Nerve Endings Firing Away

The post-Godhra Gujarat riots in 2002 has been considered as one of the grisliest communal strifes of post-Independence India. This religious strife was labeled thus because of alleged collusion of the Narendra Modi-led administration that literally gave a free hand to rioters. At the end of three days, nearly 2000 Muslims lay dead murdered brutally in one of India’s urban cities adversely affecting India’s psyche and put in doubt the country’s rise to prominence as a growing power in the world. However in spite of investigations, it was never conclusively proved that this allegation of pogrom was true because Modi called it as a spontaneous reaction to a premeditated terrorist attack on the train at Godhra station.

Tehelka, the magazine that pioneered the use of sting operation (unfortunately bastardized by other media outlets) and led to other politcal exposes has now compiled an exhaustive report on the Gujarat riots. I am still wading through the various reports that give you a chilling account of what actually went down and this is entirely in the words of the people who perpetuated those crimes. Tehelka’s reporter, Ashish Khetan spent six months undercover as a pro-Hindutva researcher investigating and talking to the people who carried out the attacks against Muslims. The revelations are mind-numbing and make you shake your head in disbelief and horror to the extent man can fall in causing harm to his fellow beings. So much for being civilized and be considered as a country of ‘rich and varied heritage’.

Although Tehelka’s political leanings are well known, the truth so evident on videotape cannot be denied. Even if the sting operation was politically motivated and financed by Modi’s opposition (which I doubt it is), the people interviewed were in no way coerced into revealing all. I also fail to see any sense in the allegation that this expose was times to coincide with the Gujarat elections. If you know, the previous elections were also contested on the back of this riots leading many Hindus to vote for the BJP under the false pretense that only they could save them from the marauding Muslims. So do you think reminding the electorate of those days in addition to the economic success enjoyed by Gujarat is going to affect Modi’s chances? Elections in India can be driven primarily by local issues hence the dominance of several regional parties. The rationality of the voter can be a myth and the calling out to the moral sentiments of the people never works if it had benefited the people in the first place. How I wish that such politicans be voted out of power and reduced to obscurity. That, indeed would be Modi’s greatest punishment.

The other allegation of not focusing on Congress’s role in the 1984 riots is misplaced. Of course, that was an equally heinous incident and the culprits should be punished but that doesn’t make the actions of the Modi administration any justifiable. And if indeed the administration believes it has done nothing wrong or morally reprehensible, why has it muzzled the TV channels from showing the Tehelka tapes? [via Sepia Mutiny] I am surprised that such a thing can happen in a so-called democratic India.

As far as the allegation of why Gujarat and why not <insert any act of terrorism> goes, I don’t think anyone has ever stopped those individuals or any other media outlet from investigating other acts of terrorism. If Tehelka investigates Gujarat, you are free to investigate Kashmir, Delhi 1984, Bombay blasts 1993, and the more recent Hyderabad blasts 2007. More the merrier, right? Go and steal Tehelka’s thunder. We have plenty of acts of terror going around (unfortunately) to keep everyone busy for a long time.

Rohit at Retributions rightly calls for Modi’s ouster on the grounds that he has failed his moral and constitutional obligations. Modi, as evident in a recent Karan Thapar interview refuses to face the allegations and dodges direct questions pertaining to the 2002 riots. Resorting to the economic progress that the state has made in recent times should not keep us from asking about 2002 because in the end, morality and ethics are the only things that separates us from the beasts. Given the actions, I think even that comparison is woefully inadequate. I hope the Nanavati Commission investigating the riots takes this report into consideration before giving out their judgment.

Modi may ultimate retain power in Gujarat but I’m glad that Tehelka conducted this investigation. I was beginning to lose hope in the investigative abilities of the Indian media given their proclivities for frivolous news and penchant for taking credit where none is due. Now it is up to the people to consider the investigative reports and take action.