Gujarat riots verdict
The recent Indian special trial court’s ruling on the Naroda Patiya case of Gujarat communal riots is historic and exemplary in which 32 people were convicted including the former Gujarat minister and the BJP legislator from Naroda, Maya Kodnani, and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi. I would like to quote a sentence from the ruling given by the honorable designated judge Jyotsna Yagnik: “Had the former Gujarat minister and BJP MLA Maya Kodnani not instigated a mob, 96 persons from the minority community would not have been massacred in Naroda Patiya on Feb. 28, 2002.”
This verdict has come as a big blow to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who had earlier completely backed Kodnani until her arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Modi had even made her a minister in his government after she won the assembly elections of 2002 soon after the riots. He had then brushed aside all charges and allegations against Kodnani.
The worst 2002-Gujarat communal riots are a black spot on the face of the Indian democratic and secular structure, in which thousands of Muslims were killed as part of a deep conspiracy backed by the Modi’s BJP government. It has been revealed several times that the hard-liners belonging to various communal and extremist groups used to create confusion, misunderstanding and tension in different parts of the country time and again, and instigate people to come out for the destructive communal riots.
It is worth mentioning here that a number of honest, secular and peace-loving Hindus belonging to different sections of the society such as IPS, IAS officers, journalists, lawyers, social workers stood strongly behind the victims and fought for their rights risking their lives. Their extraordinary struggle and exemplary support is laudable. — Zakaria Sultan, Riyadh
US election
With the US election just around the corner, the Democrats and the Republicans are contesting who has done a good job and who has done a bad job at governing the country. However, observing the country’s development over the past several decades, it looks like the US economy has a way of healing itself, very much like a human lung, which heals the damages caused by smoking, when a person quits smoking.
With the US being a front-end developed country, left to itself, its economy should be able to restore itself, provided the current status quo is maintained. Hence I believe, with or without the Democrats in office, the recovery process should still continue. — Stanly George, by e-mail
Improving Indo-Pak ties
Recent visit of Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna to Pakistan and measures taken to relax visa restrictions are a welcome move. Citizens of both countries will benefit from this. It will also help promote bilateral relations, business and people to people contacts plus exchange of cultural programs. What is missing in this important policy decision is the provision for multiple visas for spouses married across the border. Many Indian men/women are married to Pakistani men/women and vice versa, still they have no special consideration when it comes to getting visas. They are the most affected people on both sides of the border. I hope foreign offices of both countries will pay special attention to this section of society in India and Pakistan. — Tahir Shaikh, by e-mail
Breaking away from the past
Khawaja Umer Farooq has accurately reflected in his letter, “Haqqani network,” (Sept. 9), the state of denial gripping the whole nation. If Americans have declared the Afghanistan-based Haqqani network a terrorist organization, then why shall Pakistan worry about? Why does Pakistan need to point out negative implications of this decision, unless we have got them on our own soil?
We need to come out of this state of mind which favors and supports some organizations as “good Taleban” — an asset for future manipulations. It has been proved time and again that there is no difference between good and bad Taleban. Taleban represent a mentality which doesn’t believe in democracy, constitution and rule of law. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan should look forward to break away from this vicious cycle of hatred and blood. — Masood Khan, Jubail
Political gimmick
This is regarding the news item “ New book raises questions about Bin Laden’s death” (Aug. 29 ). We have come to know that “No Easy Day” written by a former US Navy SEAL Mark Owen (pen name) which reportedly contains personal account of the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon decided to take legal action against the author of the book Matt Bissonnette (pen-name Mark Owen) on the plea that the book had been published in violation of non-disclosure agreements Bissonnette signed while he was a SEAL. But Bissonnette’s lawyer confirmed on a day that the former SEAL did not disclose any secret. Now, question arises why Bissonnette got so much interested to write and release the above-mentioned book at a time when the US presidential election campaign is at its peak? The Bin Laden mission is treated as one of the great achievements of the Obama administration.
What I feel is, “No Easy Day” is aimed at making President Obama’s race for a second term in the White House “No Easy”! — Naser Mullah, Riyadh
Letters: Gujarat riots verdict
