Dadri lynching - my thoughts

Weekend morning drive is always a pleasant one for me. Whether it is a short drive or long drive, it doesn’t matter. Roads are free, no wait at signals and I can freely think about anything. This morning when I read what Arvind Kejriwal said about Dadri lynching, connected to me instantly. Soon after that, I was driving my daughter to Tamizh school and had been mulling about the same. Was he really right? Or is it another political drivel? I wanted to ponder more on that. Let’s look at two violent things that had happened in the last 30+ years. 

 

Aftermath of Indira’s assassination (1984)

 

 

 

The first thing that is vivid to me was the pogrom that followed Indira’s assassination. Indira was killed by her own two (Sikh) guards on Oct 31st. The violence started exactly 31 years ago today and continued for 3 days. The key figures Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and HKL Bhagat were seen distributing money, arms and kerosene to several groups to incite violence against Sikhs. It was a planned attack with the help of Delhi police for the next three days. Nearly 3000 sikhs were killed.

Former central minister Jagdish Tytler was worried that very small amount of Sikhs were killed in his constituency, which in his opinion had undermined his position in the ruling Indian National Congress party of India. MP Sajjan Kumar was spotted in a white jeep commanding the mob on the streets to destroy Sikhs’ property, family and kids. Late minister H.K.L. Bhagat was seen giving money and assurance to not worry about the aftermath but continue inciting violence. Mob was rolling on the streets with the chants, “Teach Sikhs a lesson.” Tires were garlanded on Sikhs and burnt alive.

 

In Feb 2005 Nanavati commission submitted its report. None of the three were punished. Above all that, soon after Rajiv sworn in as PM, he answered to a reporter’s question as, “When a large tree falls, earth is bound to shake” justifying the riots. It is a complete shame to India even today. Only in India can a PM can get away saying it. 1984 December election, India voted Rajiv with a thumping majority. 404 seats. Violence against Sikhs were not only forgiven but rather justified. The final report of 184 pages by Nanavati commission says that the mob’s anger is a valid one. Arvind Kejriwal was right. All those perpetrators should have been punished. Instead we turned a blind eye and decorated them as our guardian angels. Shame :(

 

Godhra riots and aftermath (2002)

 

 

 

On Feb 27th 2002, Sabarmathi express was on Godhra railway station. A group of Hindu pilgrims were returning from Ayodhya after performing “Purnahuti Maha Yagna” sponsored by VHP at a problematic site Babri Masjid. Four bogeys of Sabarmathi Express were set on fire by local Muslims and 59 pilgrims were burned to death. (A commission was set to inquire about this. 11 death penalties, 20 were sentenced to life imprisonment.) This triggered three days of inter-communal violence. Once again, it was a planned and orchestrated violence against Muslims. Nearly 800 Muslims and 250 Hindus were killed in this violence. Unofficial figure states 2000 Muslims were killed. 

 

[Unrelated but worth quoting: During this violence set ablaze, Bal Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena said "Muslims are a cancer to this country. Cancer is an incurable disease. Its only cure is operation. O Hindus, take weapons in your hands and remove this cancer from your roots".]

 

Media described that the state government didn’t do enough to stop the violence. It even said it’s a state sponsored terrorism than a communal violence. Investigation were a complete mess just like the Kanchi temple manager Sankarraman murder case. Haren Pandya who was a minister at that time was killed in suspicion. Mr. Pandya testified that a meeting was held in the evening of the Godhra train burning convened by the then Gujarat CM and the police were asked not to obstruct the Hindu rage. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom noted that minorities are subjected to mass killings periodically. It is my belief that the state government could have controlled the violence in but failed to do so. Yet again, Indians forgot, forgave and endorsed Godhra riots. Voted the then CM to become PM in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.

 

Indians forgive the crime-tainted political leaders (like Ms. Jayalalitha) without a second thought. Judicial systems work on a snail pace. It is hard to see a politician getting punished. Even if they did, they were given the bare minimum (Laloo Prasad Yadav). Kanchi temple manager Sankarraman case was the best example. 89 witnesses turned hostile. All the 24 accused were acquitted. The key aide Kathiravan was murdered. The investigation officer SP Premkumar died of heart attack (yeah right!).

 

Talking with a good friend of mine, he mentioned that the award returnees will be treated with good will if Congress returns to power in the next Lok Sabha elections. He is right. India is plagued with favoritism and nepotism.

 

Finally, if only the mass murderers and perpetrators are punished severely and banished, incidents like Dadri lynching will not happen again. I can only yearn for Pandiya King Neduncheliyan who gave his life after realizing his grave mistake of killing Kovalan.