Selective justice, collective amnesia
Funny how collective amnesia can be forced on an entire nation...
The Mumbai bomb blast verdict is out, well, partially at least. The Memons are conicted after 13 years. We have TV channels jostling over each other with righteous indignation about the delay. Come to think of it, it's actually right as well - the case has taken long, and justice has been delayed.
Nevertheless, I've a few questions - didn't the blast follow the riots in 1992? How many people died in the riots? Over a thousand, according to official figures, with the unoffical count estimating at least double the figure - that's a bit less than 10 times the number who died in the blasts . That is not to count the number of women raped and thousands of families traumatised. As the media goes on and on about the blasts, one would think they'd have created an even greater brouhaha over the riots.
Actually no, they don't. In fact, to go a step further, they don't even mention it. Why? I don't know. But I do know that 14 years after the riots, we're not talking about convictions - we're not even talking about charges. Everyone has gone scot-free. Check this out - not a SINGLE person has been charged, let alone convicted. And they say it took too long to convict the blasts accused!
Now why wouldn't the media even acknowledge the fact that no one was punished for atrocities that took more lives, traumatised more, and took place a few months before the blasts? Why wouldnt they even acknowledge the fact that the riots took place? Will we ever know ?
Or maybe we already do..
The Mumbai bomb blast verdict is out, well, partially at least. The Memons are conicted after 13 years. We have TV channels jostling over each other with righteous indignation about the delay. Come to think of it, it's actually right as well - the case has taken long, and justice has been delayed.
Nevertheless, I've a few questions - didn't the blast follow the riots in 1992? How many people died in the riots? Over a thousand, according to official figures, with the unoffical count estimating at least double the figure - that's a bit less than 10 times the number who died in the blasts . That is not to count the number of women raped and thousands of families traumatised. As the media goes on and on about the blasts, one would think they'd have created an even greater brouhaha over the riots.
Actually no, they don't. In fact, to go a step further, they don't even mention it. Why? I don't know. But I do know that 14 years after the riots, we're not talking about convictions - we're not even talking about charges. Everyone has gone scot-free. Check this out - not a SINGLE person has been charged, let alone convicted. And they say it took too long to convict the blasts accused!
Now why wouldn't the media even acknowledge the fact that no one was punished for atrocities that took more lives, traumatised more, and took place a few months before the blasts? Why wouldnt they even acknowledge the fact that the riots took place? Will we ever know ?
Or maybe we already do..
posted by Abdul's blog at 7:53 AM
4 Comments:
Well written. Sikhs long back got the compensation, then again got further compensation followed by appointment of yet another commission for 1984 riots.
Muslims have not such organisations that can take up the cause of riot victims. Our political leadership is divided across party lines unliek SC/ST/OBC and Sikh or other communities who come together in parliament on their issues leaving their respective party views.
True very true...this question has always amazed me but you know as a minority we have this tendency to feel victimised but then i would say we better improve ourselves, economically and educationally, rather than pointing fingers at the goverment.
Don't misunderstand me..i want justice to prevail and the riot conspirators being brought to book
True very true...this question has always amazed me but you know as a minority we have this tendency to feel victimised but then i would say we better improve ourselves, economically and educationally, rather than pointing fingers at the goverment.
Don't misunderstand me..i want justice to prevail and the riot conspirators being brought to book
indscribe:
Thanks for passing by. You may be right in terms of compensation, but in terms of justice the sikhs haven't really got a lot either - hardly a few got punished for 1984. But 1992 takes the cake - there's not a single person charged. As for political leadership, the less said the better - We actually dont have any.
sharique-
thanks for the comment. Its the hypocrisy of the mainstream media and the so-called commentators on TV/newspapers that pains me. There was a community in Ahmedabad that was highly educated and economically forward - that was Ehsan Jafri's locality - which is no more. But I do get your point - we cannot ignore such issues - instead of calling for more violence or whatever (which will only worsen things), we need to make a strong appeal for justice and make our voice heard in the media.
Thanks once again
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