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Jubilant diamond market welcomes Bharat Shah

By Vijay Singh in Mumbai
October 01, 2003 21:07 IST

As a triumphant Bharat Shah entered Mumbai's diamond market at Charni Road, the mood was festive.

Business, which almost never stops, came to a standstill for some time as diamond merchants made a beeline to garland Shah and offer him sweets.

Complete coverage of the Bharat Shah case

At one point of time there were more than a thousand people inside the small assembly hall of the Panchratna Building, which is considered the hub of diamond trade in the market.

An overjoyed Shah addressed the assembled businessmen and workers in Gujarati. "Aa satya na vijay chhe, hira bazar athva Gujarati samaj na uppar koi pan politician haanth lagava ni kosis karse, ena haanth todi nakhis (This is the victory of truth, if any politician dares touch the diamond market and Gujarati community his hand will chopped off)," he said amid a huge roar.

He added if any innocent diamond merchant 'is trapped by the administration' the entire business community will go on strike.

After spending half an hour in the congested hall, Shah, followed by thousands who were dancing to dhol music, went to pray in a nearby temple.

After performing puja, Shah visited his office in the nearby Prasad chambers.

Many merchants told rediff.com that the police and politicians had unnecessarily targeted Shah.

Diamond market's committee member Naveen Laharchand Shah said, "God did justice with Bharat Shah. He is very close to everyone in the diamond market."

Another committee member added, "Bharat Shah didn't do any mistake. But politicians and police trapped him because he is a big businessman. We are very happy that he is free now."

Vijay Singh in Mumbai

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