Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Right to Free Speech "butchered" by Team Modi.. Reposting my piece "9 myth busters of Gujarat 2002 riots"

Right to Free Speech "butchered" by Team Modi..

Yesterday, I wrote a piece ( read below) for the DNA (I regularly write for their online portal) called "Between Myths and Truths" that busted 9 myths being perpetrated by Mr Narendra Modi wrt 2002 riots. These 9 myth busters were not my opinions but statements of facts that were culled from institutional records like Supreme Court, NHRC report, etc. (see below) This article was posted at 1pm and within few hours it got over 1000 + shares on facebook, twitter and spread like wild fire, drawing reactions from Modi supporters and his opponents. Even the likes of Sidharth Vardarajan & Shashi Tharoor shared the piece and tweeted about it. DNA, as you can see, itself tweeted about the article three times since it was a Top Story! 

Read: 
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This morning , without notice, the article was forced to be pulled down. Now if you visit the link http://www.dnaindia.com/node/1983270, it says "The requested page cannot be found". 

I have been told that that Narenda Modi's team was so rattled that they instantly ordered the pulling down of the article. The article for the first time compiled the myth-busting answers to all of Mr.Modi's perpetrated falsehoods on Gujarat 2002- how he failed to stop the rioting in 2-3 days as is claimed, how he communalised the air with his speeches, how his police acted in a partisan manner, how he applied for a US visa and was rejected one, how his government scuttled the process of law...

All I can say, like I said in my piece, this is the defeat of Truth by Falsehoods and whenever Truth becomes a victim to falsehoods, there is just one, long sigh that reverberates in our collective conscience "Hey Ram"! 

Shehzad Poonawalla
@Shehzad_Ind


Original piece

Between Myths and Truths… Lest we forget the Genocide of 2002

 
For those who have developed “selective and motivated” amnesia about the Truth of 2002 riots in Gujarat and are suddenly buying into the myths being perpetrated by the PR machinery of Mr. Narendra Modi, here are a few myth-busters to refresh your memory and perhaps your conscience.

I offer these with just one phrase, a phrase that has always accompanied the murder of Truth by Falsehoods… “Hey Ram!”
 
Myth No. 1: Post-Godhra Violence was brought under control within 2-3 days by Narendra Modi’s Government…
TruthThe violence in the State, which was initially claimed to have been brought under control in seventy two hours, persisted in varying degree for over two months, the toll in death and destruction rising with the passage of time.”  

Source: Final Order of the National human Rights Commission chaired by the very respected Justice J.S Verma available here http://nhrc.nic.in/guj_finalorder.htm
 
Myth No. 2: Gujarat Police acted fairly by taking action against rioters from every side…
Truth: We women thought of going to police and telling the
police as in the presence of police, the houses of Muslims were
burnt, but the police told us 'to go inside, it is doom's day for
Muslims” –

Source: PW219 testimony which was admitted as part of Naroda Patya judgment that led to conviction of Mayaben Kodnani, Narendra Modi’s cabinet minister who led murderous mobs during 2002 riots! Available here:http://www.cjponline.org/gujaratTrials/narodapatiya/NP%20Full%20Judgmnt/Naroda%20Patiya%20-%20Common%20Judgment.pdf
 
Myth No.3 No conspiracy by the Gujarat government, Post-Godhra violence was a spontaneous reaction…
Truth: “A key state minister is reported to have taken over a police control room in Ahmedabad on the first day of the carnage, issuing directions not to rescue Muslims in danger of being killed:”
“Voter lists were also reportedly used to identify and target Muslim community members” –

Source: Report of Human Rights Watch- April 2002, Vol. 14, No. 3(C) Available Here: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/india/India0402-03.htm#P446_77680

 
Myth no. 4 : Modi allowed a fair prosecution of those accused in rioting and hence even his cabinet colleague Mayaben Kodnani was convicted…
Truth : The modern day 'Neros' were looking elsewhere when Best Bakery and innocent children and helpless women were burning, and were probably deliberating how the perpetrators of the crime can be saved or protected.”
“Law and justice become flies in the hands of these “wanton boys”. When fences start to swallow the crops, no scope will be left for survival of law and order or truth and justice. Public order as well as public interest become martyrs and monuments.”
From the facts stated above, it appears that accused wants to frustrate the prosecution by unjustified means and it appears that by one way or the other the Addl. Sessions Judge as well as the APP (Shri Raghuvir Pandya, the public prosecutor in this case at the time was a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested elections from Ward 20, Vadodara in the 1996 Corporation Elections on a BJP ticket!)  have not taken any interest in discharge of their duties.”  -

Source: Supreme Court in Zahira Habibulla H Sheikh And Anr vs State Of Gujarat And Ors on 12 April, 2004 CASE NO.: Appeal (crl.) 446-449 of 2004 . Available Here:http://indiankanoon.org/doc/105430/
 
 
Myth No.5 : Narendra Modi never justified post-Godhra killings…
Truth: “Responding to queries regarding various statements attributed to him by the media, Mr Modi denied citing Newton’s law. Nor had he spoken of “action-reaction”; he had wanted neither the action (at Godhra) nor the subsequent reaction. When we cited footage in Zee to the contrary (Annexure 4A), there was no reaction from Mr Modi”

SourceEditors Guild Fact Finding Mission Report dated 2002, available herehttp://www.sabrang.com/gujarat/statement/report.htm#Meeting%20with%20Narendra%20Modi
 
Myth No.6 : Narendra Modi speaks only about development in his speeches. Even after 2002 riots, his speeches were never laced with communal poison..
Truth : Narendra Modi’s reported speech: For several months, the opposition has been after me to resign. When I did, they did not know what to do and started running to Delhi to seek Madam's help. They realised that James Michael Lyngdoh, the Election Commissioner of India, is their only saviour.Some journalists asked me recently, ''Has James Michael Lyngdoh come from Italy?'' I said I don't have hisjanam patri, I will have to ask Rajiv Gandhi. Then the journalists said, ''Do they meet in church?''. I replied, ''Maybe they do.'' James Michael Lyngdoh came and visited Ahmedabad and Vadodara. And then he used asabhya basha (indecent language) with the officials. Gujaratis can never use such language because our rich cultural heritage does not permit it. Then he gave a fatwa ordering that the elections can't be held. I want to ask him: he has come to this conclusion after meeting only members of the minority community. Are only minority community members citizens of India? Are majority community members not citizens of this country? Is the constitutional body meant only for the minority community? Did he ever bother to meet the relatives of those killed in the Godhra carnage? Why didn't he meet them? Why didn't he ask them whether the situation was conducive for polls? Why? James Michael Lyngdoh ( says it slowly with emphasis on Michael), the people of Gujarat are posing a question to you.” 
Source: Reported speech of Narendra Modi, 30th September 2002, available herehttp://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?217399
 
 
 
Myth No. 7: Narendra Modi never applied for a US Visa (when it came to light that he was denied one)..
Truth:
“The Chief Minister of Gujarat state, Mr. Narendra Modi, applied for a diplomatic visa to visit the United States. On March 18, 2005, the United States Department of State denied Mr. Modi this visa under section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act because he was not coming for a purpose that qualified for a diplomatic visa. 

Mr. Modi's existing tourist/business visa was also revoked under section 212 (a) (2) (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 212 (a) (2) (g) makes any foreign government official who "was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for a visa to the United States. 

The Ministry of External Affairs requested that the Department of State review the decision to revoke his tourist/business visa. Upon review, the State Department re-affirmed the original decision.”
This decision applies to Mr. Narendra Modi only. It is based on the fact that, as head of the State government in Gujarat between February 2002 and May 2002, he was responsible for the performance of state institutions at that time. The State Department's detailed views on this matter are included in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the International Religious Freedom Report. Both reports document the violence in Gujarat from February 2002 to May 2002 and cite the Indian National Human Rights Commission report, which states there was "a comprehensive failure on the part of the state government to control the persistent violation of rights of life, liberty, equality, and dignity of the people of the state."

Source Statement by David C. Mulford, U.S. Ambassador to India, March 21, 2005, Available Here http://2001-2009.state.gov/p/sca/rls/rm/2005/43701.htm
 
Myth no. 8: Vajpayee never asked Modi to observe “Rajdharma”, did not rap him for 2002 riots..
Truth: “In comments which appeared to back criticism of the state authorities, Mr Vajpayee said he would speak to political leaders about allegations that they had failed to do their job. "Government officials, political leaders, need to respond to the task. The constitution guarantees equal rights for all," he said.The state government is controlled by the BJP, and the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, has come in for particular attack over the way the authorities reacted to the violence.
At the Shah Alam camp in Gujarat's commercial capital, Ahmedabad, Mr Vajpayee said that the Godhra attack was "condemnable" but what followed was "madness". "The answer to madness is not madness," he said in an emotional speech."The duty of our government is to protect the property, life and honour of everybody... there is no scope for discrimination," he said in an apparent reference to allegations that local officials had turned a blind eye to the killings.”

Source: Vajpayee says riots “shameful” – BBC News report April 4th 2002, available herehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1910008.stm

 Myth no.9 : It's not sheer opportunism that well-known Modi-baiters like Smriti Irani, have today become his cheerleaders..

Truth:  

"Smriti Irani who unsuccessfully contested from Delhi's Muslim-dominated Chandni Chowk constituency in the April-May parliamentary elections, blamed Modi for BJP's recent electoral reverses. "Whenever people mention Gujarat they only talk about the riots and try to corner the Gujaratis on the issue. So, in order to maintain the respect that I have for Atalji and the BJP, I won't hesitate to take this step( of going on a fast to seek Modi's removal) ," she said."

Source: Times of India report dated 12th December 2004, 


These myth-busters took me just one hour to compile. So it's quite surprising that none of the stalwarts who interviewed Modi, (some of whom saw the events of 2002 unfold in front of their very own eyes), never counter-questioned him further and exposed the glaring gaps in his "rebuffed" narrative. Much like Smriti Irani, I guess, each night they must be saying to themselves "Hey Ram"....

15 comments:

  1. Excellent article. As Indians, we should take on forces, who seek to divide us for the sake of votes. I'm sure, there are folks who support BJP or their idea of India. But, they have to ask themselves, do they want a inclusive India or segregated. God bless India.

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  2. why do support rahul ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3rwzqJJdb8

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  3. A truly exceptional research job! Not sensationalist like some media sources.

    I live in America and I did not know anything about the riots, but I have lived in Gujarat and know the type of thug culture and religious supremacy BJP types engage in. Their diplomatic, high-brow, politically pleasant words come out smooth as a baby’s bottom. My mother worked in a high government position in Gujarat and it is a virtual maze of sophisticated deceptions. I fear that neither India nor the idealistic Western world is ready for Modi.

    I tried to share something on an American Conservative Blog and a commenter who seemed right sure of himself, preached to me that a bigot like Modi is "desirable" for India so he can take care of America's "Muslim" problem. After all, there are no other problems besides America's problems! The world revolves around US isolationalism and xenophobic biases, until they decide they will police the world for moral causes.

    I think America will be in for a nasty surprise when Modi's inability to maintain diplomatic relations with its neighbors, plunges India into a war with Pakistan, and causes our Muslim American President to support the Muslims in Pakistan against India.

    It is truly appalling that there is virtually no interest here on the huge change India is about to undergo with this election. What Americans are interested in is gun rights, rising taxes, health insurance and their right to pray Christian prayers in school.

    I think the comment on the Conservative blog is what made me realize through the lenses of my own experience and education in India, that Modi is bad news for India, for open communications, for world economics, for free speech, for secularism, for progress, for Christians, for westerners living in India, for those who do business with India, for truth, and maybe, possibly for Muslims. I put Muslims last on the list because as the moron on the Conservative American blog pointed out, as do the BJP, that all opposition to them is Muslim because Muslims alone fear Modi's rule. Not so, my friend. We all fear liars and bigots, despots and regressives in power! Thanks again.

    More people need to speak up about Modi. Please for the sake of the whole world, stop being intimidated. We are in this together! I also shared my personal story about how the BJP types treated me and my family in India:

    http://modestyavian.wordpress.com/

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  4. I hope people open their eyes now.

    http://rationalinferences.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/an-explosive-start/

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  5. Dear Shehzad Poonawalla,

    Thank you for taking the 1 hour to put together the points you did. It's taking me less time than that to refute your points and to ask you counter questions.
    The first question I would like to ask you is who told you that the DNA pulled it out because of any intervention by anyone connected with Modi? If you are making an allegation, then treat your readers with respect and mention the source, else it means for little your allegation. Also, have you reached out to DNA? If yes to whom? For it’s they and not Modi or his team who have to answer to you why there is a problem with your article not appearing. Please note there are tons of articles online which land up on error pages like you point out not only for DNA but for many other newspapers, so it would be unwise to yell "bloody murder" without having a flaming gun!

    Before I start to disprove you. I need to paste a quote from the SIT report, for those who might not have time to read through this long rebuttal.
    Narendra Modi took all steps to control post-Godhra riots: SIT
    "law and order review meetings were held by Modi and all the things was done to control the situation. It further said the Army was called on time" to contain the communal violence.

    Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-took-all-steps-to-control-post-godhra-riots-sit-1687170

    To see my complete rebuttal please click the following link: http://goo.gl/9zQNAz

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  6. Dear Sir,
    what you may quote or comment does not change the fact that 1000s and more number of Muslims were targeted during the Godhra riots of 2002. What appals me is how easy it is for everyone to turn a blind eye to the facts, facts that have been carefully and manipulativly hidden from the masses. Do tell me why would such an article be removed otherwise from the respective newspaper agency? These were not opinions but facts! As a CM his duty should have been to control the riots, protect the community but if that had been the case, the riots would have died earlier leading the damage to be a far minimal number than what is quoted. I refuse to buy the excuse that a CM of a state was unable to bring a violence under control in his OWN state. Had he been more careful, not to say the least bit interested in saving lives, these accusations would not have been placed on him. Why is it that the victims of the riot still quote his name as one of the main perpetrators of the act. It's not because of the media but because simply HE FAILED HIS DUTY AS A CM!

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    1. Dear Samira Khan, I am absolutely with you when you say this should not have happened. This should not happen anywhere in the country or the world for that matter. The point about him having failed as a CM is what I don't agree about, if you read the SIT report, they clearly mention the following:

      "law and order review meetings were held by Modi and all the things was done to control the situation. It further said the Army was called on time" to contain the communal violence.

      For me the Supreme Court of India is the highest court. Since they believe Modi did all he could to control the riots I believe them. Please read the full Supre Court Report and decide for yourself if you think he is still guilty.

      I find this witchhunt wherein a person is declared not guilty but still made out to be a modern day Nero loathful.

      Also Samira, I would request your opinion on what you think about the 100s and 1000s of riots which happened under congress CMs etc. Why are you not making an issue out of it? All us Indians should. They have never been tried by the court and are still running scotfree.

      And one last point, during the riots roughly 25% who died were also Hindus, so lets also mourn them in the same breath we morn our Muslim brothers and sisters. To a strong and united India! Jai Hind!

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  7. Try to read this once ... http://www.manushi.in/docs/Modinama-ebook.pdf

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  8. Actually any type of riots and killings are equally condemnable. It's not Muslim or Hindu or Christian or Sikh or for that matter any religion, teaches us violence but because we as an Indian are religion fanatic gets carried away by the dirty tricks of ruthless player of politics. Anybody who ignites it has some motto behind it. It should be condemned at the very first point. Everybody is condemning post Godhra but not giving equal hatred to Godhra incident. Hatred to post Godhra will have more credence if quoted every time after Godhra incident. Muslim and Hindu both should condemn Godhra & Post Godhra hand in hand with equally raised voice.

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  9. I did get a link to this so called article of facts from Shehzads FB account. Expecting first things first, I looked for Godhra train carnage as that was a flash point.But having found no mention abt that, i ignored the rest of the article. Good that it was taken down by DNA as it was apparently the usual pseudo secular effort.

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    1. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence!

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    2. Sorry, misread your comment. You are saying that you wanted Mr. Poonawalla to talk about the carnage!

      And so you are also implying that the retaliation/violent vengeance by state and civil parties to terrorize and massacre innocent people was civilized and acceptable conduct in a democracy.

      India will never be great if mob rule is acceptable. Its because people think that violence is the answer, that there will always be civil unrest which is a threat to all.

      No matter, there's an American on the Conservative blog link below who thinks just like you and told me so. Sounds like he also believes that Modi will take care of America's Muslim "problem" by way of another massacre of innocent people:

      http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2014/04/16/wednesday-open-thread-april-16th/#comment-758324

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  10. I am circulating this ..truth needs to get out there with a blaring boom lest the defenning lies of the obfuscator par excellence with his treason will drown the voice of secular reason

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Hi Shehzad, I dont know whether my previous comment made into the list. I appreciate your secular attitude. I would like know your opinion on kashmiri pundits issue, love jihad, Indian Mujahidin, SIMI and pre godhra incident. Since I am making these demands doesnt mean that I am supporting Godhra incident. I am of the opinion that 2 wrongs doesn't make a right. Godhra victims has every right to get justice. I am also of the opinion that it is duty of secular muslims to raise non secular activities by non-secular ones and come up with solutions to these kind of issues too. I am not here to critisize your efforts but request you to work with secular people in your community and come up with solutions to address these kind of issues and bridge the gap between both communities.

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