NEW DELHI(Daily Paklish): Even after two decades, the victims of the horrific anti-Muslim riots that took place in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 are still deprived of justice. The central figures of these riots, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah—who were leading Gujarat at the time—are now serving as India’s Prime Minister and Home Minister, while, under the banner of Hindu supremacy, the persecution of Muslims continues in India.
According to a report, more than 2,000 Muslims were brutally martyred in the Gujarat massacre. During this period: 230 mosques and 274 shrines were demolished. Women and children were subjected to severe sexual violence and rape. Although Muslims were traditionally blamed, it was later revealed that the massacre had been planned by the extremist organization “Bajrang Dal.”
Political analysts state that Narendra Modi, just four months after becoming Chief Minister, used these riots as a means of carrying out what they describe as a genocide against Muslims. Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also asked Modi to resign at the time, but instead of showing remorse, Modi strengthened Hindu extremism politically and socially. This is why he came to be referred to internationally as the “Butcher of Gujarat.”
Zakia Jafri, the widow of former Congress leader Ehsan Jafri—who was killed in the Gulberg Society massacre—fought a long legal battle and held Modi directly responsible. However, instead of delivering justice, the Indian system was accused of shielding the perpetrators. In January 2020, the granting of bail to 14 convicts by the Indian Supreme Court raised serious questions about the judiciary’s impartiality.
The Modi government is now actively promoting the Hindutva ideology through state machinery, public speeches, and social media, with the alleged aim of economically and socially boycotting non-Hindu communities, particularly Muslims, and eliminating their presence.