Narendra Modi was chief Minister of Gujarat when rumors spread that 60 Hindus killed on a burning train had been caused by an attack by Muslims. In the ensuing violence that followed somewhere between 900 and 2,000 muslims were killed by Hindu mobs in retaliation. Mr. Modi was accused of inciting the mobs through the actions taken by his government.
The 2002 Gujarat violence, also known as 2002 Gujarat riots and the Gujarat pogrom[1][2] was a three-day period of inter-communal violence in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Following the initial incident there were further outbreaks of violence in Ahmedabad for three weeks; statewide, there were further outbreaks of mass killings against the minority Muslim population for three months.[3][4] The burning of a train in Godhra on 27 February 2002, which caused the deaths of 58 people including Hindu activists returning from Ayodhya, is believed to have triggered the violence.[5][6] Some commentators, however, hold the view that the attacks had been pre-planned, were well orchestrated, and that the attack on the train was a "staged trigger" for what was actually premeditated violence.[7][8]
According to official figures, the riots resulted in the deaths of 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus; 2,500 people were injured non-fatally, and 223 more were reported missing.[9] Other sources estimate that up to 2,000 Muslims died.[10] There were instances of rape, children being burned alive, and widespread looting and destruction of property. Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as have police and government officials who allegedly directed the rioters and gave lists of Muslim-owned properties to them.[11]In 2012, Modi was cleared of complicity in the violence by a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India. The Muslim community are reported to have reacted with "anger and disbelief" and activist Teesta Setalvad has said that the legal process was not yet complete as there existed a right to appeal.[12] In July 2013 allegations were made that the SIT had suppressed evidence.[13] That December, an Indian court upheld the earlier SIT report and rejected a petition seeking Modi's prosecution.[14] In April 2014, the Supreme Court expressed satisfaction over the SIT's investigations in nine cases related to the violence, and rejected as "baseless" a plea contesting the SIT report.[15]
The 2002 Gujarat violence, also known as 2002 Gujarat riots and the Gujarat pogrom[1][2] was a three-day period of inter-communal violence in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Following the initial incident there were further outbreaks of violence in Ahmedabad for three weeks; statewide, there were further outbreaks of mass killings against the minority Muslim population for three months.[3][4] The burning of a train in Godhra on 27 February 2002, which caused the deaths of 58 people including Hindu activists returning from Ayodhya, is believed to have triggered the violence.[5][6] Some commentators, however, hold the view that the attacks had been pre-planned, were well orchestrated, and that the attack on the train was a "staged trigger" for what was actually premeditated violence.[7][8]
According to official figures, the riots resulted in the deaths of 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus; 2,500 people were injured non-fatally, and 223 more were reported missing.[9] Other sources estimate that up to 2,000 Muslims died.[10] There were instances of rape, children being burned alive, and widespread looting and destruction of property. Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as have police and government officials who allegedly directed the rioters and gave lists of Muslim-owned properties to them.[11]In 2012, Modi was cleared of complicity in the violence by a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India. The Muslim community are reported to have reacted with "anger and disbelief" and activist Teesta Setalvad has said that the legal process was not yet complete as there existed a right to appeal.[12] In July 2013 allegations were made that the SIT had suppressed evidence.[13] That December, an Indian court upheld the earlier SIT report and rejected a petition seeking Modi's prosecution.[14] In April 2014, the Supreme Court expressed satisfaction over the SIT's investigations in nine cases related to the violence, and rejected as "baseless" a plea contesting the SIT report.[15]
Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial front-runner in India's mammoth general election, on Sunday reiterated his strong stance against illegal immigrants, just days after a wave of sectarian killings in the north-eastern state of Assam.
India is in the home stretch of a five-week election in which Modi's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks set to emerge as the biggest group and which has heightened ethnic and religious tensions in many parts of the country.
India deployed troops in Assam on Saturday after more than 30 Muslims were gunned down in three days of what police said were attacks by Bodo tribal militants, who resent the presence of settlers they claim are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
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