Skip to main content

Gujarat epicentre of targeted violence against minorities, says compilation of 55 'attacks'

By Our Representative 

Last year as many as 55 “attacks” on minority communities in Gujarat took place, a compilation of each of these incidents by a state civil rights group has said. Compiled by the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC), a report enumerating these incidents was released in Ahmedabad at a meeting of around 70 minority community leaders from different districts of Gujarat.
Before releasing the compilation, district leaders spoke about recent atrocities committed against the minority people in their respective districts, agreeing on the need for a coordinated effort to stop the atrocities against the minority community in future and what should be done to protect minority rights “as per the Constitution of the country.”
Claiming that the minority community has been “pushed on the margins” of the mainstream society, MCC in its introduction to the report, titled "Targeted: Documenting Incidents Affecting Minorities in Gujarat", which carries the compilation, said, main aim of the organisation is to “promote and protect the rights of minority communities and advance social justice, equity, and inclusion for all”, even as envisioning a society where diversity is celebrated and differences are respected, where individuals can live their lives without fear of discrimination, harassment, or prejudice.”
As for the compilation, the report claimed, they show that “Gujarat has been the epicentre of targeted violence against minorities”, pointing out, “The nature of violence has now changed.” Thus, while “earlier the violence was prominently in big cities”, now violence has “reached the villages.”
It underlined, “In particular, religious festivals, which are occasions of social harmony, were also used by communal organizations as opportunities for violence against minorities”, adding, “Through this report, we are bringing out different incidents of 2022 in the hope that we understand the destructive designs and work better together for communal harmony and peace.”
Mujahid Nafees, convener, MCC, said, the incidents of violence against minority community people qwew taken from local newspapers, mainly “Gujarat Today”, run by a minority community leader of Ahmedabad. “We have compiled newspaper cuttings as proof of violence”, he said, adding, “It is most disconcerting that over the three few, religious festivals, which have been symbols of communal unity, are also being used to divide society.”
The date-wise compilation starts with an incident on January 1, 2022, in which a Muslim auto driver was stopped at the gate of a society by a security guard in Ahmedabad. After knowing that the auto driver was a Muslim, he was abused, and dogs were let loose on him. He was threatened not to lodge complaints with the police, lest he would not be spared.
The last incident in the compilation is of December 30, 2023, when, in Junagadh, BJP leader Raman Vora openly stated that those Muslims who will not vote for BJP, their water and electricity connections would be cut and demolition will be done in their areas.
The incidents compiled are not just confined to the Muslim community. Thus, in one incident, there was violent attack allegedly by Hindu fringe elements, in which the house of a Christian community person in Makarpura extension of Vadodara was vandalised and a person dressed as Santa Claus was killed.
Also included in the compilation how, following violence in Borsad village of Anand district due to an attack on two Muslim boys with knives at midnight “in an attempt to kill them”, the police fired 30 rounds of rubber bullets and 50 shells of tear gas, and “took unilateral action only against Muslims.”
Then, the compilation shows how, during Ram Navami procession at various places in Gujarat, one person died in Khambhat district of Anand, following which police fired tear gas and shops and vehicles of Muslims were set on fire, and the huts of four Muslims were demolished with bulldozer. However, “the police took unilateral action against the Muslims”, and did not “even register an FIR on behalf of the Muslims.”
Giving details of the incidents which took place in 2023, which are now in the process of being compiled, Nafees advised participating leaders to be vigilant against attempts of certain sections to spread hatred against the community.
“We must videograph, wherever possible, hate speeches delivered against minorities. We must try to document each incident. We must be equipped with better understanding of the law and the Constitution in order seek justice from the law and order authorities, including courts, he insisted.

Comments

TRENDING

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas*  In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023. 

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

'Ambiguous policy': India late in advocating EVs as energy storage in national grid

By Shankar Sharma*  This is regarding the points raised by the Chief Electricity Authority’s (CEA's) advocacy for usage of electrical vehicles (EVs) as energy storage technology, and few associated issues . An objective reading of what he states should reiterate the enormously growing importance of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in our need to transition to a net-zero carbon scenario for the country.

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.

How national chauvinism 'overtook' sport despite cricketing glory of World Cup 2023

By Harsh Thakor*  The recently-concluded cricket World Cup was a testimony or manifestation of the thrills, intensity, twists and turns in sport and evolution of the game of cricket. It carried on the trend of the World Cups of yesteryears. Possibly, this was the best ever Indian team in a World Cup, and arguably amongst the best ever to contest a World Cup.