Respected Sir,
We hold the Election Commission in highest esteem. The record of the
Commission in conducting free and fair elections around the country,
at times in quite trying circumstances, has earned in the gratitude
of the entire nation. We have complete confidence in the Commission’s
ability to take stock of the ground situation in Gujarat today, and
take appropriate measures to hold free and fair elections at a time
you consider conducive for such exercise.
We, Arch Vahini are non-governmental organization (NGO) working in
the tribal belt of Rajpipla in Gujarat state for over two decades. At
present, we are working with the Riot Affected Persons (RAPs) in
Baroda and Bharuch districts of Gujarat. During the riots and
destruction that followed, we had tried our best to work with the
administration to prevent and contain the riots. Since then we have
been in contact with the victims in riot camps and elsewhere, trying
to help them with relief and rehabilitation.
In view of our experience over the past few months, we would like to
share with you our deep concern over the situation in Gujarat. There
is a sense of all pervasive fear that has gripped not only the Muslim
and other minority communities, but has also not spared the rest of
the society.
Every individual Muslim in Gujarat, whether he was a serving police
officer, or a judge of the high court of the state, or a small street
vender, or a widow or a young girl, and irrespective of his / her
place of residence, whether he is from a remote tribal area or
resides just 50 yards from the office of the police commissioner of
Ahemdabad, whether one resided in predominantly urban cosmopolitan
areas, or in one’s own community neighbourhoods, they are all afraid
and feel intimidated. The looting and burning of the property, people
hacked to death before the eyes of relatives, rape of women and
girls, extreme brutality of unimagined proportions continued for a
long time.
Through their acts of commission and omission, the police and
administration provided all possible support, directly and
indirectly, to the perpetrators of the communal frenzy. The people
hold that the administration either remained inactive or kept away
from the places where mobs had taken over. At too many places, the
police are reported to have provided the mobs tacit support to fan
the communal fire. From top to the bottom, both the vital wings of
the administration, Police service and Revenue administration,
mysteriously remained paralysed. Their common plea being that the
sudden outbreak of large-scale riots had stretched their ability to
cope and control the situation. We have firsthand experience of many
places where the riots were preventable if routine minimum practice
of preventive arrest (off course of the right person, in some places
police did make arrest of harmless innocent!). So much so that after
a long the IPS Association of Gujarat state had to pass resolution to
the effect that now onward the police would observe professionalism
in it’s duty!
We also acknowledge that there were responsible officers who had
taken all measures to prevent the break down of law and order. With
little manpower, but optimal use of information and limited use of
force where necessary, these officers had been successful in keeping
the situation under control. In these areas, such officers had earned
the confidence of the community, and people wanted them to continue.
However, the administration, in many such instances, sought to
transfer them from their posts since then.
Even for the sake of formality, the administration has not displayed
any sense of remorse. The systematic and prolonged breakdown of law
and order machinery has generated the current milieu of fear and
anarchy. The psychological and emotional imprints of fear, tension
and anxiety can hardly be restored overnight. This sense of fear
pervades the whole society.
Many people, including those from the majority community who tried to
protect the helpless members of Muslim community, were also
threatened by the goons with dire consequences if they continued to
provide such protection. In fact, such was the level of coercion,
that many Muslim families could not even leave some of their
valuables for safe keeping with their long-term neighbours and
friends from other communities.
Of course there were exceptions, and quite a few instances of
individual bravery, and heroism that led to saving of lives and
property has been documented. Nevertheless, these were exceptions,
rather than the rule.
We are from majority community i.e. Hindus of Gujarat, and we affirm
that we have never seen the Muslims so terrified, afraid, intimidated
and horrified in our life time. As of today the Muslims are
completely broken as an individual or as collective community. The
leadership of the community is shattered and so many localities have
lost their traditional leaders. The engulfing sense of fear cannot be
removed artificially overnight.
While most of the relief camps have been closed, many Muslim families
have not been able to return to their homes. Those who have returned
have precious little to begin rebuilding their life again. Returning
to their homes and staying with the perpetrators and criminals could
not be devoid of fear, anxiety and timidity.
The atmosphere is still hostile to the minority community. By any
yardstick, the situation cannot be termed as normal.
Indeed, it may be not very farfetched to say that what happened in
Gujarat was not a breakdown of general law and order, but a fallout
of keeping law and order in abeyance, in order to let loose a reign
of terror. Clearly then the administration has long way to go before
it can reestablish its credibility by improving its performance in
enforcing the rule of law.
The present state government has sought to politically manoeuvre the
situation in it’s favour and has called for premature dissolution of
the state assembly. The action of the state government suggests a
sinister design. This action is totally a breach of constitution and
democratic ethics. Under the circumstances, we trust that the
Election Commission will examine the prevailing situation in Gujarat,
and decide whether free and fair elections can be held in the current
atmosphere of fear.
We urge you to decide the issue not in strict narrow technical sense
but in the wider perspective of constitutional principals, norms,
directives, intent and democratic ethics.
Thanking you,
Rajesh Mishra Dr. Anilbhai Patel
We, the undersigned a team of Arch Vahini,