The Hindu : Crossing all limits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 18, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Leader Page Articles

Crossing all limits

By Kalpana Sharma

What is more sinister this time in Gujarat is that the economic boycott call has been backed by a systematic attack on Muslim-owned businesses.

IF YOU repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth. Once again we have seen this in action. The Sangh Parivar and its supporters repeatedly accuse the secularists and "pseudo-secularists," including the English language press, of being selective in their condemnation of violence. They repeatedly state that the Godhra massacre was not condemned strongly enough compared to the words of outrage that have poured forth against the targeted and planned killing of hundreds of Muslims all over Gujarat.

Instead of recognising this age-old tactic for what it is, the so-called "pseudo-secularists," tend to walk into the trap and fall over backwards to be even-handed. But no matter how often, and how strongly, they condemn what happened at Godhra, the tune of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its cohorts is not going to change. This is a typical diversionary tactic. For, it makes people defensive and stops them from asking the tough questions that the Sangh Parivar must answer. If Gujarat was its laboratory, and this was the level of savagery that was the outcome of the experiment, then what can we expect in the rest of India if this experiment is allowed to work elsewhere?

If the Chief Minister of one of India's most prosperous States, which aims to integrate itself into a globalised world, can justify what he calls "secular violence" and boast of bringing the situation under control in 72 hours while overlooking the fact that in the meantime over 700 people lost their lives, then what can we expect from others of his ilk who aspire for power? If even after such state-supported brutality, the Union Home Minister cannot bring himself to reprimand his comrade in Gujarat, leave alone consider dismissing him for gross incompetence, then what can we expect in terms of just governance in the rest of the country?

We should also ask about the scores of mosques, dargahs and tombs that have been systematically destroyed in Gujarat since February 27. One of these, the tomb of Vali Gujarati had stood in front of the gate of the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner's office until a few days ago. Today, there is no trace of it. Demonstrating an efficiency that people in Ahmedabad have never before witnessed, the Public Works Department not only cleared the rubble in record time but even tarred the place where this 17th century Urdu poet's tomb stood.

Thus, the issue is not secularism or secularists; it is what the country can expect if the Hindutva ideology is fully implemented and if its ideologues are given complete freedom to do as they wish. To see the extent to which the Bajrang Dal and the VHP have permeated all aspects of life and the confidence they now have with their brethren in power in the State and at the Centre, you have to spend time in Gujarat.

A few days after the killing spree began in Gujarat, the respected peace activist and Gandhian, Nirmala Deshpande, went to Ahmedabad. She was waiting at the Circuit House to meet two former Prime Ministers, I. K. Gujral and V. P. Singh, who had also come on a peace mission. A complete stranger walked up to her and asked her officiously who she was and what her business was in the city. Ms. Deshpande quietly introduced herself and said she was a Gandhian. To this the man reportedly said, with considerable aggression in his voice, "remember, this is the land of Sardar Patel. We don't want to hear all this talk about Gandhi." And so saying, he walked off yelling "Jai Shri Ram."

Around the same time, representatives of the Bajrang Dal approached a non-governmental organisation that works on issues of water and environmental protection. It was told that the Dal had heard that the NGO had a Muslim trustee and that this would not be tolerated. Another NGO, working in the area of education, which calls itself Taleem, has been told it should change its name.

These instances merely go to illustrate the point that the dividing line between the official Government and the non-official powerbrokers in Gujarat has been eliminated. This is a process that has gone on for some time. And it is because this was already in place that the killings, arson and looting of February 28 and thereafter could continue for so many days unchecked.

But what has exceeded all limits are the numerous leaflets being distributed in different parts of the State which call for an economic boycott of Muslims. It is true that this is not new. What is more sinister this time in Gujarat is that the economic boycott call has been backed by a systematic attack on Muslim-owned businesses. It is also evident that the planning for these attacks took place well before the Godhra incident. How else can you explain attacks on shops with names that would not give even a hint that they belong to Muslims, or that Muslims are the majority shareholders? The selective and planned arson of these Muslim-owned establishments is chillingly reminiscent of what happened in Mumbai in 1992-93 in the second phase of the rioting, but it is far more extensive.

Sadly, even the media has played a role in this. It is not the kind of role for which Mr. Modi will condemn it even as he lashes out at the rest of the media for reporting accurately and extensively what was going on in his State. But a leading Gujarati newspaper published an article several months ago naming the restaurants in Ahmedabad owned by Muslims. These happen to be some of the most popular eating places. And today, each one of them is a burnt-out hole.

Any Government, which claims to be committed to the concepts enshrined in our Constitution, would track down the people circulating such scurrilous and dangerous ideas and put them behind bars. But not in Gujarat. This is being done with the kind of audacity that is only possible if the Government is on your side. And there is no confusion about the side that Mr. Modi's Government is on.

What then can those who passionately oppose this narrow and dangerous vision of India dominated by one religion do? One of the tragedies of the current situation in Gujarat is the extent to which even civil society groups, which played such an important role last year after the earthquake, have been unable to respond in the same way. Activists who have witnessed the progression of riots and violence in the State say they have lost all confidence in the law and order machinery. They say that even non-partisan activities such as relief, or peace marches, are difficult to organise because of the hostility from the State and its vast army of supporters. Some of them also acknowledge that in the last decade not enough has been done to counter the relentless and planned propaganda of the Sangh Parivar amongst all classes of Hindus.

The long-term interventions for the victims of the Gujarat violence will require vast amounts of support from the rest of India. Unless we ensure that Gujarat is not permanently caught in this communal cauldron, we cannot guarantee that the same story will not repeat itself in our own backyard.

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