Sunny deplores the coverage (or lack of it) in the mainstream media in the U.K., and calls it ‘horrendously lame’:

There’s two points to make here. Firstly, that for progressives in Britain, India’s continual denial of justice to Sikhs and Muslims over politically-motivated riots in 1984 and 2002 should constantly feature in any discussion, to the point that politicians there are shamed into doing something. India’s human rights record, for a country claiming to be the world’s largest democracy, is a slap in the face to the ideals of its founding fathers as well as religions that were born there (Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism).

Anindita tells us we should be be afraid of what we’ve become:

This is the thing: now, everyone knows. Yet, Modi rules Gujarat. Yet, the killers casually strut through the streets where they have killed. Yet, everything is as it was yesterday. Don’t forget, Modi was voted back to power. And even while images of the carnage loom in some minds, others are busy examining the political pros and cons of this. This is all is comes to in the end: what the sting means for each party in terms of election prospects. I am afraid suddenly. Of our democracy, and our majority and our collective sensibilities.

And takes us back to what happened after Auschwitz:

Anger,
as black as a hook,
overtakes me.
Each day,
each Nazi
took, at 8: 00 A.M., a baby
and sauteed him for breakfast
in his frying pan.

And death looks on with a casual eye
and picks at the dirt under his fingernail.

Pr3ma looks at the things that are wrong with our democracy which allow horros like Gujarat to happen:

The question is why is Modi poised to win another election despite all this? The minorities received little or no support from the Congress during these years and are still facing the problems of rehabilitation and employment. Congress leader Ehsaan Jafri who had been murdered by rioting mobs is all but forgotten by the party. Mrs Gandhi didn’t care to call upon his widow during her visit to Gujarat after the violence. The party has also not been able to find an alternative for Mr Modi.[..] Democracy doesn’t work without a strong opposition.

Atrocity News explores the bare truth:

In India majority is lower caste OBC+Sc+St=80%. The fuel to communal rape of Gurjat is nothing else but its the condition of lower caste poor (Religious marginalisation) itself. We cant say Gujarat mayhem is really a creation of Hindu Fundamentalism because there was/is no such living element called ‘Hindu’ in India. There is no identity that is called Hindu. Only Brahmnical vedics have their identity in India but majority of lower caste Indians (though they call themselves Hindus) have no cultural/philosophic/spiritual identity. Even Muslims in India are converted from lower caste/dalits. Youth should realise this early that only Caste system is reality in India.

Rohit wants Modi to go:

Modi brand of politics with its emphasis on hatred, its violation of constitutional guarantees and obligations, and its utter disregard for the sanctity of human life is dangerous for India’s future. It is high time Mr Modi is asked to leave.

SN observes Hindutva ‘has morphed into an intolerant form of fascism’:

His popularity among Indians and politicians is a poor reflection on our society. It shows the apathy of many Indian citizens towards the underprivileged minorities that face grave and excessive forms of brutality. In that thirst for dollar investment and industrialization many see Modi as the face and hope of a new modern Gujarat rather than the face of intolerance and religious terrorism. Hopefully history will get the story right and Modi will get his place in the pages of infamy and injustice.

Kapil points out the farcical nature of denial:

A Gujarat Government counsel who was caught on the tape by Tehelka, has filed case of cheating against Aaj Tak reporter. Tehelka video shows him talking about Gujarat government’s role in post-Godhra riots.

Denial is one thing. But he doesn’t deny that it was he who is talking in the video. His defence is that he was told — by Aaj Tak reporter — that he was to act in a reality show! Got it? The channel offerred all of them ‘roles’ in a reality show on Gujarat riots, and they all — including Babu Bajrangi who is prime accused in Naroda massacre — just mouthed the script!

Joseph has a question for Modi:

Modi once said on the Mumbai blasts that ‘terrorism is worse than war’; one wonders what he had in mind when he allowed his saffron cadres free reign for three days of carnage….?

Hindustani has a question (several questions, in fact) too:

What would Bharat Mata think of Babu Bajrangi, who says that ‘We are not khichdi, curry people’ and can kill at will, just like ‘ripping off a pregnant woman’s stomach’ and announcing it with a ‘pride’.[...] Don’t give me the crap about whether the sting will help Congress or BJP or any other political party. People of Gujarat may vote for Modi but that doesn’t mean that Modi is right. Just that Gujarat is a developed state doesn’t mean, that worst crimes against humanity can be forgotten. Even Hitler was immensely popular in Germany when he was slaughtering Jews. It’s a shame to talk about elections. They don’t have any interest in the idea of justice and human values.

Where are the citizens especially the women, who would stand up and say this is not the sort of Hindustan we dream of living in. Put these people behind bars immediately. I wish women would have petitioned the Woman President Pratibha Patil to take instant action against Bajrangi and the men who on camera confessed the ghastly crimes for which they had no remorse.

Devaki is not surprised at the reactions of the killers:

Considering the fact that the BJP spent a lot of time post-Operation Westend trying to destroy Tehelka, I’m not surprised at their behaviour now. Just goes to show what it takes to rise in Indian politics–a willingness to shed the blood of fellow citizens who belong to another religion, caste or class, a complete lack of shame and the hide of a rhino when caught admitting to a crime.

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