Tags:
Journalism of Courage
February 27 evening: Police machinery paralysed, no precautionary measures, no deployment in sensitive parts of the city. Narendra Modi and other ministers condemn the incident and make inflammatory statements.
This evening: A few hours after terrorists storm Akshardham, police and security forces put on high alert. By night, paramilitary forces deployed in sensitive areas. Police start intensive checking of vehicles and detaining ‘‘suspicious’’ characters.
Given Modi’s track record and the sensitive nature of the temple attack—terrorists are yet to be overpowered—few here want to predict how today’s strike will play out over the next few days. But one thing is clear: the Government and the party’s reaction to Akshardham is very different from that to Godhra, at least on Day One.
Consider the following:
• The BJP promptly supported the VHP bandh call after Godhra but today state BJP general secretary Suresh Gandhi issued a statement that the Sept 26 bandh call is VHP’s decision alone and the BJP won’t support it.
• After Godhra, Modi and his colleagues made inflammatory ‘‘action-reaction’’ statements. Today, soon after the message from Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, Deputy PM L K Advani, Modi appealed to people to show restraint and maintain peace.
• Director General of Police K Chakravarthy called up SPs of sensitive districts and issued orders to maintain law and order at all cost.
• BJP leaders at the state party office were constantly in touch with local leaders asking them to maintain peace—no such appeals were made after the Godhra. Suresh Gandhi was seen speaking to ward-level leaders, issuing directions that all night programmes be cancelled in sensitive areas. ‘‘This attack is an attempt to flare communal passions. Ensure that peace is maintained at all cost,’’ he told a leader in Khadia.
• At the VHP office in Paldi, state general secretary Kaushik Mehta was co-ordinating relief work. ‘‘We have sent ambulances and a team of 20 doctors to the spot and to hospitals,’’ he said. Meanwhile, phones kept ringing and he told volunteers that a bandh would be observed on Thursday. It was unlike the night of Godhra when there were several closed-door meetings.
• Unlike on the night of February 27, police presence was increased drastically across Ahmedabad. A massive vehicle checking drive was launched. In sensitive areas like Dariyapur, Shahpur, Rakhial, Gomtipur, Naroda, Bapunagar, Vejalpur and Danilimda, police stopped almost all vehicles and checked them thoroughly before allowing them to go.
• At Naroda Patiya, which witnessed large scale communal riots, the mood was tense unlike on February 27 when things were normal. But no incident was reported until late evening. Most shops in the area closed down but traffic continued normally on the road passing through the area.
Two police jeeps were stationed just outside Naroda Patia, while dozens of policemen were seen along the road joining Naroda and Kalupur station. No such arrangement was made after the Godhra incident.
