The Hindu : Minorities panel takes grim view of Gujarat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2002

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Minorities panel takes grim view of Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 9. Taking a grim view of the prevalent situation in Gujarat, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has come down heavily on State administration for allowing a "holocaust'' in the State.

Such an observation was made by the NCM in its formal communication to the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, G. Subba Rao. The formal communication was despatched to Mr. Rao on Monday as a follow-up to Saturday's meeting when the Chief Secretary and other officials responded to the summons issued by the NCM.

Drawing parallels with the way other State Governments had handled such situations in the past, the NCM has noted that the flare-ups had been dealt with firmly, and a "holocaust was not allowed to occur as has happened in Gujarat''.

Reiterating its dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Gujarat Government had handled the situation, the commission has asked the Gujarat Government to give utmost importance to the restoration of confidence among the people in the administrative machinery, particularly the police force.

The commission has instructed the State to post officers -- transferred for protecting the interest of the minorities -- back to their original charge as this would go a long way in restoring the confidence of the minorities in the administration. Of the view that these officers ought to be honoured and rewarded, the commission has noted that "the policy of political transfers that was now being indulged in was contrary to the norms of good governance in a civil society and needs to be stopped immediately''.

Primarily reiterating the verbal instructions issued to the Gujarat officers on Saturday, the NCM has asked the State to enhance the compensation to the next of kin of those killed to Rs. 1 lakh; rebuild the dargahs and mosques destroyed in the riots; set up joint peace committees in localities; depute officers from minority communities in sensitive areas; allot land for those rendered homeless; and appoint a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to head the inquiry commission that has been set up.

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