4, March 2002 Massacre
in Gujarat
Horrific scenes of burnt neighborhoods, trains attacked
and passengers bludgeoned in Ahmedabad and Godhra has tarnished India's image.
Neither Muslims nor Hindus can claim the moral high
ground. Blatant partiality towards the Hindu majority was clearly visible. Police
stood by as idle spectators while angry mobs pillaged, plundered, torched homes and slaughtered
innocent victims including women and children. No senior official came to
console the Muslim survivors. The chief minister of Gujrat fueled the passions
of the angry mobs by heaping all the blame on the Muslims. The terrified survivors were denied water, clothes
and blankets. At the local cemetery dead
children were dumped unceremoniously without mourners and claimants. In
a cruel twist of logic and compassion, the Government offered Rs200,000 to the Hindu families and only Rs100,000 ($2050) to
Muslim families claiming that the Muslim attacks were perpetrated by
terrorists and the Hindus were only guilty of ethnic violence!
The
BJP and their supporters must bear much of the responsibility for the carnage
that took place. Political leaders, most notably L K Advani,
encouraged the demolition of the mosque built by the Mogul conqueror, Barbur.
Tragically, scores of people have perished following the destruction of the
mosque in 1992 - the supposed site of the Hindu God, Ram.
Such senseless violence dishonors the memory of Mohandas
Gandhi who championed sectarian harmony. Mosques and temples are
built to honor God. Their destruction diminishes us all.
India is Balkanized by myriad religious, languages,
castes and racial groups. We must learn to live together and respect our
diversity, democratic ideals and secularism. Failure to do so will further
disintegrate our fragile union.
