ID :
207884
Sun, 09/18/2011 - 21:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/207884
The shortlink copeid
Modi hedges questions on whether he takes moral responsibility for post-Godhra violence
Ahmedabad, Sep 18 (PTI) Questions about the 2002 riots
returned to haunt Narendra Modi on the second day of his fast
with the western Indian state Gujarat Chief Minister hedging
on whether he accepted moral responsibility for the
post-Godhra violence that claimed the lives of many Muslims.
One of the key allies of National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) which is not in tune with Modi
and decided not to join his fast, Sunday came out openly
against him, saying a person who has "failed to follow
Rajdharma" with the six crore people of his state won't be
able to do justice with 125 crore people of the country.
At least 25 persons, including activist Mallika
Sarabhai, were detained as 2002 Gujarat riot victims were
Sunday barred in Naroda area from protesting against Modi's
fast for communal harmony.
A combative Modi retorted "What is this thing?" when a
reporter asked him whether he accepted moral responsibility
for the violence that took place in Gujarat in 2002 after the
Sabarmati train carnage. "You people like to stretch such a
lie that you like."
Asked in what way he would regret the killings that took
place in the state then, he only said, "I have talked about it
elaborately in my letter today. I had made a statement then
also, but you people forgot it when it is truth. You (the
media) are always looking for gossip and if you like a lie,
you stretch it to any extent."
In an open letter to the countrymen on the eve of his
fast, Modi had stated in what was being interpreted as the
first sign of regret for 2022 riots that "as a Chief Minister
of the state, pain of anybody in the state is my pain.
(Delivering) Justice to everyone is the duty of the state."
To a question, Modi denied that he was celebrating the
Supreme Court order on the Ehsan Jafri murder case and instead
said he was merely fasting.
"Who is celebrating? I am only fasting. Is this
celebration? And what verdict are you talking about. Has there
been a single FIR against Modi in any police station. Has Modi
been named in any case on the Gujarat violence?," he instead
questioned.
On whether he wanted to play a bigger role in national
politics, Modi said "Every chief minister is playing a role in
national politics. I am already working for my country and
doing it a service."
Asked specifically on whether he intended to play a
bigger role within the BJP, Modi humbly said, "I am small
party worker. I am working for Gujarat, I am working for my
party and for my country."
About his refernece to "genuine mistakes" during the last
10 years and whether this was his way of expressing regret for
the 2002 riots, Modi side-stepped a direct response saying
no individual can claim to be perfect.
He said while constructive criticism is always welcome in
a democracy, allegations without any basis being repeated
again and again served no purpose.
At least 25 persons, including post Godhra riot victims
of Naroda Patiya area, Mukul Sinha of NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch
(JSM) and Sarabhai were detained when they tried to protest
against Modi's Sadbhavana fast in Naroda area, police said
Sunday.
Naroda Patiya had witnessed the worst ever riots incident
in 2002, when more than 90 people were killed.
"Police tried to prohibit riot victims meeting at Naroda
Patiya by denying permission today," JSM convener Sinha told
reporters before being detained by the police.
Police has cordoned off the Naroda Patiya area to stop
the riot victims from attending the meeting, Sinha said
adding, "The real face of Modi's Sadbhavana is now exposed."
A large number of people tried to enter Modi's fast
venue-the Gujarat University Convention hall here-and police
resorted to baton-charge to control them.
The large crowd turnout prompted BJP leader Shahnawaz
Hussain, among the several BJP leaders who descended at the
venue, to say that Muslims in Gujarat have accepted Modi's
governance.
"The perception of BJP and Modi being anti-minority is
not correct. The fact is that Muslims in Gujarat are
progressing," he said.
returned to haunt Narendra Modi on the second day of his fast
with the western Indian state Gujarat Chief Minister hedging
on whether he accepted moral responsibility for the
post-Godhra violence that claimed the lives of many Muslims.
One of the key allies of National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) which is not in tune with Modi
and decided not to join his fast, Sunday came out openly
against him, saying a person who has "failed to follow
Rajdharma" with the six crore people of his state won't be
able to do justice with 125 crore people of the country.
At least 25 persons, including activist Mallika
Sarabhai, were detained as 2002 Gujarat riot victims were
Sunday barred in Naroda area from protesting against Modi's
fast for communal harmony.
A combative Modi retorted "What is this thing?" when a
reporter asked him whether he accepted moral responsibility
for the violence that took place in Gujarat in 2002 after the
Sabarmati train carnage. "You people like to stretch such a
lie that you like."
Asked in what way he would regret the killings that took
place in the state then, he only said, "I have talked about it
elaborately in my letter today. I had made a statement then
also, but you people forgot it when it is truth. You (the
media) are always looking for gossip and if you like a lie,
you stretch it to any extent."
In an open letter to the countrymen on the eve of his
fast, Modi had stated in what was being interpreted as the
first sign of regret for 2022 riots that "as a Chief Minister
of the state, pain of anybody in the state is my pain.
(Delivering) Justice to everyone is the duty of the state."
To a question, Modi denied that he was celebrating the
Supreme Court order on the Ehsan Jafri murder case and instead
said he was merely fasting.
"Who is celebrating? I am only fasting. Is this
celebration? And what verdict are you talking about. Has there
been a single FIR against Modi in any police station. Has Modi
been named in any case on the Gujarat violence?," he instead
questioned.
On whether he wanted to play a bigger role in national
politics, Modi said "Every chief minister is playing a role in
national politics. I am already working for my country and
doing it a service."
Asked specifically on whether he intended to play a
bigger role within the BJP, Modi humbly said, "I am small
party worker. I am working for Gujarat, I am working for my
party and for my country."
About his refernece to "genuine mistakes" during the last
10 years and whether this was his way of expressing regret for
the 2002 riots, Modi side-stepped a direct response saying
no individual can claim to be perfect.
He said while constructive criticism is always welcome in
a democracy, allegations without any basis being repeated
again and again served no purpose.
At least 25 persons, including post Godhra riot victims
of Naroda Patiya area, Mukul Sinha of NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch
(JSM) and Sarabhai were detained when they tried to protest
against Modi's Sadbhavana fast in Naroda area, police said
Sunday.
Naroda Patiya had witnessed the worst ever riots incident
in 2002, when more than 90 people were killed.
"Police tried to prohibit riot victims meeting at Naroda
Patiya by denying permission today," JSM convener Sinha told
reporters before being detained by the police.
Police has cordoned off the Naroda Patiya area to stop
the riot victims from attending the meeting, Sinha said
adding, "The real face of Modi's Sadbhavana is now exposed."
A large number of people tried to enter Modi's fast
venue-the Gujarat University Convention hall here-and police
resorted to baton-charge to control them.
The large crowd turnout prompted BJP leader Shahnawaz
Hussain, among the several BJP leaders who descended at the
venue, to say that Muslims in Gujarat have accepted Modi's
governance.
"The perception of BJP and Modi being anti-minority is
not correct. The fact is that Muslims in Gujarat are
progressing," he said.
