[Reader-list] from Ahmedabad

[vidya shah]

here is a first account of what happened in Ahmedabad.
Vidya

The last 36 hours in Ahmedabad:

Yesterday was Gujarat bandh and so most of the shops, business, offices were 
shut and so was traffic on the road. After Narendra Modi's statement about 
how the act of burning the Sabarmati express was a "sinful" one and all 
those who were involved will have to "pay", people in Ahmedabad started 
burning and looting shops of people from Muslim community. (few other shops 
were also looted, such as "pantaloon", but this was basically looting 
exercise). Shops in our area (Paldi, near National Institute of Design) 
belonging to Muslims such as the Bakery, Laundry, Stationary and of 
Mechanics were targeted with a plan and burnt down. This went on till late 
evening. I could see smoke from all directions from my roof top. Our area is 
basically  middle class locality (which is normally suppose to not indulge 
in such activities!!)

Today morning I decided to see from my own eyes as yesterday around 12.30 
our cable network broke down (Deliberate!?) Our only source of getting news 
was from phone calls or word of mouth (lots of rumors). Just a few minutes 
ago I went on my motorcycle and saw two mosques which has been burnt down. 
In one of the mosques (Bhattha locality) they have installed photographs and 
calendars of "Hanuman". There are hand painted boards which announce that 
this is a temple of "Hulladia Hanuman" (In Gujarati hullad means "Riot "). 
Another mosque is 50 meters away from police station (Fatehpura area) and 
still there is smoke coming from it. In one-kilometer radius I saw about 20 
shops burnt down and when I am writing this (11.02 am) one residential flat 
is burning and there is no police or fire fighters either.

The minority community is really scared and I am sure has migrated from this 
area as Hindu's and Jain's are in majority here. Prakash Shah of Movement of 
Secular Democracy, got many phone calls from this community asking him to do 
something as police was nowhere in site.

On radio or TV only state machinery is being projected, I think the "Other 
Voices" need to be amplified in such situation. I suggest few names. Prakash 
Shah of (MSC), Movement of Secular Democracy (Ex. Editor of Jansatta) Tel : 
(079) 6562806, Indubhai Jani of Gujarat Khet Vikas Parishad tel : 7557772 
(0), 6303415 ®, Chunibhai Vaidya also from MSC, Navalbhai Shah, Ex. 
Education Minister, Tel : 7559383, Dr. D.N.Pathak, Gujarat Vidyapith.

Parthiv Shah
11.23 am 1 March 2002
Ahmedabad
















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