The Wharton brouhaha: Let's get
the facts on Modi right
The allegation
that the chief minister of Gujarat did nothing to prevent a ‘series of
orchestrated riots’ in 2001 is indeed serious. This needs some deliberation and
analysis since this has been the most frequently made charge against Modi, says
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.
Just when one thought that enough ink
has been spilled on the 2002 Gujarat riots, comes a new event or act to put the
focus back on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi [ Images ] as the sole
villain in that unfortunate event.
The recent action
by Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to first invite Modi
and then cancel the invitation to him to speak at the Wharton India Economic
Forum on March 23, was based on a letter that noted, 'This is the same
politician who was refused a diplomatic visa by the United States State
Department on March 18, 2005, on the ground that he, as chief minister, did
nothing to prevent a series of orchestrated riots that targeted Muslims in
Gujarat.'
So the
criterion for a good character certificate is a US visa! Chilean dictator
Augusto Pinochet, a succession of South Vietnamese dictators, Zia-ul Haq of
Pakistan, were all issued US visas and feted and honoured in that country.
Going by the history of US hypocrisy on human rights issues, the denial of a US
visa should actually be a badge of honour! Who wants to be equated with the
Pinochets or Zias of the world?
But the second
part of that charge is indeed serious and that is the CM did nothing to prevent
a ‘series of orchestrated riots’. This needs some deliberation and analysis
since this has been the most frequently made charge against Modi.
A riot is a
social phenomenon that is a collective expression of anger/grief and
retribution for a perceived wrong. It also signifies a breakdown of law and order.
In this situation the police are often hugely outnumbered by angry mobs. To
blame the police for riots is akin to blaming doctor for a disease.
Riots are more
akin to a forest fire that is difficult to control and eventually dies down
only after the forest is burned down. The best method to control a forest fire
is to create fire breaks or prevent the initial ‘spark’ that starts it. Riots
generally have a proximate cause as well as long-term simmering grievance. The
horrendous Jabalpur riots of 1961 started with the self-immolation by Usha
Bhargav who had been raped, the Mumbai [ Images ] riots of 1993 that were triggered by
murder of ‘mathadi’ workers and the burning of a family in Radhabai chawl.
The most
horrendous Gujarat riots in 1969 (yes, in terms of spread and killings these
were much worse than the 2002 riots) began with an attack on Jagannath temple
in Ahmedabad [ Images ]. In case of the anti-Sikh riots, the
proximate cause was the assassination of Indira Gandhi [ Images ] while the long-term
reason was the horrendous killing of Hindus in Punjab [ Images ] for over five years!
The anti-Sikh
riots cannot be understood without a reference to the Hindus being pulled out
of buses and being shot in cold blood by Khalistani terrorists on a regular
basis. The bombing of Air-India’s ‘Kanishka’ aircraft in 1985 in which 329
people were killed was the most spectacular among these acts. The Sikhs were perceived
to be the supporters of these acts of terror and became the target of mob
violence. In the case of Gujarat riots of 2002 as well, while the proximate
cause was the burning of the pilgrims in Godhra, the Muslim opposition to the
Ram temple and numerous terrorist incidents were the long-term cause.
To say that the
Gujarat riots of 2002 were ‘orchestrated’ would mean that even the Godhra train
burning that triggered these riots was part of the design! So according to
these worthies, Modi organised the burning of pilgrims and collected mobs to
attack the burning train? A simple question that has never been answered is,
would the Ahmedabad riots have erupted if Godhra had not happened? This
in no way justifies what happened but is a logical question that the Wharton
sages must answer!
It has been the
Indian experience that serious communal riots have been brought under control
only after the Indian Army [ Images ] was deployed. As a
member of that organisation, the author is proud that whenever called to do so,
the Army has been totally non-partisan and protected Indian citizens
irrespective of their faith.
The 2002
Gujarat riots, however, took place under peculiar circumstances. Normally,
close to 3,000 soldiers are located in Ahmedabad. But February/March 2002 were
not normal times. The Army was removed from peace stations and located on the
border, almost 600 kilometres away, in the wake of the December 2001 attack on
Parliament. All those who accuse the Gujarat government of ineffectiveness in
controlling the riots have deliberately missed out this crucial point.
It should be
easy through the RTI Act to find out the exact sequence of events, as to when
Army help was requisitioned and when the first troops arrived and from where.
As an aside, in the case of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, it is a known fact that
the Army in New Delhi [ Images ] and nearby Meerut cantonment was ready
but was not called for 72 hours! This evidence is crucial in finding out
whether the government of the day acted sincerely or with mala fide
intent. It was amusing to see all and sundry demonstrating in the US on the anniversary
of these riots.
These worthies
have forgotten the 1992 Los Angeles riots that went on for six days or the
Mumbai riots of 1993 that went on for a week, but yet want to single out
Gujarat for condemnation. Nobody has held Hitendra Desai (Gujarat chief
minister in 1969), Sharad Pawar [ Images ]/Sudhakarrao Naik
(Maharashtra [ Images ] chief ministers in
1993), Rajiv Gandhi [ Images ], prime minister in
1984 (the central government was in charge of the police in Delhi), Tarun Gogoi
[ Images ], chief minister of
Assam, responsible for the riots on their watch.
The Wharton
worthies as well as the US State Department, hugely influenced by some lobbies,
have also forgotten that despite the horrendous attack on the Akshardham temple
[ Images ] on September 24,
2002 (29 killed) or the Ahmedabad blasts of July 26, 2008 (60 killed), communal
peace was maintained under the same Modi. If he is to be crucified for the 2002
riots, what about these two incidents?
While Modi may
not admit it, the fact remains that in March 2002 he had been barely in the
saddle for six months and had not come to grips with teh state administration.
It is noteworthy that he had held no office before this and had no
administrative experience.
Come to think
of it, the only other politician so consistently vilified in India was the late
Indira Gandhi! The print media (there was no electronic media then) accused her
of every political sin from being a ‘dictator’ (even before the 1975
Emergency). She was equally unpopular abroad, with former US President Richard
Nixon using choicest abuse against her in private!
The strongest
point of Indira Gandhi was her staunch nationalism. Even her worst critic never
doubted that. The other trait she exhibited was tough and ruthless action where
the national interest was concerned. One has a sneaky suspicion that it is this
very combination that some see in Modi and therefore there is a concerted
campaign to malign him and somehow prevent him from assuming a leadership role.
Imagine an India led by Modi being browbeaten by Italy [ Images ], Sri Lanka [ Images ], Pakistan, China or the US? It is this
conviction that seems to motivate his critics.
If Indira
Gandhi’s political success is anything to go by, then Modi should not be
worried. However, as a nationalist Indian who has some experience and knowledge
about the internal security issues (as well as practical experience of dealing
with riots), it is time that Modi’s and India’s critics need to be exposed for
their double standards, hypocrisy and sheer lies.
Colonel (retd)
Anil Athale is a former Shivaji fellow of United Services Institution on
internal security and co-ordinator of the Pune-based Indian initiative for
peace, arms-control & disarmament.
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
