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Politicians, gamblers keep Gujarat's cycle of violence going

On Tuesday morning, Gujarat's communal fires finally singed Kutch when clashes broke out in Anjaar, a town made famous by the Republic Day earthquake of 2001.

Violence continues to rear its head daily in Gujarat, in one part or another. Though Chief Minister Narendra Modi dismisses these incidents as "chutput ghatnaye" (minor incidents), political observers read some kind of pattern in it. As sociologist Achyut Yagnik said, there are many issues and competing political forces that are contributing to the continuance of clashes.

A resident of Cambay squarely laid the blame for riots in his ancient city on gambling syndicates. He told rediff.com, "Some businessmen in my circle had offered us a bet before Holi [March 29] on the possibility of riots in Cambay. These satodias (betting syndicates) were offering us odds of 1:1.5." Thus, if you bet Rs 10 on riots breaking out on a stipulated day, you stood to get back Rs 15.

A source said, "Gamblers in our city, both Hindus and Muslims, had already pledged around Rs 40 lakh by Friday. I am told that the local police were also aware of this betting."

And so it came to pass that on March 28 Cambay, which had been calm all along, reported disturbances for the first time when miscreants tried to create tension around the Jain temple. Police opened fire in the air; no one was injured.

In Gomtipur area of Old Ahmedabad, it was a rumour that triggered fresh clashes that resulted in the death of three persons, two of them in police firing, while 14 others were injured in a fierce battle fought with stones, cola bottles filled with petrol, heated marbles and crude bombs.

The crisis began when a large crowd gathered before the Shamsher Baug Masjid to witness the 'miraculous formation' of the Islamic holy figure 786 in a bucket of lemon juice! News of the alleged miracle spread like wild fire. The maulvi of the mosque even called Zee News at 9.30pm to send a camera team to record it.

According to Zee's news co-ordinator Bhargava Parikh, "Before we could reach the spot, we found a large crowd of Hindus gathered near Shanker Ghanchi Lane fearing an attack. They were scared to see a huge crowd rushing to the masjid."

In a volatile place like Gomtipur, once charged crowds come face to face, clashes are inevitable. Here, like in many other parts of Gujarat, dalits live in close proximity with Muslims. The crowd in Shanker Ghanchi Lane consisted mostly of dalits.

Both sides were prepared, said social worker Ashok Shrimali, a resident of the area who saw the clash. "A huge fire started when petrol bombs were thrown on a residential area. A few dalit homes got burnt, tension increased and things became uncontrollable."

Parikh, who witnessed the entire battle from a police jeep, said, "People had unusual weapons. Long swords to gilole (a handy instrument made of strings and leather) and handmade sulphate bombs. Bottles of Thums Up filled with petrol were in plenty."

Shrimali remarked, "The Muslims were screaming revenge while the dalits seemed to have been provoked by politicians. In our area Congress leaders are active again."

Pravin Pandya, a former member of the state scheduled caste board, said, "Since dalits have suffered more casualties, the Congress is playing with their insecurity. If dalits are pitted against Muslims, which is quite an easy game, the Congress stands to gain."

But Naresh Rawal, leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat assembly, dismissed this allegation as "raddi" (rubbish). Instead, the Congressman, who visited Kadi -- which witnessed clashes last week -- on Sunday evening, told rediff.com, "The way riots are spreading to new areas, we can see the BJP pattern emerging."

Kadi is Gujarat Finance Minister Nitin Patel's constituency. "According to all the victims I met," Rawal said, "Patel was present when the riots were on. The police had booked some miscreants for inciting crowds and rioting after Godhra. When these persons were released on bail they were taken around in a procession and garlanded by BJP supporters. This charged the atmosphere again, leading to riots."

With the disturbances spreading to newer places, a Congress Working Committee member told rediff.com, "One has no option but to link the spread of riots with the BJP infighting in the state. No one disputes that the BJP's image has been tarnished by the riots. Even Home Minister L K Advani said in Parliament that Gujarat tarnished his record."

This Congress politician said Modi has been facing intense pressure from the powerful Patel lobby within his party. "If you see the riot-struck areas on the political map of Gujarat, since the last week riots are spreading in Patel-dominated areas. Patels have been snubbed by Modi and are up against him," he argued.

Added Rawal, "The controversial transfers of police officers too are helping the BJP. People in Kadi got provoked after the recent transfers. A police inspector who was recently brought in from Kalol is serving the government's purpose."

In adjoining Adudra village, when a mob set 60 houses ablaze at midnight, the police remained inactive, an eyewitness told rediff.com And sparks began to fly in Kutch only after Superintendent of Police Vivek Srivastava, who had kept a tight leash on the district, was transferred to Ahmedabad as deputy commissioner for prohibition.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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