By RINA,
New Delhi: After Supreme Court order to inquire Narendera Modi’s role in Gujarat riot, he said, “Better hang me but do not send me to jail.” But what about lakh of riot-affected Muslims wandering here and there like lifeless bodies? Political parties are busy in elections and law requires enormous time.
Welcoming Supreme Court directive to inquire Modi’s role, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said: “This is one more step towards justice with oppressed people. If it was possible for me I would have sent Narendera Modi behind bars in 2002.”
Justifying Supreme Court decision, Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Pawan said: “BJP has made Modi its star campaigner but right place for Narendera Modi is in jail. In fact, he should have been there.”
Meanwhile, All India Milli Council (AIMC) has issued a skeptical note: “After all state administration and Special Investigation Team (SIT) is going to play crucial role in this legal process. Some hope for legal action against Modi has kindled but court action and verdict in delivery of justice depends much on paperwork by plaintiff” AIMC general secretary Dr. Manzoor Alam said.
AIMC general secretary further said, “In the light of so many previous experiences, it is clear that present action taken by court encompasses hopefulness as well as apprehensions and fears.”
Hinting at Sangh Parivar’s expertise in blinding the law through deception and fabrication, he said, “Lest Modi and his supporters who have full faith in falsity and trickery succeed in obtaining clean chit from the court. But lakh of Gujarati citizens, like Miraz Ahmad, who have been worst affected by 2002 riot are unconcerned with these developments. More than one and a half lakh Muslims, who not only lost about 1500 close relatives but also their habitats and means of livelihood are still roaming in the city as an invisible entity for election campaigners.
Miraz Ahmad was a bit luckier. He lost no relatives as a Hindu neighbour had warned him about imminent riot. He sold his house as well as all his belongings for mere two and a half lakh to his kind neighbour.
Before riot, Miraz Ahmad was proprietor of an embroidery workshop earning fifteen to twenty thousand rupees per month. Now he has only five sewing machines but no nearby market. The school where his children study will be demolished soon. Municipal Corporation will construct a new road for new bus service to industrial centers. “Though life cannot stop for me but sometimes it feels as if I am a living corpse” he said.
Ali, earlier an auto rickshaw driver and now a security guard, says: “No political parties did anything for us. Muslims are only ten per cent in the state.” Zarrin Aslam Bhai is nowadays busy in preparing banners for political parties, 70 paisa per banner. Political parties’ calculated silence even seven years after the riot only endorses that mandate has no meaning for these devastated people.