The Hindu : Peace moves gain momentum

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 13, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Peace moves gain momentum

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD May 12. With the situation showing considerable improvement in the troubled city of Ahmedabad and the rest of riot-torn Gujarat, peace initiatives to bring the warring communities together are being intensified in the State.

At least one person was stabbed to death and another sustained stab injuries in the posh Maninagar locality, while a couple of houses and cabins were set afire in Jamalpur locality where the rival communities also fought a pitched battle.

The National Commission for Minorities, which had taken the initiative to bring leaders of both communities together to the negotiation table, is going ahead with its efforts despite a temporary setback. The Sangh Parivar has decided not to attend a meeting convened by the NCM here tomorrow which would be the first in the series of confabulations planned by the Commission between the leaders of the two communities.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad State secretary, Dillip Trivedi, claimed that it was yet to receive a formal communication from the NCM, nor had it yet been communicated its "status'' when the Muslims were viewing it as the "main accused'' in instigating the communal disturbances in the State.

Immediately after the NCM initiated the peace move when its delegation visited the State some 10 days ago, the VHP raised certain questions about the role played by a section of the Muslims in fanning communal sentiments in the country.

The Parivar leaders, by responding to the invitations issued by the NCM during its earlier visit and agreeing to constitute a representative committee for discussions with the Muslim leaders, have given enough indications that it was not averse to holding talks with the minorities.

The 16-member committee set up by the Muslim leaders to represent the minorities, however, would attend the meeting at which the security adviser to the Chief Minister, K.P.S. Gill, would be present. The delegation is also scheduled to meet the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, to represent their views.

The groundwork for the peace initiatives was being prepared by Mr. Gill and the new Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, K.R. Kaushik, who had undertaken the confidence-building exercise. While Mr. Gill, who is virtually deputising for the Chief Minister, held a meeting with some of the organisers of the minority relief camps for the riot victims, Mr. Kaushik visited the largest relief camp, Shah Alam Roza, personally inquiring about the FIRs filed by the victims.

While the Janata Dal (United) took out a peace march in Broach today, an all-religion prayer meeting for peace in the State was organised at the Shivanand Ashram here where the representatives of all religions were present.

The improvement in the situation has also encouraged the State revenue department to initiate steps to undertake a detailed survey of the damaged houses in the worst-hit Naroda-Patia locality where more than 90 people were burnt alive on February 28.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Patna-bound train derails, 12 killed

'Indications of sabotage'

Peace moves gain momentum

Ansari reveals links with Omar Sheikh

Ganguly cannot sue me: Sinha

Upgraded MiGs to fly again

Information not being withheld: Mayawati

Pak. troops resort to firing

Cosmodrome roof collapses

Blast in bottling plant