Some of us met with the PM today. I'm enclosing the formal press
release. I don't think any of us left the meeting satisfied. No
explanations were provided, no assurances given. It felt like being
in a sere wasteland. I was deeply disappointed by the lack of a
humane response. However, this should only make us more determined
not only to resist these forces, but seriously question our political
system which allows people without conscience or moral authority to
hold the highest offices of our land.
This afternoon we gathered at India Gate which was packed with
families on Sunday afternoon. We were about a hundred and fifty with
banners and placards. We threaded through the holiday makers singing
songs of love and amity between the communities. I felt we were
welcome and that people were open to our message. At dusk we lit
candles.
Tomorrow, Mon. 4 March, 10:30 am Join the journalists at a protest at
the Press Club. As many of you already know the press has been under
tremendous pressure to toe the government line. If you havent already
please counter the Hindutva hate mail campaign by emailing ndtv for
their unbiased Gujrat reportage. (
newshour@ndtv.com) 11:00 am Protest at Delhi University. Vivekananda Statue.
We are planning to send a team to Gujrat on a fact finding and
humanitarian mission. Do we have volunteers from Delhi? Please email
me if you are interested. Right now opinion seems divided on when the
mission should leave. Things should be clearer by tomorrow, but it
will be good to know soon if people are willing to go.
As I prepare to turn in for the night just a few moments ago I hear a
sound which makes me rush out onto my terrace. The spring breeze
brings me bits of song from, I think, Arab ki Sarai as the Dargah is
surely too far away. It is the qawwals singing praises of Nizamuddin
Auliya. My heart lifts. This they will never be able to kill, burn or
maim.
regards
sj
----------------
PRESS RELEASE
Mar. 3, 2002.
A group of concerned citizens including the noted Gandhian, Nirmala
Deshpande, Rev. Valson Thampu, Syeda Hameed, Prakash Louis and Sonia
Jabbar met the Prime Minister and presented a memorandum with seven
recommendations that would help contain the violence engulfing the
country this past week. The text of which has been reproduced in full
below.
The Prime Minister gave the group a patient hearing and agreed that
there was a grave crisis in the country. However, he added that it
would be an exaggeration to state that all of Gujrat was burning when
the violence was limited to a few places. He also said that the media
had not played a constructive role in the crisis, by continuously
showing scenes of carnage.
When asked why it took so long to deploy the army, Mr. Vajpayee
answered that the non-availability of adequate forces made it
impossible to extend protection to all areas. When asked about the
possibility of banning groups like the VHP, he said that there were
legal implications which needed to be addressed, but in any case
there were negotiations on with the VHP to bring the Ayodhya issue to
a close.
The delegation pressed the Prime Minister to rise to the occasion as
befitting a mature statesman, and pointed out that if General
Musharraf could ban fundamentalist organisations in Pakistan, why
could Mr. Vajpayee not do the same here. “He is a dictator and can
ban anyone. We are a democracy,” the Prime Minister replied.
TEXT OF THE MEMORANDUM PRESENTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER
We gather before you today to mourn the lives of hundreds of innocent
Indians which have been brutally extinguished in the name of
religion. We stand before you to plead for the lives of thousands of
others which may be lost if you hesitate or falter for even another
moment. Indeed, the very fabric of this great country stands to be
rent asunder if immediate action is not taken by you. The whole world
is watching, Sir, and all the gains in repute and prestige that you
have built for this nation through painstaking efforts over the last
few years stands to be lost forever. The events of the past few days
have reduced us to the same level as our neighbours: a nation prone
to bouts of uncontrolled barbarism.
And yet, as we know, it is never too late to avert disaster. As
concerned citizens, we humbly submit a series of recommendations
which we believe will act as a salve to the wounds of the nation:
1. The Prime Minister must address the people of India immediately
outlining the steps taken to stem the chaos engulfing the nation. It
is imperative to instill a sense of confidence in those who have been
shaken by the terrible carnage of the last few days. The only way
that India can resolutely disprove the two-nation theory is by
providing an unshakeable sense of security to its minorities. But
words, however soothing must be backed by firm and steadfast action.
2. The custodians of the safety and welfare of the people of Gujrat
have failed miserably in their duty. On the contrary they have aided
and abetted the cold-blooded murder of hundreds of Indian citizens.
The Prime Minister cannot hesitate in holding them accountable and
dismissing them from office.
3. The truth of the Godhra episode must be brought to light and the
guilty punished in an exemplary fashion. Crimes perpetrated in the
name of religion and politics must no longer go unpunished.
4. An immediate impartial inquiry must be conducted into the
communal carnage in Gujrat, with special focus on state inaction and
the avoidable loss of life and property resulting from it,
responsibility should be fixed and the guilty be punished.
5. The Home Minister must perform his duty in accordance with his
office as guardian of the nation’s internal security, and leave
immediately for Gujrat to oversee the security arrangements. The
government must not allow, at any cost, any further rioting or
killings.
6. The communal tension created on account of the Ram mandir issue
and the threat to build the mandir in total defiance of the court
orders, belong to the realm of terrorism and need to be handled as
such. There must no longer be any talk of a compromise. The VHP and
the Bajrang Dal must be treated on equal par with SIMI and be banned
with immediate effect.
7. This would allow the administration in Ayodhya and the rest of
the country to apply the strictest laws of the land to curb the
unruly karsevaks and prevent them from further damaging the nation’s
polity.
We realise that there are many political compulsions which may make
even the strongest of men falter. But, Sir, we respectfully submit
that India has too many politicians and too few statesmen. Let
history remember you as the Prime Minister who showed great resolve
in this terrible crisis and guided the nation out of darkness. We are
confident that the people of India will stand by your decision.
Yours faithfully,
Nirmala Deshpande, Rev. Valson Thampu, Syeda Hameed, Prakash Louis,
and Sonia Jabbar
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