Gujarat riot victims write open letter to Modi

Ahmedabad, Sep 18 (PTI) Dismissing western Indian state
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's three-day fast as a
political stunt, post-Godhra riot victims in an open letter to
Modi said that there cannot be 'sadbhavna' without justice.
"No amount of power or arrogance gave Midas his glass
of water nor will you get your sadbhavana with all your
developmental publicity," riot victims stated in an open
letter to Modi.
"We have no ill-feelings towards our Hindu brothers
and sisters despite our terrible loss and sufferings. We both
are the victims of powerful political forces whose strength
lies in our division," the letter written by Jan Sangharsh
Manch (JSM), an NGO on behalf of riot victims said.
"We alone can create "Sadbhavana" by uniting and
defeating the forces of fraud and deception for vote politics.
You may be doing all this for your great ambition to become
Prime Minister of the country, but we have only one small
demand for Justice," it said, adding that there cannot be
Sadbhavna without justice.
"If you were so great a Chief Minister as you claim
today, why could not you protect these innocent, helpless
Muslims? In fact, why did you fail to protect the innocent 58
passengers of Sabarmati Express who also died in the terrible
fire on 27th February 2002," riot victims asked.
Are you celebrating the pain of the victims or are you
trying to confuse the people by organizing the five-star
programme to give an impression that the cases against you
have been closed, they further questioned.
In the letter, Modi has been accused of helping a handful
of rich and powerful. "Have you ever peeped into the hell
through which we the victims and community as a whole is going
through? No, you have not and we know, you have no desire or
intention to give us justice," they stated.
Seeking explanation from Modi, the victims asked him
why Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was applied to only the
Muslim accused in different cases and why did he not order
investigation into the alleged fake encounters and take action
against the police officers involved.
Referring to the encounters of Sameer Khan Pathan,
Sadiq Jamal, Ishrat Jahan, Sohrabuddin, Kausarbi, Tulsi
Prajapati among others, the letter asked," as to why in every
FIR it was alleged that they were intending to kill you (Modi)
and why did he not order for investigations in the fake
encounter cases,".