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A decade of Gujarat Carnage 2002
India has witnessed many an acts of
communal violence. Starting from the Jabalpur riot of 1961 to the
last major one of Kandhmal (August 2008). Many an innocent
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Mumbai: Qutubuddin
Ansari, the famous 'face' of the 2002 Gujarat riots, will exhort
Indians to mark as a black day the 10th anniversary of the carnage
on Feb 28, an official said.
"He will come and personally request all Indians to wear black
badges, scarves or bands - to protest against one of the most
inhuman incidents ever in the history of independent India,"
Harmony Foundation President Abraham Mathai told IANS.
Ansari, a tailor by profession whose teary-eyed photos begging
with folded hands for mercy from the mob had been flashed
worldwide, will arrive here with his wife and six-year-old
daughter from Ahmedabad.
Soon after the riots, Ansari had shifted to Kolkata but returned
to his native state two years ago, according to Mathai, former
vice-chairman of Maharashtra Minorities Commission who coaxed him
to come for the Mumbai initiative this Monday and Tuesday.
"He has still not recovered from the scars of the riots and mostly
keeps quiet, minding his business. But Ansari, like many others
who have not yet overcome the nightmare that engulfed the people
of Gujarat, reluctantly agreed to come and launch the campaign for
us," Mathai added.
He said unofficial estimates pegged the number of riot victims at
2,000 besides many others reported missing and many more
grievously injured in the carnage let loose by communal forces.
"Women were widowed and children orphaned when communal forces
hounded out members of a particular community. It was perhaps one
of the cruellest and most inhuman incidents which unfortunately
had the backing of the state. Ten years later, the main
perpetrators of this inhuman crime roam free, with no remorse and
repentance. Enjoying a position of power, the next step for some,
is the post of the prime minister," Mathai said, referring to
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
As a reminder of what happened as a mark of angst and protest,
Harmony Foundation and other organizations will distribute black
ribbons to people, urging them to stand up for the cause of
justice, communal harmony and national integration.
Prominent personalities, including Mahesh Bhatt, Tushar Gandhi,
cop Sanjiv Bhatt and others shall join Ansari in the mission for
solidarity, Mathai said.
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