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1. A Prelude - By Dolatbhai Mehta
Ahmedabad bound
Sabarmati Express, carrying the Ramsevaks returning from Ayodhya after
performing pooja, was attacked and burnt on the 27th Feb.
at Godhra in Gujarat. Humanity all over the world shuddered to hear
about the heinous incidence that caused a slur on humanity. Innocent,
unarmed men, women and children were set on fire and some one had the
audacity to watch them burning.
Out of the total
death toll of 607, almost 99 people died of police firing. The crores of
rupees worth of properties that were burnt down did not belong to any
one community. By no means, the loss of properties, employment, shelters
of poor, can be justified. Everybody has to condemn it without any
prejudice. Muslim community, especially the intellectuals within Muslim
community, should realize that, in order to fulfill its evil designs,
Pakistan is interested to flare up communal passions in such a way that
ultimately Muslim community in India will be its victim. Why does a
society that shows great sense of unity during natural calamities, split
into such an animosity? What are the root causes? It is a national
responsibility of both the communities to analyze these questions
honestly and put forward the answers in front of the society.
This is not a
reaction to mere Godhra incidence. It is a systematic pattern of series
of events like Kargil, hijacking of Indian Airline plane, Attack on
Jammu and Kashmir assembly and Indian Parliament, capture of RDX and
other weapons at various places and series of bomb blasts. We need to
break this pattern in order to protect security and integrity of this
country and national self-respect.
It is not a question of which party is ruling the state. Various parties
were in ruling this state during communal riots. Hindu society behaved
in a uniform way during both natural calamities and communal riots.
Brotherly relations with Hindu society, respect for Hindu sentiments and
expression of patriotism, are some simple ways to win hearts of Hindus
and that itself would guarantee safety and security of Muslim community.
Ahmedabad
14 March, 2002 |
