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Ahwa violence was between tribal groups, insists Keshubhai

Asserting that recent incidents in Ahwa village of Gujarat resulted from tensions between two tribal groups, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel today rejected suggestions that these reflected victimisation of Christians at the hands of Hindus.

Talking to newspersons in New Delhi, Patel also challenged the interim findings of the Minority Commission to that effect and said it had acted partial and gone into the probe with a set mind.

''The commission had asked our officials to send their reports by January 22, but without waiting for the reports, it had finalised the interim report. This clearly showed that the commission was acting in a partial manner and that it had visited Gujarat with a 'set mind'," Patel said.

He said the situation in the Dangs district was totally under control. There were no fresh attacks on churches. In fact there were reports of a temple being damaged today, he added.

Patel said he had also apprised President K R Narayanan of the situation and shared with him photographs showing that the media reports on attacks on churches in Dangs district were highly exaggerated.

The chief minister said repair of the thatched roofs of churches and temples had been undertaken by the affected people and his government had offered financial help.

''Unfortunately Father Prakash of the Ahmedabad-based Catholic Church has opposed this move saying that only Christians will carry out repairs," he added.

Patel accused the Congress local unit of keeping alive the issue for narrow political gains.

Explaining the steps taken by his government to restore confidence among the two tribal groups, he said 158 State Reserve Police pickets have been set up in the Dangs district and 15 patrolling parties deployed.

The chief minister said he had also met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last night and discussed with him the pending cases of Gujarat.

He said he wanted Vajpayee to use his good offices to realise arrears of Rs 10.17 billion due to Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra towards the Sardar Sarovar Yojana.

During his discussions with Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Patel said he had asked for World Bank assistance for cyclone-affected areas, irrigation and roads upgradation plans. Sinha promised to take up these demands with the chairman of the World Bank.

UNI

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