The Hindu : It's horrible: NHRC chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 24, 2002

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It's horrible: NHRC chief

New Delhi March 23. A "disturbed and shocked" Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), J.S. Verma, today spoke of a sense of insecurity among the people of riot-hit areas in Gujarat and called for "strong confidence-building measures by the State Government''.

"It will take me two more days to overcome what I have seen and heard in various violence-hit areas in Gujarat," Mr. Verma, who returned from his visit to Ahmedabad, Godhra and Vadodara on Friday, told PTI in an interview. "I cannot even narrate what I have been told by the women victims. It is horrible and inhuman. I am really very disturbed over it." Describing the situation as "far from normal" even about a month since the Godhra rail tragedy, Mr. Verma said the administration should feel a "sense of urgency" towards bringing the situation in the State to normality. "People should feel secure irrespective of their religion."

Taking a tough stand, the NHRC Chairman, who has already rejected the preliminary report by the Gujarat Government, describing it as "perfunctory", said the Commission had demanded a comprehensive report within the next four-five days. "If they fail to do so, the Commission will rely on the material it has gathered during the visit and pass an order."

Suggesting that an investigation be undertaken in major incidents such as the Godhra tragedy and the Gulburga Housing Society killings in Ahmedabad, Mr. Verma said, "The specifics of the matter will be taken up in the full Commission meeting, considering its urgency and importance. The investigation should be done by a prompt, effective and impartial agency."

Asked if he would recommend a CBI inquiry into the incidents, he said, "I cannot say specifically but we will take a decision only after discussing the issue in the Commission."

"I do not think the people who perpetrated violence have anything to do with religion, whether it was in Godhra or the carnage after that. They all should be treated as criminals and punished uniformly," Mr. Verma, who conveyed the same views to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, said. "I am happy that the State Government has realised the same and booked them under IPC instead of using POTO against some and other provisions against others."

On compensation to the victims, he said, "The compensation is a secondary issue; the basic one is to bring the situation to normal and create a sense of security among the people of the State irrespective of their religion."

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