BY EVA CHENG
Thousands of people took part in rallies, public meetings and marches across India on September 28 to protest against new attacks on Muslims by Hindu chauvinists in the state of Gujarat. The largest protests were held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's commercial capital, and in Delhi.
The last round of inter-communal violence began in February when Muslims allegedly killed 59 Hindus. Several months later, police investigations cast doubt on the allegations that Muslims had initiated the violence. However, at the time the allegations were utilised by Hindu chauvinists to launch a wave of state-government-backed attacks on Muslims which left nearly 1000 dead.
Even now, most victims of the attacks are too intimidated to return to their homes. "Riots" targeting Muslims are still rampant throughout Gujarat, though the state government claims they were localised. In mid August, a Gujarat police official stated that 151 towns and 993 villages were being affected by religious riots.
It was in the climate of inter-communal violence that the Gujarat government, led by the Hindu chauvinist Indian Peoples Party (BJP), sought to bring forward a state election which isn't due until next March.
Despite the electoral commission's objection to the idea, the Gujarat government attempted to force an early election by dissolving the state parliament in July. On August 16, the commission again ruled against an early election. The Gujarat government appealed the commission's ruling to the Indian Supreme Court.
It was in this context of high tension that left forces including the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Socialist Unity Centre of India, Lal Nishan Party (Leninist) and Lal Nishan Party issued a call for the September 28 protest actions.
On the night of September 24, the Akshardham/Swaminarayan Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat's capital, was laid siege by two gunmen who killed 32 people and injured more than 70 others. The unidentified assailants were shot dead by Indian special forces.
The ruling BJP immediately called for a bandh (strike) on September 26-27 in Delhi and Mumbai, and urged the US to declare Pakistan a "terrorist state". Despite the intimidating atmosphere, the left decided to go ahead with its planned actions the next day under the theme to "save Gujarat, save India".
From Green Left Weekly, October 16, 2002.
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