Describing the horror and horrible incidents of Gujarat riots 2002, the daughter of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the riots, Nishrin Jafri said that we are told to forget and forgive the tragedy of Gujarat riots. How can we forget such horrible incidents of burning people alive, brutal murder and rape? She said that she remembers everything that happened in Gujarat 2002; she can’t forget it.
She was speaking at a programme on ‘Remembering 15 Years of Gujarat Riots’ at Constitution Club in New Delhi on 28 February. The programme was held by ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) for remembering the Gujarat riots. Zakiya Jafri (wife of Ehsan Jafri), Harsh Mander (former Gujarat IAS officer), Teesta Setalvad (a social activist who is fighting for the riots survivors), Prof. Apoorvanand Jha (DU professor and social activist), Prof. Manoj Jha and Nishrin Jafri addressed the gathering.
Remembering her memories in Gujarat, Nishrin Jafri said she has an album of photos with her friends. When she sees the album, she gets that in every photo, one girl is lost and others are homeless. It is very painful for being homeless for a girl. She recounted her father’s kind and good behaviour. She also recounted how her father saved her in 1969 Gujarat riots. She also said that whenever election comes, she is afraid that anything may happen. She asks: is this democracy? Jafri, who is living now in US, also revealed that when she tried to buy a piece of land in Ahmedabad to build home, she was denied.
Speaking on Gujarat riots, Teesta Setalvad, who is fighting for justice for the riot survivors, said that the riots were not broken out suddenly but it was a pre-planned conspiracy by Hindutva forces. A lot of evidences are there that show that it was pre-planned. Gas cylinders were brought in Gujarat before 15 days of Godhra incident. The post-mortems of Godhra incident’s deceased were conducted publicly to provoke the people. She also said that she used to go to Gujarat before the riots; she had a feeling that something big was going to happen in Gujarat.
Former Gujarat IAS officer Harsh Mander said that it is said that the then chief minister Narendra Modi has been given clean chit from the riots. It is incorrect. He was only cleared for that he did not issue orders for riots. There was no evidence left to prove it. Mander alleged that the former CM was responsible for the riots to take place and continue for a month. He also saluted Zakia Jafri, who is fighting for justice for her husband. He said anyone who deserves Bharat Ratna today is Zakia Jafri. The way she fought for justice in such an old age is praiseworthy.
Relating the Ramjas College violence to Gujarat riots, Apoorvanand Jha, a Delhi University Professor, said the kind of reaction we had seen in Gujarat riots, we saw a piece of it recently at Delhi University. They said Muslims were playing victimhood card in Gujarat; now they are saying the same thing about Ramjas College violence. He also said that sensitivities have been divided into Hindu and Muslim. And Hindus don’t understand the sensitivity of Muslims. This is a big challenge for us to deal.
Narrating a story of communal atmosphere, Shabnam Hashmi, a well-known social activist, said that her organisation ANHAD holds a communal harmony event every year in memory of Vasant and Rajab in their village. They were friends and they died in 1946 communal riots while saving each other. In a programme, she told all Hindu children to visit Muslims’ home and Muslims to Hindus’. They had not visited each other’s houses for years because of some communal fear. But they found there was everything same and they stopped fearing each other. The majority community is being made scared of Muslims by communal groups. This kind of situation is being created all over the country.
Zakiya Jafri and Prof. Manoj Kumar also addressed the gathering. Zakiya Jafri could not speak more because of her ill health. But she extended thanks to all for supporting her.