Report

Nation-wide Campaign Against Modi

Following the call given by the AICC, Congress rank and file held demonstrations, rallies and dharnas all over the country to demand the dismissal of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his utter failure to control communal violence in Gujarat. The Congress workers - men, women and youth - responded enthusiastically and spontaneously to the call of the leadership. The most heartening aspect of these protest rallies was that the common people too joined the campaign actively indicating the strength and depth of the secular sentiments in the country. Speakers at these rallies said Modi must go because of his failure the age-old, time-tested secular fabric of India suffered a blow leading to unfortunate communal friction and the consequent damage to India’s image all over the world. They appealed to the President of India to help save the nation from the wrath of the communal elements and fundamentalist fanatics.

In Ahmedabad, the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, on 1 May came down heavily on the ruling BJP as it stood for "corruption, communalism and mal-administration." Addressing a farmers’ rally at Porbandar, Smt. Gandhi condemned both the Godhra carnage and the post-Godhra violence in the State. Without naming the BJP or the Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, she said those who were at the helm of affairs could have prevented the communal holocaust but did not do so only to take political advantage of the situation.

Referring to the Godhra carnage, she said the perpetrators of the Godhra carnage were "devils". But what followed the train tragedy was equally shameful and condemnable. Those who did not try to prevent it were turning ‘Gandhiji’s Gujarat into Godse’s Gujarat’, she said.

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, she wondered what "Raj Dharma" he had advised Mr. Modi to perform. Speaking at the end of her day’s visit to the riot-hit state, she said that it was because of the Opposition-sponsored censure motion in the Lok Sabha that the Prime Minister had announced the rehabilitation package.

Smt. Gandhi, who began her visit from Porbandar attending an all-religion prayer meeting at Kirti Mandir, the house where Mahatma Gandhi was born, addressed a farmers’ rally at the port town. Later she arrived in Ahmedabad to lead a "peace march" by women and was present at a prayer meeting for restoration of peace.

In Allahabad, a Peace March was jointly organised by the Congress and Youth Congress against fascism with the aim to spread the message of harmony in view of the on-going violence and tension in Gujarat, Ayodhya and other parts of the country. Before the march the party held a dharna at Subhash Chowk, Civil Lines. Addressing the dharna the AICC secretary and incharge IYC, Mr. Anil Shastri, while appealing for peace and communal harmony in the country said the first step to instill confidence among the people would be the immediate dismissal of the Gujarat Government which has miserably failed in upholding its Constitutional obligations. He demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani who is a Lok Sabha member from Gandhi Nagar and held him responsible for the mindless violence in Gujarat and said the tragic happenings in the state had harmed the country’s image all over the world and made our heads hang in shame.

Mr. Shastri said, "we are raising our voice against those who misuse religion for their vested interest" and urged citizens to stand against this before it engulfs society. He added that time had finally come for the people to come out openly to save the nation and isolate those fringe elements who are out to destablise the country and bring ruin to it.

According to UPCC spokesman and convenor of the Peace March, Kishore Varshney, the partymen paid glowing tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi who lost their lives in the cause of national unity.

National vice-president of Mahila Congress, Dr. Reeta Bahuguna Joshi, and UPCC general secretary, Shekhar Bahuguna, said the people from all walks of life should come forward and help in spreading the message of peace.

The UPCC secretary, Ch. Jitendra Nath Singh and City Congress Committee President Ram Krishna Srivastava said that we are ashamed over the barbaric incidents of Gujarat.

The co-convenor of the March Mr. Ajay Mishra and Programme incharge Mr. Vijay Mehrotra, condemned the Godhra carnage which led to the death of hundreds of innocent people. Earlier, an all-religion prayers were performed to pay homage to the victims of violence.

Among those who spoke and participated in the Peace March were Ram Chandra Vaish, Virendra Mohile, Dal Bahadur Singh, Mohd. Asad Khan, Nadim Khalid, Parvej Akhtar Ansari, Mukund Tiwari, Anil Srivastava, Keshav Lal, Harikesh Tripathi, Raghunath Dwivedi, Javed Urfi, Neetu Malviya, Kanaklata Sharma, Dr. Abrar Khan, Sanjiv Ratan, Sanjay Singh, Om Prakash Tiwari, Krishna Kant Tiwari, Mohd. Arif, Avadhesh Tripathi, Master Tanvirul Hasan, Mohd. Aslam, Kunwarji Seth, Suresh Saxena, Jaijai Ram Pandey, Deep Chandra Sharma, Prem Chandra Pandey, Dr. Ajai Kumar and many others.

In Pune, City Congress Chief Mohan Joshi has said it was shameful that even after the Prime Minister’s delayed visit to Gujarat on 4 April, the communal riots are still continuing in different parts of Gujarat.

Addressing Congress workers near Jogeshwari Mandir where they demonstrated against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 6 April Joshi demanded the immediate dismissal of Modi government which has failed to control the communal riots. Modi’s continuation would further encourage militant organisations to kill innocent persons in Gujarat, he said, adding that the Central Government should take serious note of the observation made by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Justice VN Verma.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Adv. MV Akolkar, Deepak Mankar, Sulbha Bhondve, Virendra Kirad, Shyam Tavare, Datta Bankar, Dr. Vikas Abnave, Rajendra Suryavamshi, Bapu Patole, Vandana Chavan, Jawahar Pardeshi, Vijay Shinde, Santosh Harale and Surekha Khandle.

In Jalandhar, the Congress Party has expressed their anguish by making protest all over the country demanding the dismissal of Narendra Modi Government responsible for the communal riots in Gujurat. A big protest March was organised here on 16 April under the leadership of District Congress Committee (Urban) chief, Sardar Tejinder Singh Bittu and a big dharna and hunger strike was organised in front of the Collectorate. Addressing the gathering the All-India Congress Committee secretary, Mr. K.B. Hari Prasad said that Narendra Modi, responsible for communal riots, violence and arson in Gujarat, should immediately resign since there is no place for communalism in the state and the country of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation and prophet of peace. He said that the Congress party would not allow BJP to carry out politics of hate in the name of religion. Holding Prime Minister responsible for encouraging such politics in the name of religion within country, he said that Mr. Vajpayee had shown his real face to the countrymen by rejecting Gujarat chief minister’s resignation.

Other leaders who addressed include Jalandhar District Congress (Urban) chief, Shri Tejinder Singh Bittu, Rural Congress chief, Shri Choudhary Manjit Singh, Youth Congress chief, Shri Devinder Singh Babbu, Youth Congress leader Manjinder Singh Jauhal, Dharmendra Rana, Lekh Raj Sharma, Naresh Gupta, Sanjay Sehgal, Virendra Sharma and Vijay Khullar.

In Mansa, the Mansa Congress workers organised a dharna in front of the District Court for three consecutive days under the leadership of Punjab state Congress secretary, Shri Rai Pal Dhepayee.

The dharna was organised in the wake of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s directives. Leaders who addressed the dharna included Punjab Congress special invitee, Shri Gurdeep Manshaiya, Shri Tejpal Malwa, Punjab Youth Congress general secretary, Dr. Manjeet Rana, Block Congress (Urban) president, Shri Bagirath Lal Danewalia, Youth Congress leader Shri Jatinder Kaka Bajewala, Shri Arun Bitu, etc.

According to former Mansa District Congress Committee secretary, Shri Sukhdarshan Daishi, criticising the government at Centre, the Congress leaders demanded immediate dismissal of Gujarat’s Narendra Modi Government.

The leaders said that after the Godhra incident Narendra Modi instead of checking the violence throughout Gujarat, promoted them. The government and administration too assisted the rioters.

In his address, Shri Ram Pal Dhepayee praised Punjab’s Capt. Amrinder Singh Government and said that it had exposed those involved in bribery which had put former Akali-BJP government leaders to shame. Shri Dhepayee said that the Congress government in Punjab was fulfilling pre-poll promises, made before Assembly elections.

Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh with a view to express sympathy for Gujarat victims a one-day dharna and hunger strike was organised at the Congress office situated in Siyahi Khiri on behalf of Lakhimpur-Khiri District Congress Committee.

In Patna, Bihar State Youth Congress organised a dharna on Hadtali Chowk here on 21 April demanding Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi’s dismissal. The dharna was organised under the leadership of Youth Congress vice-president, Lalan Kumar. Mr. Kumar said that Bihar State Youth Congress also organised a dharna in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 30 April demanding Modi’s dismissal and a memorandum was handed over to the President. Addressing the dharna, former minister Sanjiv Tony said that Gujarat was burning due to communal hatred. He said that minorities are constantly being attacked within Gujarat. Youth Congress spokesman, Lalan Kumar said that Gujarat Government has no moral right to remain in power. He said that the BJP is politicizing the Gujarat volence. Mr. Kumar said that the whole nation held Narendra Modi responsible for violent Gujarat situation and demanded his dismissal. He said that even the National Human Rights Commission report was against Modi’s government.

Hundreds of party workers took part in the dharna. Among those who addressed the dharna include Shaqir Ali, Satyendra Bahadur, Shammi Kapoor, Gaurav Kumar, Chandan Kumar, Bhaskar Pathak, Sanjay Singh and others.

Earlier, Bihar State Youth Congress burnt an effigy of the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on 16 April. Youth Congress leaders took out procession from Aakashvani Chowk to Dakbunglow and shouted slogans like "Narendra Modi ko Barkhast Karo", "Gujarat mein Sampradaik Danga Band Karo".

In Gopalganj, under the leadership of Youth Congress president Umesh Prasad Srivastava, dozens of youth activists organised a one-day hunger strike on Rajendra Prasad Chowk in Gopalganj, demanding the dismissal of Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. On this occasion Congress leaders Premnath Roy Sharma, Suresh Kumar Singh, Sevadal president Ravindra Nath Singh, Dhananjay Giri, Manish Prasad, Anil Dubey, Suresh Kunvar, Mithilesh Tiwari, etc., were present.

Later, a memorandum addressed to the President, Shri K.R. Narayanan, was handed over to the District Magistrate.

In Jharkhand, Jharkhand Mahila Congress organized protest marches and dharnas in the entire State in its four Pramandals covering all the 22 districts from 26 April to 1 May, 2002. Besides, rallies, meetings and sammelans were also organised in the State under the directions of Smt. Chandresh Kumari, President, and Shri Mukul Wasnik, General Secretary, AICC & Incharge Mahila Congress. After dharnas in front of district authorities offices, memorandums addressed to the President of India were handed over to District authorities. Through the memorandum, the demonstrators demanded immediate removal of "Narendra Modi Government" in Gujarat and highlighting the failures of the BJP government in Jharkhand with specific emphasis on water, electricity problems and reservation to women in local bodies including coming Panchayat elections in Jharkhand.

The campaign covered Dhanbad, Devghar, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Santhal Pargana, Dachhani Chhotta Nagpur and Palamu Pramandals. Smt. Meera Singh, Secretary, Mahila Congress and Incharge Jharkhand Mahila Congress, Smt. Pratibha Pandey, President, Jharkhand Mahila Congress, Mahila District Presidents and their office-bearers and block presidents took part in the rallies and dharnas. Other prominent leaders of the state also participated in the meetings/sammelans. Identity Cards to Pradesh Mahila Congress office-bearers and to District Mahila Presidents were issued by Smt. Meera Singh.

In Deoria (UP), the Deoria District Congress organised a large protest rally on 15 April in front of the District Headquarters on the problems faced by the common man and to draw attention of the administration towards these problems.

The protest was organised after getting directive from the state leadership. Addressing the protestors, District president, Shri Ajay Sharma, said the BJP government was damaging the interests of the students, youth and the farmers by unscheduled power cuts. The farmers could

not raise their crops as power cuts affected the pumps for water, the students had to purchase kerosene in blackmarket to light their lamps to study in the night.

Instead of paying attention to the problem of the people, the Governor and his officers are harassing the innocent people in the name of recovery. Shri Sharma said the Congress would not tolerate this injustice. Shri Sharma later handed over a memorandum to the SDM after which a meeting was held at the Court campus.

In the meeting the Congressmen expressed their viewpoints on the seven-point memorandum which was handed over to the SDM. The demands in the memorandum were to dismiss Gujarat government due to the ongoing communal violence, to stop power cuts and to make available power 24 hours, to roll-back the tarrif hike in power, to immediately set up purchasing centres to purchase wheat from the farmers, to re-start the shut down Gauribazar Sugar Factory in the next season, to repair Bhatni, Deoria, Baitalpur sugar factories and increase the crushing capacity and to pay salaries and dues to the Bhatni Sugar Factory workers immediately.

In Rewari, under the leadership of the Congress Legislature Party deputy leader and Rewari MLA, Ajay Singh Yadav, Congress workers sat on a one-day dharna outside District Secretariat here on 2 May demanding the removal of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. On this occasion a memorandum was sent to the President through District’s Deputy Commissioner.

Those who participated in the dharna include state Women Congress president and MLA, Mrs. Anita Yadav, Sohna MLA Roa Dharmpal Singh, Ateli MLA Rao Narendra Singh, District Congress president Harish Saini, Congress president (Urban) Kotu Ram Dhamija, Block Congress president Yad Ram Yadav, Santosh Yadav, Sushila Yadav, District Youth Congress president Surendra Yadav, senior Congress leaders Rajendra Yadav, Kanwar Diwan Singh Chouhan, Sunil Rao, Ch. Hiralal, M. Vedprakash, Sunil Rao Advocate, Shankar Khan and former Councillor Pavan Sharma.

Nurpur Block Congress Committee in Himachal Pradesh observed 30 April as the ‘Protest Day’. More than 200 Congress activists expressed their concern on the Gujarat issue. They demanded that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi be removed for his failure in controlling the communal riots. The leaders said that if the violence is not checked even now within the state, anarchy could spread throughout the country.

Those who addressed included Block president Karan Oberoi, Block Congress spokesman Baldeo Punni, PCC member, Ved Pathania, PCC working committee member Ajay Mahajan and state Youth Congress vice-president Baldeo Pappi. Later the leaders handed over a memorandum addressed to the President to the Sub-Divisional Officer.