Fast Day 2: Modi faces victims’ ire
Activist Mallika Sarabhai is detained in Ahmedabad ahead of her planned protest against chief minister Narendra Modi’s fast .
Gujarat chief minister Nar-endra Modi faced uncomfortable questions about his role in the 2002 riots from its victims on Sunday, the second day of his three-day fast, when he refused to accept moral responsibility for the carnage.
In an open letter to Mr Modi, the riot victims dismissed his fast as a “political stunt”, saying there could be no “sadbhavana” without justice.
At least 25 riot victims and activists, including celebrated dancer Mallika Sarabhai, were on detained Sunday as they were barred from protesting against Mr Modi’s fast in the Naroda area, just 8 km from the fast site at Gujarat University. Naroda Patiya witnessed some of the worst killings in 2002. Ms Sarabhai said later her detention was illegal as “no reason” was given.
A large crowd had gathered at the fast venue, and the police at one point resorted to a lathicharge to control people who were trying to enter the convention centre.
The JD(U), an NDA ally, meanwhile, said Mr Modi had failed to follow “rajdharma” in Gujarat. JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said in Patna: “When he (Mr Modi) can’t do justice with five crore people of a state, how will he be able to deliver justice to 125 crore (people) of the country.”
The open letter, written on the riot victims’ behalf by an NGO, Jan Sangharsh Manch, read: “No amount of power or arrogance gave Midas his glass of water, nor will you get your sadbhavana with all your development publicity.”
Saying there cannot be “sadbhavana” without justice, it added: “You may be doing all this for your great ambition to become Prime Minister, but we have only one small demand: Justice.”
Mr Modi’s fast has again turned the spotlight on his role in the post-Godhra riots. On Sunday, when asked if he accepted “moral responsibility” for the killings, he shot back: “What is this thing? You people like to stretch such a lie... I have talked about it elaborately in my letter.”
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