JOIN USIn offensive against Congress, Shah says 'lesson taught in 2002 established peace in Gujarat'
“In 2002, an incident had occurred,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said smilingly, and waited for the crowd to respond.
“An incident had occurred and there was BJP government back then. The clutches of law were tightened so much that rioters were straightened and since 2002 to 2022, Gujarat did not see a single curfew. The gangsters of Gujarat left the state for good,” Shah said while the packed audience applauded in response.
The senior leader held five election rallies in the state — the last one at Naroda Gam in Ahmedabad, the place which was hit during the communal violence of 2002.
Appealing for votes for the local BJP candidate, Payal Kukrani, whose father is a convict in 2002 Naroda Patia massacre case, Shah alleged that “In Gujarat, if there is anyone who sowed the seeds of communal violence, it was Congress. But, BJP brought a rule in which no one dared to indulge in communal violence.”
Former minister Maya Kodnani, accused in Naroda Patiya massacre, also shared the stage with Shah. Sources said that the event was held at panchayat office, where the communal clash had erupted on February 28, 2002, killing 11 Muslims. 82 accused including Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi are facing trial.
Kodnani and many others accused were booked in the case by Supreme Court appointed-Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2008. The SIT was formed after complaints by NGOs and National Human Rights Commission alleging high-handedness of local police in handling the case.
Subsequently, SIT arrested Kodnani in 2009 while she was a minister in then-Narendra Modi government. She was convicted in 2012 for life in Naroda Patiya case.
The Gujarat High Court acquitted her in the Patiya case, which also happened about 2 km away from Naroda Gam. This year, BJP has given ticket to Payal Kukrani from Naroda Assembly seat, which Kodnani had represented for three terms.
Earlier in the day, Shah launched an offensive against Congress while alleging that the Opposition party “sheltered” anti-social elements involved in violence, and in 2002 such elements were “taught a lesson” in a manner that no such incident occurred since then.
Shah repeated this in his five public rallies he addressed throughout the day in central Gujarat and at Naroda in Ahmedabad. This was the first time when Shah brought up the large-scale violence of 2002 in the 2022 Assembly polls campaign.
Shah has been mentioning the frequent communal violence, rampant curfew and other law and order issues under Congress while appealing for votes for the past several days.
“Tell me if during Congress rule, communal violence used to happen or not. Even in 2002, during Narendrabhai’s (Modi, then-chief minister) time, there was an attempt, but they were taught such a lesson that since then state hasn’t witnessed a single communal violence. Those who were indulged in the rioting were ousted and BJP established peace and curfew-less Gujarat,” the Union minister said while addressing an election rally at Jhalod in Dahod district.
He repeated his speech at Vagra in Bharuch district, and Mahudha in Kheda district. He said, “During Congress government, communal riots were common. The party used to shelter those involved in violence to strengthen its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society,” he said.
He added that the anti-social elements had last dared in 2002 and were “straightened”. Since then, there hasn’t been any “hullad” or violence.
Mentioning the name of former gangsters such as Abdul Latif, Shah said, “Today, there is only one dada — Hanuman dada across villages in Gujarat.”