they said the allies should not remain mute witnesses to the repetition of the "national perfidy'' perpetrated on December 6, 1992, but deal with the situation with firmness befitting a civilised nation. "We call upon the Opposition parties to fight the emerging communal holocaust with greater determination and unity than they did the menace of terrorism. We call upon the people of India to resist all divisive propaganda, maintain communal harmony, and unite in protecting the unity and integrity of our secular democracy.'' People, according to the peace activists, should set up `aman' (peace) and `ekta' (unity) committees in their neighbourhoods.

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