A 60 minutes segment I watched recently profiles men that were wrongfully convicted by Dallas District Attorney office over years. Now, many of these inmates are being released from prison with some help from the same DA office which is re-examining their cases. One man spent 27 years in prison even though he was innocent all those years and was released recently after a DNA test confirmed his innocence. The judge while releasing him said that this is not justice but just an end to the injustice meted out over all these years.
Indian government took one step in that direction for the victims of Gujarat violence today by announcing a $ 77 million compensation package for them. Rs. 3.5 lakhs will be given to the next of kin for each of the 1169 Indians killed in the violence. The 2548 Indians injured in the violence will each receive Rs. 1.25 lakh and an additional of Rs. 262 crore have been allocated to compensate for the damage caused to businesses. This compensation is similar to what was offered to the Sikh victims of 1984 violence.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government think that this is such a bad idea. Health minister and government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas:
“I would further say this package is discriminatory. Between the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and 2002 Godhra riots, many riots have taken place in the country. Why such kind of compensation have not been given to the other riot victims,” Vyas asked.
“Does the nation have a policy to compensate family of those killed in terrorist attacks,” Vays asked.
The UPA government should declare the compensation to the family of victims of all the terrorist attacks, he demanded.
“Why are Akshardham victim not included in the riot compensation package as the attack had direct relation to the 2002 riots. Same type of package should also be given to the family of victims of recent Jaipur serial blasts,” Vyas said. [Indian Express]
Gujarat government runs one of those rare administrations that has no qualms looking the other way while hundreds of its citizens were being mercilessly murdered. It then proceeded to rub salt to wounds by trying to dismantle the camps where thousands of riot victims took refuge. And then it came up with a compensation package that offered to give Rs. 2 lakhs as compensation to those killed in Sabarmati violence but only Rs. 1 lakh to those killed in subsequent violence. Now, its spokesperson is coming up with such ludicrous pronouncements. As if one man’s injustice should be used as an excuse to serve injustice to another man.
It is indeed laudable that the government of India is providing relief to the victims. However, compensation has been provided by the state government earlier too albeit discriminatorily. It is impossible to fix a price on a life lost and the justice will be served when the perpetuators of violence are prosecuted and convicted of their crimes. We deserve an India where people like Babu Bajrangi can’t live free gloating how they slit open pregnant women. Till then it is just one more step towards the end of injustice.
QUOTE: We deserve an India where people like Babu Bajrangi can’t live free gloating how they slit open pregnant women. Till then it is just one more step towards the end of injustice. UNQUOTE
We also deserve an India where the killers of 58 Hindu pilgrims (23 men, 15 women and 20 children) that started this mayhem CANT LIVE FREE.
I am not saying that muslims are the only ones at fault because they started this thing, but its very confusing how the author can put the entire blame on the other community !!!!!
Please be objective in looking at a scenario instead of sanitizing the actions of your own community. This goes to both hindus and muslims.
@vinod – No indianmuslim, ever denies the scale of the atrocity which took place when sabarmati express was burned. The people responsible for this terrorist act must be apprehended and shot to death in the public square.
What followed this trrorist act was the Tandav dance of “hindu” terror in all its glory. The government of Gujarat, openly abetted the “hindu” death squads which roamed the streets and parcelled death to any muslim they could lay their hands on. You cannot even begin to imagine the insecurity this mayhem has created in the minds of indianmuslims.
You cannot expect a community to be grateful when the knife which was stuck into it, is pulled out a few inches. Infact, even if the knife is fully pulled out it will leave a grim scar which will take a long time to heal. The scars will only heal when justice is given by putting perptrators of the worst riots of India such as sikh, mumbai, bhiwandi, gujarat riots etc behind bars.
It is a pity that ministers like Mr. Vyas should bargain with human life.
Looking at the history of POST INDEPENDENCE communal riots of India (source: “Communalism (South Asia)” @ W’pedia), 2002 Gujarat riots have the second largest number of people killed after the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. This alone is sufficient for any government to give TOP priority to a justful REHABILITATION (not just compensation) of the victims, irrespective of their communal affiliation.
Also, a complete analysis and overhaul of the SECURITY mechanism should be undertaken to ensure that no such event ever happens in the future and that every FAMILY is protected sufficiently.
Only a completely SECULAR (strictly independent of religion/religious influence) mechanism, that bases benefits and protection on OBJECTIVE CRITERIA (like economics, access to facilities and education), instead of communal affiliation, and which targets the FAMILY instead of the community will make this possible.
It is regrettable that even after six years justice has not been done to the Muslim victims of “Gujarat Pogrom”of 2002!
Recently the central govt. announced monetary compensation to them on par with sikh victims of1984 riots!
The amount might not reach the beneficiary fully and in time.
If they are properly rehabiliated, they could lead an honourable existence.
Yes, this is just a relief. Till the time people like Babu Bajrangi are roaming free Justice will elude.
After reading the constant bickering between Indian Hindus and Muslims i can clearly see why one M A Jinnah insisted on a separate Muslim state.Fact is that like it or not Indian Muslims are discriminated against and always will be no matter how much they bend over backwards to impress the majority.
@ Imran.
Perhaps you also sincerely believe that people living in the “separate Muslim state” enjoy a much better life than people in India.
The “separate muslim state” has proved to be the center-peice of terrorism. Doesnt have a democratic government and the only consistent export of that country has been terrorism.
Perhaps you are right, Jinnah was correct in insisting on a separate Muslim state( just to be clear, this is just sarcasm).
Imran,
Go back to pakistan and read the newspapers carefully before u pass a judgement on jinnas success story.
abt the state of minorities in india, well indian minorities have been growing in influence and numbers over the years, and despite our issues (we are home to 1/6th of world population mind u), there haven’t been efforts like in 1971 when millions were killed and an entire minority was targeted for extermination. we’ve had less than our share of problems – and look where we are located – in the centre of crazy unaccountable rogue states with historical baggage…
You will not beleive how much this incident has scarred me. It haunts me.
I have faith in any Good Human intention beyond religion. People have used the name of religion to loot and rape and kill people so they can burry the evidence.I still fell being silent is giving an OK to these horrific killings. In all these.May be i am being too much of a mother, I think of all the orphaned kids
and wonder what must be going through their minds, They lost their parents for no logical reason under the sun. I have no comforting words for them. All i could extend is prayers that they be protected
In India people use Anything conveniently if its not religion it will be Caste wars between 2 Hindu communities. At every level one thing you see is the honest & innocent are hurt in these. The criminals of justice are safe and secure.
My heart felt condolenses to this. I think people (Hindus and Muslims) should come together to help the victims. I really am proud about how some of the school teachers have done by adopting these kids. My blessings and love to the beautiful souls who battle this scar .