Friday, November 29, 2019

Communal riots in India: Had Congress been tough on rioters in Mumbai 1992-93 rioters, 2002 won't have happened

In 1992-93, Mumbai was rocked by riots--in two separate phases. Congress' Sudhakar Rao Naik was CM & there was no serious attempt to stop riot-killings.

Still, we remember role of police, helplessness in the era. Congress was ruling party in Maharashtra & also in Delhi., then.

Mumbai was burning for weeks. The role of Shiv Sena cadre in this period is well documented.

Muslims were getting killed and remember it was Congress government in Delhi that remained oblivious to the plight of the Muslims. The police officers who were involved in violence were never prosecuted.

The firing on Hari Masjid in Mumbai, is one such case. There was unprovoked firing by police on the Namazis. Seven persons were killed and those who were injured were booked for rioting. Farooq Mapkar fought a legal battle for years against the policemen involved in it but govt didn't act on the guilty.

Seven persons were killed and Mapkar had also been critically injured with the bullets. Worse, those who didn't die in the firing, were charged by the police of rioting and murder. This extraordinarily heinous crime of police has been reported widely in the past but justice eluded the victims.

The constables, the DCP's driver and other officials apart from residents had testified that Kapse for reasons known to him only, entered the mosque and shot those in the prayers, though there was absolute peace in the area.

The Sri Krishna Commission had also found that there were Hindu houses and properties around the mosque and they were neither harmed nor touched. It was an unbelievable case of hate crime, yet, the atrocities didn't affect the ruling party.

For 15 years, Mapkar has been waiting to see the group of policemen led by Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kapse get punished for the crime (rather he got promoted sometime back). Even FIR was not registered for the death of these seven persons while 57 persons including the injured were booked for 'rioting'.

Over the years, all efforts were made by successive governments including the Congress to bury cases like the Hari Masjid firing. The Sri Krishna Commission report was shelved and despite repeated assurances by the Congress leaders, whenever the party came in power it ignored the recommendations.

In 2006, soon after Malegaon blasts, admin-police were just not willing to believe that any 'other' group could be involved in it. CM announced compensation was Rs 1 lakh for dead victim's kin, even though by then Rs 3 lakh & 5 lakh were being announced for victims in other cases.

Mosques were targeted at several places--Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded then but despite role of Naresh Rajkondwar or Himanshu Panse, the seizure of explosives or S Chaudhary's arrest, probes was stalled. We talk about Malegoan 2008 but Malegaon 2006 & role of perpetrators forgotten.

Mosques were targeted at several places--Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded then but despite role of Naresh Rajkondwar or Himanshu Panse, the seizure of explosives or S Chaudhary's arrest, probes was stalled. We talk about Malegoan 2008 but Malegaon 2006 & role of perpetrators forgotten.

Had they been tough in 1984, there won't be any 1992-93. Or if Congress had taken real tough action in 1992-93, then 2002 won't have happened or 2008 Odisha or 2012 or any other massacre. No party can claim moral high-ground. Naik and his party's riot taint for 1992 can't go.

It is important to remember the extent of injustice, the manner in which the regimes favoured rioters, harassed victims & set precedents. Just that BJP has an openly right-wing agenda, Congress' role can't be whitewashed.

*Role of Congress, PV Narasimha Rao in Babri Masjid demolition and later Mumbai riots

*Sudhakar Naik whose failure in controlling Mumbai riots, indifference is forgotten