New Delhi, April 25 :
New Delhi, April 25:
Since it came to power in Gujarat, the BJP and its adjuncts like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad systematically worked on a Hindutva gameplan of hatred that finally climaxed in the recent genocide presided over by chief minister Narendra Modi, an activist here claimed.
Presenting a report on the Gujarat riots here today, Teesta Setelvad, editor of Communalism Combat, listed a string of hate campaigns the BJP government had spearheaded since 1998 when Keshubhai Patel took charge.
'The build-up to the Gujarat genocide was systematic and planned. Even if Godhra had
not happened, Gujarat would still have happened,' Setelvad
said.
Ahmedabad is sitting on a tinderbox and the Modi government is barely lifting its finger to help the victims. 'And a lot of Gujarati Hindu society is silent,' said the activist.
For the past four years, Setelvad had been on the trail of the Sangh parivar's virulent anti-minority campaign.
'The Sangh outfits have left
no stone unturned to keep alight the torch of hatred. First, there was an attack on Christians; then a census was carried out on Christian and Muslim populations; next, textbooks were tampered. Soon after, there were trishul distribution programmes and RSS and VHP cadre were pushed into the lower echelons of the police. There are 6,000 home guards who have come from the RSS and the VHP,' Setelvad said.
The most poisonous hate campaign came through pamphlets which were circulated
at least four or five times. The slogan of economic boycott
of Muslims was a common
refrain.
The report quotes one such pamphlet which specifies the 'don'ts' for Hindus. It asks them: 'Not to buy anything from Muslim shopkeepers. Not to sell goods to these elements. Not to use these 'traitors'' hotels or garages. Not to work in Muslim offices or to employ Muslims. Not to watch movies casting Muslim heroes and heroines.'
Yet another pamphlet reads: 'Anti-national elements are using the money they earn with our cooperation to weaken us. They buy arms and molest
our sisters and daughters. The answer to these elements lies in (a) financial non-cooperation movement.'
Some of these pamphlets contain sexually derogatory remarks about Muslim women. Some tell the Hindus how to plot riots and dodge the police. 'The BJP government has really made good use of their time in power,' said Setelvad.
The textbooks tampered by the BJP government, according to the editor, had 20 pages on fascism, depicting it as a manifestation of a strong nation. Muslims and Parsis were described as foreigners. A parliamentary committee was set up after a hue and cry. The committee ordered rectification.
'But re-print of these textbooks contained the same statements,' said Setelvad.
Despite Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee waxing eloquent on the rehabilitation of the victims, the activist said: 'The Narendra Modi government is cocking a snook at the Indian Constitution. It has flatly refused to give land to the victims. Its education minister, despite a suggestion from the Supreme Court, has refused to allow a re-examination for Muslim students who could not appear for their exams.'