Godhra

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February 25, 2002,Sabarmati Express , carrying a group of Hindu pilgrims from Ayodhya reached Godhra. A group of Muslim men were waiting for the train. Some one in the train pulled the emergency brake chain and attackers stormed the train. The coaches were set to flames. 40 of the 58 deaths were of women and children charred on board. The following days, it was the Hindus' turn. Mobs fanned out through Muslim neighborhoods in Gujarat, organized mobs of youths, mostly belonging to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its affiliates, carefully picking out Muslim homes and businesses, murdering their inhabitants and looting and burning the premises. They did not even spare women and children. The aim was to pulverize the weaker opponent (Muslims) physically, economically and emotionally. On the 27th the VHP announced a bandh for the following day, and the ruling BJP gave their support signaling the go ahead to the VHP storm troopers to take action. The next few days saw some of the worst examples of barbaric violence Gujarat has witnessed since the partition of India. Mobs took to the streets murdering, looting, pillaging and burning anything that was remotely Muslim. Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat, was one of the worst cities to be affected. Muslim owned shops, restaurants, business, houses and even blocks of apartments were systematically sought out, looted and burnt. If humans got in their path then they too were treated like their belongings and burnt alive. The government informed the Rajya Sabha that 254 Hindus and 790 Muslims were killed in Gujarat in the post Godhra riots of 2002.Stating this in a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal said a total of 223 people were reported missing, 2,548 sustained injuries, 919 were rendered widows and 606 children were orphaned during the riots. These where the official report but on the ground hundreans more might have died, thousands more injured, homeless and effected in one way or the other Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, violence took place in the state claiming hundreds of lives.Subsequent reports from several independent human rights organisations have claimed that Modi and his ministers instructed Gujarat's police officers not to obstruct the mobs. The National Human Rights Commission criticised the government, pointing to "a comprehensive failure on the part of the State Government of Gujarat to control persistent violations of rights". These claims have been rejected by Modi, and the BJP and its supporters have attacked the reports as being politically motivated. A judicial commission constituted to examine allegations of Gujarat state administration's involvement in the riots of 2002 has twice so far said that there was no evidence "as yet" to implicate either Modi or his administration in the riots. Modi or no Modi what happened in Gujarat was a disgrace to our nation. Makes me ashamed to say that i am an Indian. Our nation takes pried in being one of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world. Unity in diversity used to be our trademark. These acts of hatred are triggered by a few anti social elements. When there is fear in the mind of humans its easy to manipulate their minds. As a result friends were turned into foes. For our country to move forward we must make sure that nothing happens to the secularity. Hindus, Muslims, Christians….should be able to live together in peace. No community should life fearing the worst could happen any time. Religious harmony is a very important thing. All of us should respect every religion and let people follow the religion of their choice. Recently what happened in 2002 was almost repeated but cause of the intervention of the central government peace was restored (may be its too soon to say). To fight in the name of religion is one of the most meaning less fight, after all the basis of every religion is love, peace, and so on. No God will tell his/her followers to fight for him\her name. God would rather not exist rather than see people fighting in his name. All of us should understand this and try to make sure that peace is always maintained.India needs its citizens to be united, so that she develops and become a world leader. No is can stop us from being a super power if all of us stay united no matter what.