By TCN Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: Civil Society organizations, cultural groups, universities, students and activists across the National Capital, Delhi organized various events on Monday to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2002, Gujarat pogrom.
A group of Students from Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College of Delhi University, staged a street play during a programme organised by SAHMAT, an NGO engaged in spreading Communal Harmony in India. The street play called for justice to the victims of Gujarat riots. The play highlighted how the society was being exploited and divided on the lines of faith by vested interests. Stressing on the need for communal harmony and justice, Badri Raina, noted writer and academician, said that the Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi’s alleged involvement in the 2002 riots was known to everyone; but he said the victims of the carnage are still awaiting justice. “There is no meaning of reconciliation before justice is done,” he asserted. Along with the play, other cultural performances took place during the event, which was organised at SAHMAT’s office, 29, Ferozashah Road, Delhi.
At Jamia Millia Islamia, ‘Dr. K R Narayan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies’ organized a day long discussion on “Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparation) Bill, 2011”. The discussion was chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, and the opening remarks were made by the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Najeeb Jung. On this occasion, a documentary film titled “Why Riots” was shown, which was prepared by the students of the Centre. This was followed by the screening of ‘Days n Nights of Riots’, a decimal Presentation on Communal Violence from 1900-2000. The day long Discussion was carried out in four parts and attended by Academicians, MPs, Lawyers, Social Activists, Journalists, Representatives of NGOs, and representatives of Muslim Organizations.
Similarly, a number of civil society organisations and activists gathered at Samta Sthal, near Raj Ghat, and organised a solidarity march in memory of the victims of Gujarat pogrom and other communal violence. Noted human rights’ activist and member of National Integration Council (NIC), Dr. John Dayal, Editor of Afkare- Milli Urdu Monthly, Dr. S Q R Ilyas, representatives of various civil society organisations, Muslim and Christian groups spoke on this occasion, stressing on the need for justice to the victims of various communal violences across the country.
Meanwhile, Arch Bishop (of Delhi) Vincent M Concessao, on behalf of the Christian Community in Delhi wrote an open letter to the leaders of the Nation demanding Justice to All Victims of Communal Violence in India. “We express solidarity with the victims of the 2002 Gujarat violence against Muslims, and other acts of communal violence, and as we pay our homage to the dead in such violence, we demand the Union government and the Justice apparatus, including the High Courts and the Supreme Court to deliver Justice,” reads the letter. He also made an appeal for abiding peace through the implementation of ‘The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence’ [Access to Justice and Reparation] Bill 2011.