** Gujarat **

(Penned in Oct 07)

Tehelka has come out with another sting operation. This time on the Gujarat riot that happened in 2002. Many of VHP and RSS stalwarts have gone on record saying how the Muslims were massacred and how Modi turned a blind eye to all such happenings. Some have even quoted Modi as saying, "...all I can give is just three days and not more" !! The murderers explanation on how they went about killing muslims is chilling. Its difficult to become so cruel and heartless. There is no justification for the Godhara incident (Congress wants the world to believe that Godhra incident was not due to Muslim fanaticism!! Lucky people are sane, atleast a bit). At the same time there is no justification for the riots that followed Godhra. If it had been the extremists and terrorists who were killed in the riots, the world, would have been a bit more safer. Alas, that is always not to be - because the extremists always know what is coming and they know the knacks of the trade. They are the first one to seek safe havens as soon as any riots break out. Its always the innocent common man - irrespective of caste and creed - who get caught in the mele.

Narendra Modi has been an excellent administrator and has taken Gujarat leaps and bounds towards growth path (atleast as per the stats that the media throws out!). But that can not be given as an excuse for the carnage that he committed. When he had the opportunity to save hundreds of innocent lives, he didnt ! Thats sin!