February 28, 2013

 

FORGOTTEN CITIZENS OF 2002

 

 

Victim Survivors of 2002 who are also IDPs (internally displaced persons) continue to languish in sub-human conditions eleven years after the state sponsored massacre which saw the brutal killings of over 2,000 members of the minority community and rendered thousands homeless.

 

A year long protest programme to demand dignified rehabilitation from the Gujarat government will be launched from Citizen’s Nagar, Bombay Hotel area from Thursday, February 28 2013, the eleventh anniversary of the pogrom. A detailed memorandum highlighting the many demands of the residents of Citizens Nagar, Faisal Park and Ekta Nagar will be released and submitted to the Gujarat government thereafter. Until these demands are met the protest will continue and extend to other rehabilitation colonies and IDPs living all over Gujarat.The memorandum will be accompanied by a detailed survey of 239 homes from these localities.

The Gujarat government has shown scant respect to the Millennium Development Goals for Gujaratis in general and particularly for the Victim Survivors of 2002. The CJP will assist IDP communities all over Gujarat throughout the state to ensure regularization of their lands and homes, the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, access to primary health and education.

 

Together we participated in the Remembrance Prayers today as also the launch for this campaign of the Forgotten Citizens of Gujarat for Justice and Dignity. We stood in solidarity with our sisters and brothers, the forgotten citizens of 2002 at Citizens Nagar, Bombay Hotel even as a Brutal Story of Exclusion and Torture of the Mustifabhai Ismailbhai Patel family at Virangam continues in Gujarat today.

 

Threats and Exclusion faced by Muslim Hotelier in Viramgam, Gujarat (2013)

Background: A hotelier since 1986, Shri Patel is being brutally victimised since 24.5.2012 and his hotel, Jyoti Hotel that he has been successfully running for decades, has been closed since 9.2.2013. Threats from Dasrathbhai and Ajmalbhai Gohil (captured on CD) with relatives DD Barat, working as Upsachiv in "Pipo" department at Gandhinagar have made his life a living hell. Shri Patel has gone for court proceedings and a Court Commission was set up on 22.2.2013 after which the hotel has been legally restored to him. He went to open it thereafter but even as he did so within 20 minutes 15-20 men along with the Gohils threatened him. Viramgam rural police have refused to give him protection (Viramgam PSI Rathwa and DSP Gagandeep Gambhir). The Patels contacted DD Barat the influential relative from Sachivalayas who further threatened him, "why have you done the case? we are in government..." Shri Patel will speak to us all and distribute the CDs that show the vile behaviour of the criminals. Shri Patel had also suffered significant loss when Jyoti hotel had been attacked and the hotel destroyed in 2002.

 

Venue: Citizen’s Nagar, Bombay Hotel area, Danilimda

Time:    3 – 5 p.m.

Date:     February 28, 2013       

 

Fr Cedric Prakash                                Teesta Setalvad