The Hindu : `No discrimination in compensation in Gujarat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 06, 2002

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`No discrimination in compensation in Gujarat'
By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 5. The Gujarat Government today clarified that there was no ``discrimination'' in announcing compensation for the victims of the riots, which followed the Godhra train carnage.

The Relief Commissioner, C.K. Koshy, said the compensation of Rs. 1 lakh announced for the riot victims was in accordance with the relief manual in operation in the State. The same amount was given to the victims of the 1992 riots.

The Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's announcement in the Assembly of a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the victims of the Godhra carnage followed demands from members of both the ruling and Opposition benches. Also, the incident was of a ``different nature''. However, a review of the compensation was not ruled out in view of the criticism of discrimination between the `Ram sevaks', who were killed in the train carnage, and the riot victims, mostly belonging to the minority community.

An uneasy calm prevailed in most parts of the State and no untoward incident was reported since Monday. The Home Secretary, K. Nityanandam, said the situation was ``absolutely peaceful''. The State had recorded a ``phenomenal improvement'' with no incident - of even a minor nature - reported in the last 24 hours. Except for Godhra and a few other areas, curfew was withdrawn or relaxed during the day.

The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said the Government would review the situation in the next couple of days and then decide on the withdrawal of the Army from the affected areas.

The Gujarat Congress chief, Amarsinh Chaudhary, demanded a judicial inquiry into the riots in Ahmedabad and other parts of the State. He criticised the Government for keeping mum on a probe into the riots while promptly announcing one into the Godhra carnage.

Mr. Modi, however, told a meeting of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the Government would order an inquiry into the riots.

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