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'Gujarat is like the Germany of the 1920s'
This entire exercise in Gujarat is to make India a Hindu state, he said. "They want to repeat what Pakistan did more than 50 years ago."
'Gujarat is like the Germany of the 1920s'
Sheela Bhatt in Ahmedabad
The Congress party on Saturday said that it does not believe in exit polls.
The party's central media cell member and adviser to Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Desai, told rediff.com: "In Uttaranchal and Madhya Pradesh exit polls have gone wrong."
Rajiv Desai has been helping the Congress since 1989 in its media campaigns. To organise the media campaign for the Gujarat election, he stayed in Ahmedabad for a month.
"As per the BJP's expectations, the Hindus have not voted overwhelmingly, while 80% of the Muslim voters went to the polling booths," he said.
On the Congress's strategy for the election, Desai said, "When we sat down to fight Gujarat election, we decided to approach it in a cool and dispassionate fashion. Our message was only one: 'Congress is going to win'."
"We know that an anti-incumbency mood is prevalent in Gujarat. We believe that the Hindutva message has been restricted to less than 20 per cent of population, who form their [BJP's] hardcore base. We targeted the floating voters Gujarat and gently pushed them in Congress's direction," he said.
"For us Godhra was the part of anti-incumbency. It was a failure of governance. As far as we are concerned the Godhra incident and the aftermath is an example of the government's incompetence. We are a new Congress with a focus on development… Congress gave you the green revolution, TV and the computer revolution. Congress won three wars against Pakistan and Congress gave security to the country," he said.
Asked why the Congress avoided debating the Godhra issue, he retorted, "But why should we? Godhra was their election card. Why should we play their card? We are playing our own card."
When asked about Modi's popularity, Desai, an expert in mass communication, said, "His popularity is limited. In the past 7 years or so, Gujarat's economy has been completely destroyed. So there are no new jobs. I think the educated and uneducated unemployed youth are Modi's band of supporters."
"Modi is trying to do this Gujarat Gaurav Yatra business, but nobody is falling for that nonsense. After all, who is he? He was living in Delhi till recently," he said.
On BJP's media strategy he said, "I consider their campaign the fulmination of sick people. Gujarat may have reached the level of Germany in 1920s today. Like Germany there are lots of Gujaratis outside. You can't take Modi away from his message of hate and violence. Modi is a megalomaniac. He will destroy Gujarat for his own ego. It's very clear that within the BJP Vajpayee and Advani are considered incompetent."
This entire exercise in Gujarat is to make India a Hindu state, he said. "They want to repeat what Pakistan did more than 50 years ago."
Asked about Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's input in Gujarat, Desai said, "She is a very hands-on person. But she is not interventionist. She is not planning on day-to-day basis she leaves it to people she trusts."
Asked about the results, Desai said, "Gujaratis keeps their card very close to its chest. People are not confused. If the Congress does not win I'll be very surprised. If Modi wins, I am not worried. The worry is for the Sangh parivar."
http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/dec/14guj5.htm
Sheela Bhatt in Ahmedabad
The Congress party on Saturday said that it does not believe in exit polls.
The party's central media cell member and adviser to Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Desai, told rediff.com: "In Uttaranchal and Madhya Pradesh exit polls have gone wrong."
Rajiv Desai has been helping the Congress since 1989 in its media campaigns. To organise the media campaign for the Gujarat election, he stayed in Ahmedabad for a month.
"As per the BJP's expectations, the Hindus have not voted overwhelmingly, while 80% of the Muslim voters went to the polling booths," he said.
On the Congress's strategy for the election, Desai said, "When we sat down to fight Gujarat election, we decided to approach it in a cool and dispassionate fashion. Our message was only one: 'Congress is going to win'."
"We know that an anti-incumbency mood is prevalent in Gujarat. We believe that the Hindutva message has been restricted to less than 20 per cent of population, who form their [BJP's] hardcore base. We targeted the floating voters Gujarat and gently pushed them in Congress's direction," he said.
"For us Godhra was the part of anti-incumbency. It was a failure of governance. As far as we are concerned the Godhra incident and the aftermath is an example of the government's incompetence. We are a new Congress with a focus on development… Congress gave you the green revolution, TV and the computer revolution. Congress won three wars against Pakistan and Congress gave security to the country," he said.
Asked why the Congress avoided debating the Godhra issue, he retorted, "But why should we? Godhra was their election card. Why should we play their card? We are playing our own card."
When asked about Modi's popularity, Desai, an expert in mass communication, said, "His popularity is limited. In the past 7 years or so, Gujarat's economy has been completely destroyed. So there are no new jobs. I think the educated and uneducated unemployed youth are Modi's band of supporters."
"Modi is trying to do this Gujarat Gaurav Yatra business, but nobody is falling for that nonsense. After all, who is he? He was living in Delhi till recently," he said.
On BJP's media strategy he said, "I consider their campaign the fulmination of sick people. Gujarat may have reached the level of Germany in 1920s today. Like Germany there are lots of Gujaratis outside. You can't take Modi away from his message of hate and violence. Modi is a megalomaniac. He will destroy Gujarat for his own ego. It's very clear that within the BJP Vajpayee and Advani are considered incompetent."
This entire exercise in Gujarat is to make India a Hindu state, he said. "They want to repeat what Pakistan did more than 50 years ago."
Asked about Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's input in Gujarat, Desai said, "She is a very hands-on person. But she is not interventionist. She is not planning on day-to-day basis she leaves it to people she trusts."
Asked about the results, Desai said, "Gujaratis keeps their card very close to its chest. People are not confused. If the Congress does not win I'll be very surprised. If Modi wins, I am not worried. The worry is for the Sangh parivar."
http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/dec/14guj5.htm
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Two people have died in clashes in India's Gujarat state following Thursday's assembly elections, police say.
A group of Congress Party workers attacked a member of the rival Hindu nationalist BJP near the commercial capital, Ahmedabad, the local police superintendant told the BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2575311.stm
A group of Congress Party workers attacked a member of the rival Hindu nationalist BJP near the commercial capital, Ahmedabad, the local police superintendant told the BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2575311.stm
Gujarat Muslims fear fresh violence after poll results
Agence France-Presse
Ahmedabad, December 14
Muslims in riot-ravaged western Gujarat have started moving to safer areas, fearing fresh violence once results of Assembly elections are declared.
All the results of Thursday's vote, in which 61.7 per cent of 33 million registered voters cast ballots will come by Sunday afternoon.
Muslim-dominated areas were tense as residents made plans to flee should violence erupt. Others had already departed to safer areas.
"The fear in our heart is deep rooted as we have seen extreme cruelty inflicted on us," said 45-year-old Rehmat Bibi, a resident of Ahmedabad's Naroda Patiya.
"Many of us have already moved to other safe places, to our relatives. I am staying here, but may have to leave if violence breaks out again soon."
Bibi lost her son-in-law and daughter in sectarian violence that has ravaged the state since February, leaving some 2,000 Muslim dead, human rights groups said.
The violence in Gujarat was triggered February 27 after a train carrying VHP activists was torched by a mob, believed to be Muslim, killing 58.
Exit polls have indicated the election will be won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which underpinned its campaigning with a message of hardline Hindu nationalism.
But such polls are notoriously unreliable in India and political analysts are predicting a photo finish, giving the opposition Congress party a chance to spring a surprise.
According to some exit polls, more than 44 per cent of Hindus are believed to have voted for Congress.
But even with hoped-for success for the opposition party, local Muslim social workers fear a BJP loss could spark further incidents of sectarian violence.
"Whoever wins is not going to make a difference to the life of these affected people. But they fear that a BJP defeat could lead to violence after the results," said Nazeer Khan, a teacher at Patiya.
"The fear is further aggravated as there is no trust after what has happened here. Even the police are not trusted, despite their round the clock presence."
Gujarat's police are widely accused of turning a blind eye during the peak of the riots, and some have alleged that police were even active participants in the killings.
Muslim social organisations, meanwhile, sought to calm riot victims.
"I do not see any need for fear and we are persuading people to stay home. Some of them have left, but I am sure many will stay as adequate security is being maintained here," said Addul Hameed, a member of the Islamic Relief Committee.
Many affected people were moving to newly-built homes, leaving an emptiness in some neighbourhoods.
"It is not that there is mass exodus of Muslims from their homes. Yes, some have left as fear is very deep. But then we do not expect any trouble, whoever wins the elections," said Hameed.
"Many of them (Muslims) are now like nomads. Whenever there is fear or any major festival of any community, their fears and insecurity rise. It will take some years before their wounds heal."
Caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi insisted there was no need for Muslims to be concerned.
"The country is ruled by the BJP. Has any Muslim left India and gone to Pakistan?," asked the BJP leader.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_120181,00160005.htm
Agence France-Presse
Ahmedabad, December 14
Muslims in riot-ravaged western Gujarat have started moving to safer areas, fearing fresh violence once results of Assembly elections are declared.
All the results of Thursday's vote, in which 61.7 per cent of 33 million registered voters cast ballots will come by Sunday afternoon.
Muslim-dominated areas were tense as residents made plans to flee should violence erupt. Others had already departed to safer areas.
"The fear in our heart is deep rooted as we have seen extreme cruelty inflicted on us," said 45-year-old Rehmat Bibi, a resident of Ahmedabad's Naroda Patiya.
"Many of us have already moved to other safe places, to our relatives. I am staying here, but may have to leave if violence breaks out again soon."
Bibi lost her son-in-law and daughter in sectarian violence that has ravaged the state since February, leaving some 2,000 Muslim dead, human rights groups said.
The violence in Gujarat was triggered February 27 after a train carrying VHP activists was torched by a mob, believed to be Muslim, killing 58.
Exit polls have indicated the election will be won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which underpinned its campaigning with a message of hardline Hindu nationalism.
But such polls are notoriously unreliable in India and political analysts are predicting a photo finish, giving the opposition Congress party a chance to spring a surprise.
According to some exit polls, more than 44 per cent of Hindus are believed to have voted for Congress.
But even with hoped-for success for the opposition party, local Muslim social workers fear a BJP loss could spark further incidents of sectarian violence.
"Whoever wins is not going to make a difference to the life of these affected people. But they fear that a BJP defeat could lead to violence after the results," said Nazeer Khan, a teacher at Patiya.
"The fear is further aggravated as there is no trust after what has happened here. Even the police are not trusted, despite their round the clock presence."
Gujarat's police are widely accused of turning a blind eye during the peak of the riots, and some have alleged that police were even active participants in the killings.
Muslim social organisations, meanwhile, sought to calm riot victims.
"I do not see any need for fear and we are persuading people to stay home. Some of them have left, but I am sure many will stay as adequate security is being maintained here," said Addul Hameed, a member of the Islamic Relief Committee.
Many affected people were moving to newly-built homes, leaving an emptiness in some neighbourhoods.
"It is not that there is mass exodus of Muslims from their homes. Yes, some have left as fear is very deep. But then we do not expect any trouble, whoever wins the elections," said Hameed.
"Many of them (Muslims) are now like nomads. Whenever there is fear or any major festival of any community, their fears and insecurity rise. It will take some years before their wounds heal."
Caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi insisted there was no need for Muslims to be concerned.
"The country is ruled by the BJP. Has any Muslim left India and gone to Pakistan?," asked the BJP leader.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_120181,00160005.htm
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no, it's like sudan, and nigeria today, exept it's moslims that are doing the killing there
uh .. no it's Hindus. You fail reading comprehension test.
No, it's you that failed, The hindus killing moslims in india are like the moslims killing christians in sudan and Nigeria, get it now?
In that case, you failed english composition; a lesser crime.
I'll agree that there are similarities and disagree with the purpose of your statement - to incite racial hatred.
I'll agree that there are similarities and disagree with the purpose of your statement - to incite racial hatred.
No, it's more a feeling of "I don't give a damn about muslims" as said, they don't say a word when they slaughter infidels, but they sure cry when they get it back.
Sounds more like Americans, I think you made a typo there.
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