Reactions From Hindu Right Leaders in India and New York
Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, on the riots:
The Indian-American Hindu right groups have mostly remained silent on the question of Gujarat. There are a few references to the Godra train killings but an expected silence about the more than1,000 murders, arson , and rape in Gujarat afterwards. Vishwa Hindu Parishad America (World Hindu Council America):
On February 28, 2002
A later press release in March reads: Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) strongly condemns the barbaric attack and torching of Hindu pilgrims in Sabarmati Express in Godhara and the despicable violence in its aftermath.Hinduunity.org, a militant Hindu website doesn't talk about the violence either but links counter claims against Biju Matthew and the Committee Against Genocide. It also features Matthew on a Hindu Hit List.
Ashok Singhal, President, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) on Gujarat riots: "What happened in Gujarat after the Godhra carnage had the blessings of lord Rama. The VHP would not rest and prepare for any sacrifice till the Ram temple in Ayodhya was built." Indian Express, Delhi-based English Newspaper.
On former Parliamentarian Ehsan Jafri's murder:
Modi also said that Jaffri had fired in the air with a personal weapon when confronted by the mob. This, he said, had further incensed the mob.
“With the entire population of Gujarat very angry at what happened in Godhra much worse was expected”.-- Narendra Modi at a Press Conference in Gujarat, Feb 28.
“Asked about the violence, Modi quoted Newton's third law – ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’ - to virtually justify what is happening.
-- The Times of India, March 3, 2002.
Gujarat Police Commissioner, P.C. Pande: "Police were not insulated from the general social milieu… (When) there’s a change in the perception of society, the police are part of it and there’s bound to be some contagion effect." -– The Telegraph, March 2, 2002
Professor Keshavram Kashiram Shastri, 96-year-old chairman of the Gujarat unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad: "In the morning we sat down and prepared the list (of shops owned by Muslims in Ahmedabad). It had to be done, it had to be done. We don't like it, but we were terribly angry. Lust and anger are blind. The rioters were well-bred Hindu boys.
“From Godhra to Ahmedabad, in so many places, there are so many incidents of people being burnt alive, including helpless women and children. This is a blot on nation’s forehead and has grievously harmed India’s image in the eyes of the world”.-- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister of India, statement on March 3, 2002.
Blog by Ramesh Rao, an Indian-American supporter of the pro-Modi groups, who is a professor of communication at Truman State University.
Listen to Biju Mathew speak about organizing against Modi's visit to the U.S.Look at a photo essay of the riots in Gujarat
Posted by VVG 10:41 AM
Labels: Ashok Singhal, Basharat, clips, Gujarat, press, quotes
