The Hindu : The Gujarat verdict

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 25, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

The Gujarat verdict

Sir, — What we had feared has come to pass. The BJP has been returned to power in Gujarat. The Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, incessantly summoned up the image of "five crore Gujaratis," who, he hammered home, had been "defamed" across the world. The Gujaratis in question were exclusively Hindus, as they were repeatedly counterpoised to the nine per cent "outsiders" - "Mian Musharraf's" terrorists. By thus painting himself as the sole defender of the beleaguered majority community, Mr. Modi captured its vote. If at all the community harbours any guilt for its recent misdeeds, that can only have helped him.

The Congress made a sorry spectacle, giving up the battle before it was begun. It too saw Gujarat as a Hindu province and appealed to its people on the ground of its version of Hindutva. There will be no justice soon for those Gujaratis who were grievously wronged. But that is no reason to abandon the work, which many have been doing, of collecting evidence and testimonies and preparing the ground for eventual action. We shall do well to remember that history, though it may take its own time, will one day come around to bring Narendra Modi and his cohorts to justice.

Mukul Dube,

New Delhi

Sir, — The BJP's recent victory in Gujarat is treated as a victory of fundamentalism over secularism by the press and various hues of politicians. The growth of fundamentalism in the past two decades (whether majority or minority) is the result of the perverse definition of secularism by politicians and the press to suit them. If the people are divided into religious majority and minority, the term `secularism' loses its spirit and force in the Constitution. If the Constitution defines minority as a religious minority, it is strongly suggested that the clause be deleted through an amendment. It is the minority status (that is accorded to the religious minorities) that is giving them the feeling of insecurity. It is imperative that all citizens are given equal status and the opportunities enshrined in the Fundamental Principles of the Constitution.

D. Manikyala Rao,

Gudivada, A.P.

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