People's Democracy

Bapu Nagar camp is the second biggest relief camp housing nearly 7,000 victims of the state sponsored genocide in Ahmedabad. As the long convoy of cars carrying the delegation of People's Front turned from the highway towards Bapu Nagar, we could see thousands of people lined up on both sides of the road to greet the leaders. People were standing on the rooftops, on the trees almost everywhere there were people.

It surprised us to see that many of them were looking glad. After all that they have gone through, and are still going through, one does not expect to see smiling faces. But there were many who were smiling, cheering and shouting slogans of Zindabad as they sighted the top leaders of the People's Front. Their anger and frustration was also apparent in their loud slogans against Narendra Modi and the state police.

One major outcome of the visit of the People's Front leaders to Ahmedabad on April 24 was the instilling of hope and sense of brotherhood among the thousands of victims. "We have come here to share your grief. The entire nation is with you. We shall all together fight these fascist forces" said CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet in his brief address at the camp. Samajwadi party president Mulayam Singh Yadav charged that those who had played no role at all in the freedom struggle are now trying to seize the entire country for themselves. He said that Hindustan belongs as much to the Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and others as it belongs to the Hindus. This drew loud applause from the people. CPI general secretary A B Bardhan in his speech appealed to the victims not to fall into a revengeful response mode. He said this would only help the fascist forces.

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and SP general secretary Amar Singh also spoke.

Among those living in this camp are the survivors of the most brutal massacre in Naroda Patiya, in which more than hundred Muslims - women, children, young men and the old were raped, butchered and burnt. Also crammed in the worn out tents were people from Chaman Nagar and Bapu Nagar areas. They complained to the People's Front leaders about the direct killings being carried out by the police in the form of firing. One resident narrated how on March 1, the police had intentionally fired on them to push them towards the waiting mob.

The leaders took stock of the living conditions of the people in the camp and were "shocked to the core" at the abominable conditions prevailing. They demanded that rehabilitation work must start immediately. Many residents tried to pour out their feelings and difficulties to the leaders. As the delegation left the camp to their next destination, the people gave them a warm send off with slogans of "Zindabad". Mohd. Shafique, a resident of the camp reflected the mood of the people when he said "Inkaa Yahaan Aanese hame bahut khushi hui " ( these leaders visit here has made us immensely happy)

The Modi administration tried to prevent the People's Front delegation from undertaking their visit. When the delegation reached the state guest house in the morning of April 24, an official of the state government informed them that permission has not been granted. He cited the usual reasons of curfew, sensitive situation etc. The leaders bluntly told the officer- you arrest us or shoot us or do whatever but we are going to visit the camps and other places. The state government ultimately relented and allowed the visit.

The first stop of the delegation was Naroda Patia. The leaders and the accompanying press persons from Delhi were numbed by what they saw here. Though much has been written about the mass rape and burning of women, the brutal killings of men, children and even foetus, the delegation was overwhelmed by what they saw. In one of the burnt and partially demolished house, one could see the remains of a small girl child's frock, half burnt and blackened but still hanging from the wall hanger. In another house a set of cup saucers was still placed on a shelf. There were burnt cycles, carts, almirahs etc. strewn all around the colony. The leaders went into a few houses and saw this. No one spoke anything. Some were trying hard to fight back their tears just imagining the gruesome horrors faced by the people who lived here.

The delegation then went on to Bapu Nagar camp where they were received with great enthusiasm. From there the next stop was Al- Amin Gareeb Nawaz hospital in Gomtipur. Both these areas are under curfew after renewed mob attacks on the Muslims from April 21. More than 30 people lost their lives and scores injured in these areas since April 21. What is shocking is that many of these deaths were as a result of indiscriminate police firing. Many of the injured in the latest attacks were being treated in this hospital. Due to lack of adequate beds most of the young male patients were accomodated in the verandahs. Many received head injuries due to stone throwing by the mobs. There were also some who survived the police firing. Sher Khan, a 14 year old boy was shot in his abdomen by the police. Though the bullet was removed, doctors say he is still not out of danger. The leaders went around all the wards, including a separate one for women victims.

Continuing their visit, the People's Front delegation proceeded towards Jhuapura camp. Even this area is under curfew after the renewed violence unleashed by the VHP-Bajrang Dal mobs. The camp is home to nearly three thousand victims. Here, a four room pre-fabricated structure was erected to house the ladies and children. Many more continue to live in the hot sun under nothing but low quality shamianas. Some of the elderly people and children are escaping the heat by taking shelter in the neighbouring houses of Muslims during the afternoons. Except for providing some foodgrains, the state government has done virtually nothing for the people living in the camps, said Rasool Khan, a social worker who is managing this camp.

How the VHP-Bajrang Dal goons are having a field day in Gujarat can be seen in the instance of attacks on this camp. This camp is in a low lying area which consists mostly of small ground floor structures. This area is surrounded by some high rise flats. After the outbreak of violence most of the original flat owners have left their homes and moved away. These buildings are now taken over by the VHP mobs and are being daily used for attacks on Jhuapura camp. Rasool Khan told us that it has become a common feature to face night long attacks of petrol bombs with full support of the police who supplement the mob attacks with their firing.

The leaders received equally enthusiastic response from the people in Jhuapura area. They were asked to ensure justice for the victims. Surjeet, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Deve Gowda and Debabrata Biswas addressed the people here.

(Immediately after the visit of People's Front leaders, the camp was again attacked by mobs and the police. Many were injured in this joint attack. One tear gas shell fired by the police fell on Mohammed Bhai's head. Later in the evening he was brought to the state guest house during the press conference being addressed by the People's Front leaders. The leaders condemned this attack and said it exposed the completely sectarian attitude of the police forces.)

The next visit was to the Vadilal Sarabhai General Hospital run by the Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad. The leaders went around the main ward where hundreds of victims of the violence are being treated. They met with the senior doctors of the hospital who briefed them about the number of patients and the kind of treatment they were being given. Many patients expressed gratitude for the tremendous amount of work being put in by the staff of the hospital in taking care of them.

The final stop was the Kankhriya camp, which is a large building housing around 300 victims.

The first thing the delegation did after arriving in Ahmedabad was hold interactive meetings with various sections of people. A group of Muslim representatives narrated their experiences and impressions. Nisaar Ahmed Ansari felt that the preparations for carrying out this carnage were on much before the Godhra killings. In August last year itself the Bajrang Dal had carried out a massive campaign of distributing trishuls. The blatant support of the state government for this was evident from the fact that one such function took place right in front of the Police Commissioner's office. Afzal Memon in his remarks told the leaders that after carrying out this carnage the saffron brigade now wants to forcibly close down the camps and drive out all Muslims from Ahmedabad. That is why they are raising this bogey of anti-social and ISI elements infiltration in the camps. While narrating the incidents of violence Afzal Memon broke down.

After this group, a delegation of trade union leaders called on the team and presented their views. AITUC, Gujarat Federation of Trade Unions, CITU, HMKP leaders spoke. Their drive was that what was going on in Gujarat is not ordinary communalism but fascism in action. It was a sort of ethnic cleansing. A systematic campaign was on to drive out Muslim workers from all the industries. The People's Front leaders advised the TU leaders to intensify their work among the workers for maintaining class unity.

A group of NGOs met the leaders and presented their views. Teesta Setalvad, editor of Communalism Combat , who has been involved in the relief work and documentation of the violence, made it clear that even today a climate of utter fear prevails in the state. She said whatever is happening cannot be termed a riot but a state sponsored genocide.

Father Cedric Prakash of Citizen's Initiative said that the conditions in the relief camps were abominable. With many residents suffering from diarrhoea and measles, there was the danger of epedemic breaking out. There were no medicines available for treating the people. He told the leaders that the state government is least bothered about providing any assistance in the running of the camps.

Dr. Darshini Mahadev, social worker said that there is no trace of any law and order in the state. Everything is being settled on the streets. Those Muslims who showed courage and returned back to their homes were being attacked again and driven away. The refrain of the VHP appears to be "we will drive away all Muslims from Ahmedabad".

At a press conference just before leaving, the People's Front leaders expressed their firm resolve to treat the fight against sangh parivar fascism as their top most priority. They demanded proper utilisation of Army stationed in Gujarat. They also demanded the state governor S S Bhandari to come out with a report of the law and order situation in the state.

By the time the People's Front delegation started back for Delhi in the night, their impressions of a state sponsored genocide continuing in Ahmedabad have been doubly reinforced.