Recently Justice Nanavati-Mehta (N-M) submitted their report to Govt. (Sept 2008). What it has done must be very close to the desire of the ruling establishment which reaped a rich harvest due to the Godhra train burning and the anti Muslim pogrom in the aftermath of the same.
The report after the investigation for six long years is just the first part. While legally it is tangible that the investigating judge can present the report in parts, the logic behind this is not very clear. In a way the outcome of the report should have been well predicted as just some months after being appointed, Nanvati and (then) Shah stated that there is not much evidence against VHP etc., and this gave the indication that the commission had already made up its mind as to what type of report was to be given. The depositions of the witnesses and the evidence presented was selectively constructed to ratify the pre arrived conclusions or what were to be presented as the conclusions.
N-M report operates on the basis that it was a preplanned conspiracy by local Muslims in collaboration with the ISI. It concludes that Haji Umarji the local cleric presided over the meeting of Muslims where this conspiracy was hatched. They bought 140 liters of petrol, cut open the vestibule between S 6 and S 7, spread the petrol and burnt the coach. This conclusion is arrived without even a single eyewitness to the burning of the train. There were 200 passengers in the overcrowded train but no eye witness account has been cited to ratify their conclusion.
This conspiracy theory has serious holes in it. That the train is carrying the returning Kar Sevaks was not a public knowledge, not even the state officials knew about it. The only people who knew that the Ram sevaks were returning by that train were the VHP-BJP combine. The train was late by five hours and this totally debunks the theory of conspiracy by Muslim community. If they did not know that train is carrying Ram Sevaks how could they conspire and how could they implement the same if train was late? If conspiracy is at all to be believed the finger of suspicion should be in some other direction!
Than, if the commission says the vestibule was cut open, why such valuable evidence was permitted to be sold in the scrap? The depositions show that the first train stoppage at Godhra station was due to the Ram Sevaks pulling the chain as some of them were left out on the platform and the second one was due to technical fault. For conspiracy by them they should have stopped the train, which is not the case. This again goes against the conspiracy by Muslims theory.
While trying to come to this theory first N-M operated on the line that the burning rags and some chemicals were thrown from the windows but soon it shifted to the theory that vestibule was cut. The earlier thesis that petrol was poured from outside was not tenable as Forensic laboratory, FSL, had strongly maintained that petrol cannot be poured from outside due to the height of the rail track and the height of the train. Then comes the vestibule theory. One imagines for cutting the vestibule the train has to be stopped by the conspirators, but second time the train stopped due to technical snag and not due to pulling of chain. And then to cut the vestibule to be able to enter the coach is not an easy job.
The report is a new low in the arena of investigation. So far we witness a good deal of objectivity in many inquiry committees. But this is totally silent on practically most of the crucial issues involved in the train burning. Sophia Bano was dragged by Kar Sevaks and she stated the same to the commission, but her testimony has been sidelined. The commission has based its total finding on the police officer Noel Parmar, whose findings were rejected by the Supreme Court and so it appointed R.K Raghavan. The hurry, in which N-M has submitted its part one, can easily be understood. As Lok Sabha elections are close, this part is meant to influence the elections. As such as is clear from the functioning of this commission it was already working on the theory propounded by Narendera Modi in the aftermath of Godhra train burning, and N-M have just ratified his thesis. They have selectively picked and chosen the evidences to suit their preformed opinion, ignoring the crucial testimonies which could have led them to the truth.
The N-M report is totally silent on Justice U.C. Bannerjee report. As per the railway act after every major accident, a probe has to be instituted. In this case that time BJP ally Nitish Kumar was the railway minister and he did not abide by the rule, no inquiry was done ostensibly to protect his ally. When Lalu Yadav became the railway minister he instituted Bannerjee committee, which concluded that it was an accident. Now if N-M is coming with it today, already one report is already there, whose finding are contrary to its own. In that case it has to refute them to stand the ground. No such effort is made. One also fails to understand as to why the demand to cross examine Modi was rejected as there was a case for interrorogating him, based on phone call records. Most importantly the whole thesis of burning by patrol falls to the ground with FSL report saying that the analysis of residues shows that petrol was not used.
R.B. Sreekumar, who has been one of the forthright officers and he refused to bow to the Modi administration. He filed his affidavit to N-M commission giving his version. He commented that he was threatened by state officials if he dares to speak the truth. He had recorded these conversations also. N-M was duty bound to take these seriously, either to accept them or reject them with due explanation, but there is a total silence on the submissions of Sreekumar.
All in all this report is a disgrace on the norms of investigation. This also symbolizes that there are sections in professional life who are willing to play to the bidding of the rulers to please them for various reasons or they themselves are heavily under ideological influence to deviate from professionalism, objectivity and pursuit of truth.
Photo: Indian Train
To all…I’m actually not the one who even brought up Kashmir in this thread…someone else did in response to one of my comments. At this point, I’m simply responding to accusations.
“I clarified regarding Language. No Tamil knows Urdu in India and when I said Kashmiri know Hindi/Urdu is because I have seen them speak it.”
That’s an issue of your personal experience then. It doesn’t sound like you’ve ever been to Kashmir…your experience of Kashmir seems to be limited to a handful of businessmen you’ve met in India (and even they probably only know Urdu and not Hindi). I’ve met several Madrasi Muslims who speak perfect Urdu…by your logic, I suppose that means that Tamils “know Urdu” in general.
“And The kashmiris living in tents in Jammu and Delhi in chilled winter who support India have no comparison with the feudal lords who supported British.”
Why not? They’re both fringe minorities whose views go against the will of the overwhelming majority of their compatriots.
“Does hurriyat have any leader whom India/Pakistan respect leave alone the world at large.”
Funny you say that considering the fact that the Congress couldn’t even build consensus among all the people of the Subcontinent. Nehru and Gandhi weren’t respected by the people of modern day Pakistan, while Jinnah and Liaquat Ali didn’t get any support from what’s now India.
“Congress and Hurriyat also has far lesser similarities as Congress did participate In the British sponsored elections and you yourself don’t want to even participate in them.”
The British held free & fair elections, and made it clear that they planned on leaving India and were phasing in a native government…two things India has yet to do in Kashmir.
“Talking to you however it seemed I was talking to someone in Bajrang Dal. Because neither of you seem to talk peace.”
When did I mention war? The recent pro-independence movement in Kashmir has been entirely peaceful…it’s the Indian forces who have been butchering unarmed protesters and attacking hospitals.
@ Nishka,
“We can have a discussion and have a level playing field when Hindus like me who have been booted out of the valley (not just in the last 17 years but for years before that) only because we are Hindus will be relocated.”
Who was “booted out” before 20 years ago? Muslims ceased to have authority in Kashmir centuries ago…if any Hindus were booted out over the past 200 years, it was by their fellow Indians, not Kashmiri Muslims.
“Also, when the renaming of ancient sites into Islamic names are stopped – Anantnag is now Islamabad and Hari Parbat is Tukt-e-Suleiman.”
Any real Kashmiri would know that those are popular names that are centuries old.
“Also, do not speak for Jammu and Ladakh – they don’t want to seperate.”
I never claimed to…if they want to stay in India that’s their prerogative, just as its the right of the Kashmiri-speakers of the Valley and Doda to separate. Though seeing the way that they were treated by the Jammu rioters, I wouldn’t be surprised if the independence movement is gaining momentum among the people of Punch and Rajouri too.
“When you speak of creating a secular Kashmir you are lying through your teeth given the forced islamicization of the valley. What you want is another Pakistan and that you will not get. It is a movement supported by fanatical states like Pakistan”
There’s nothing to respond to here…just hate-filled drivel.
Sahil, Thanks for at least replying to Koshur. You are the first Indian Muslim who is not in delusion. Others are. I do not support Koshur and just to soothen your opinion about kashmiris I am a koshur as well. If India will listen to popular opinion then it will have to listen to all popular opinions that now threaten India. India will lose Maharashtra to MNS, Kashmir to Hurriyat, Nagaland to Nagas and so on and on. I don’t agree with Milind. India will have to curb all these sub nationalisms whether they are Hindu, Muslim, regional or linguistic. And if popular opinion is the key it should be the popular opinion of Indians towards Kashmir and not of a small region within India. Otherwise take popular opinions of everyone out there today on street and decide fate of India.
@Koshur,
“Fringe minority that went against the wishes of an overwhelming majority”.
Just two points
- By that logic the Kashmiri muslim is the fringe minority in India that should be booted out
- Pandits were the original inhabitants of the valley – ethnically cleansing them and their symbols (names and temples) is called genocide and that is how the world will see you
@ Imtiaz,
“India will lose Maharashtra to MNS, Kashmir to Hurriyat, Nagaland to Nagas and so on and on.”
It sounds like you believe that no one actually wants to be a part of your beloved India. If the majority of Indians want independence for their respective states, then what in God’s name is keeping India together…brute force and suppression of popular will? If that’s the case, then what right does India really have to exist…suppressing the will of over 1.1 billion people?
It sounds to me like you’re just making up a ludicrous doom & gloom scenario.
@ Nishka,
“By that logic the Kashmiri muslim is the fringe minority in India that should be booted out”
A laughably ludicrous point. Kashmiris aren’t demanding hegemony over all of India, they simply want control over their homeland, where they are by no stretch of the imagination a minority. Your argument is actually far more applicable to the ridiculousness that is the Panun Kashmir movement, where a population consisting of less than 5% of all Kashmiris is demanding complete hegemony over 60% of the Valley so they can suppress the will of the remaining 95% of the Kashmiri people through a virtual apartheid state.
“Pandits were the original inhabitants of the valley”
Another ridiculous point. Where pray tell did Kashmiri Muslims come from…I suppose in your delusional world we just fell from the sky and landed in Kashmir. We are as much the descendants of the “original inhabitants” of Kashmir as any Pandit.
“ethnically cleansing them and their symbols (names and temples) is called genocide and that is how the world will see you”
How do you think the world sees you? Your own government admits that over the past 20 years, its soldiers have butchered nearly 200 Kashmiri Muslim civilians for every Pandit who was killed. Your army of filthy barbarians violates international law by massacring unarmed protesters, attacking ambulances, and firing into patient wards in hospitals, and then you babble about “genocide?”
These are all just doomsday scenarios. It is not as if everyone wants to secede.
There will always be people who will grumble about their lot, but that does not mean they want to sever their ties with India
@Koshur:
“It sounds like you believe that no one actually wants to be a part of your beloved India”
The statement itself is contradictory… Get a Life Mr Koshur. We Indians dont need to learn the lessons from outsider. Its our internal matter and we will address it together.
BTW .. Our Beloved India has Just launched Chandrayan.. to Moon
Congrates to you too on this.
@Koshur
“A laughably ludicrous point. Kashmiris aren’t demanding hegemony over all of India”
Its not about what your demanding.. We Indians have lot of such experiences like your today’s demand. and We will take care of it.
@Koshur:
“We are as much the descendants of the “original inhabitants” of Kashmir as any Pandit.”
Yes you are original inhabitant.. and as your forefathers too.
What point Nishka was making is more on what faith is being followed today.
Untill 10,000 years ago there were no civilization (may be).. Until 5000 years ago there no pandits .. and advent of Islam in valley is in 1400 AD.
So there is no doubt you are orignial inhabitant of Kashmir..
But in the same light We all are original inhabitant of mother earth. (including animals, plants and humans) who all have the same life..
We humans have made the boundaries, there were no boundaries made by God, and we have brought this struggle of what is mine and what is not mine.
There have pre buddhist artifacts found in chitral, gigit, around karakoram and many other places in Kashmir.. So its not question of “Original Inhabitant”… There is long History and we all the the inhabitant of the same land..
God has not created land masses in vaccum and created boundaries and allocated to the different races. If that is the case then why rivers knows no boundary and so does mountains…
Its man made problem … so human is fighting for this Issue (The boundaries) is going on since ever and will go … because we human want to focus on boundaries and our faith … and want to even die for it.
What I feel is that God given land is now too small for us .. so we have divide it and fight for it.
As far as my personal belief is concerned I believe that although Nepal Burma Bhutan Sri Lanka and even Pakistan is not physcial part of one single nation. but if there are still many similarities between althese Soverign Nations …
Who told us where the boundary ends and where the next region start .. its the narrrow mindness of politics form which this has emerged.. in wider terms of humanity and even each faith there is no such things as boundary.
@Koshur.
We disagree with you. As maintaing law and order and dealing with millitant is different than persecuting the fellow citizens specially based on their religion and caste.
By pointing finger at others mistake, you cant answer your own conscience and God for your mistakes.
We are proud to be Indian .. We have always been and We will Always be.
And Our only repsonse to you …. is of a True Indians Response….
— We know only one identity .. That is Indian …
Being Indian is not based on any caste, creed, religion, language ….
Its the Civilization, Its Culture and Its Sense of teh Uniformity and Unity..
We choose to be hopeful and optimistic and to be Very Proud of our Heritage.
We are Humans and We are not perfect .. But God willing … Coming Generation will be proud this generation…
———– JAI HIND ———–
“Get a Life Mr Koshur. We Indians dont need to learn the lessons from outsider.”
I have news for you. You Indians are the “outsiders” in Kashmir…you always have been and you always will be.
Koshur, As 2 human beings do we share 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 legs and 2 hands or in your effort of being completely different do you want to say that even the Allah you believe in is different.
Imtiaz I agree with you. If its all about popular opinions then why pick an opinion of 50 million people and why not 500 million people.
I only wish that the innocent people in valley can get their mental peace and lives back on track.
And least to say that Nanavati commission report is not required.
There has to be a balance struck between totalitarianism in Kashmir and anarchy in Bihar. We need to function as a robust and mature democracy.
For this, a lot of contribution will be required from the intelligentsia, who normally content themselves with a spectatorial perspective.
Sahil,
“Imtiaz I agree with you. If its all about popular opinions then why pick an opinion of 50 million people and why not 500 million people.”
What utter nonsense.
Lets apply the same ludicrous standards to your beloved India. Why doesn’t India allow the whole world (or at least all of South Asia) participate in its elections next year? Why should 1 billion people make a decision that could potentially impact 6 billion in one way or another?
”Lets apply the same ludicrous standards to your beloved India. Why doesn’t India allow the whole world (or at least all of South Asia) participate in its elections next year? Why should 1 billion people make a decision that could potentially impact 6 billion in one way or another?”
Dear Koshur, This can’t happen now because neither South asia wants azaadi from India neither India from them. However I hope south asia unites some day and I agree with you that then it will be a very welcome move.
talk about riots of gujarat but also tell what caused that Riot
Do not ignore the fact
Innocent lives burnt in Godhra Train
What were their faults?
If there were no Godhra..There would have been No riot
So the seed of Guarat Riot were sown by Muslims in the form of Godhra Train Burning
Hi,
I am would not know whether to believe or not believe this one off.
An Imam, (yes, a moslem and a religious one too), is praising Modi for the great work he is doing as CM for the welfare of ALL Gujarath citizen, which enormously benefits the moslem community also!!
Mufti Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui, the Imam of the biggest mosque in Ahmedabad, is all praise for Modi and his govt. Siddiqui, a native of Sirsa in Bihar, has been living in Ahmedabad since 1982.
He is unabashed about his admiration for the CM and would like Modi, already popular among Shia muslims, to gain acceptance among the Sunnis too. The Jama Masjid Imam calls the 2002 riots an “atrocity” but adds that the projection of the riots was “much graver” than what had actually happened.
“The time has come now to move on. It is seven years since the riots, and many people have already started forgetting what had happened,” he told the newsmedia.
The Imam says Modi has ensured peace after 2002 and feels the chief minister has “lived up to the expectations”. “Muslims too have an opportunity to prosper in the peaceful environment that the Modi government has created. Modi has provided an atmosphere which is conducive for those who want to do business in Gujarat,” he says.
According to Siddiqui, Modi does not need Muslim votes to win the elections. It is up to the Muslims to make friends with the chief minister. He argues that muslims must appreciate the performance of the CM, “if he is good”.
He is also happy that the spread of the hardliner Tablighis in Gujarat, who have created numerous problems for moderate moslems in recent years, has been checked by the Modi government by blocking the influx of foreign funds through `hawala’.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Ahmedabads-Imam-is-Modi-admirer/articleshow/4171018.cms
@Satwa gunam: ‘An Imam, (yes, a moslem and a religious one too), is praising Modi for the great work he is doing as CM for the welfare of ALL Gujarath citizen, which enormously benefits the moslem community also!!’
What you wanna say…if someone in some corner of the world praises a robber, do you mean that robber should be released scott free. Whats the logic. Does India’s legal system based on some comments or opinions of some person… be it imam or anybody. This is omething hilarious. Leran to call spade a spade instead of desperately finding reasons or excuses to defend the unjustifiable.