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Understanding the Ahmedabad riots

Sheela Bhatt in Bombay

Civic elections in Gujarat became an excuse to ignite communal riots, for the first time.

On Sunday, seven persons died in Ahmedabad's Dariapur area after group clashes over bogus voting.

Achut Yagnik, co-author of Creating Nationality: Ram Janmabhoomi Movement and Fear of Self, claimed, "Sunday's riots were unusual. They were communal. It seems there was an attempt at booth-capturing."

He observed, "This time, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress were not the only contestants. There were four forces. Before the elections, Muslim community leaders and powerful independent Muslim candidates had informally formed the Muslim Vikas Party, determined to fight established parties. Also in the fray was the Shiv Sena, which was against the Muslim panel in Dariapur."

A symbolic Berlin wall exists in Dariapur. On one side is Vadigaum, where Hindus are in a majority, while adjoining Naginapole is Muslim dominated. Every time there are riots, the divide among people intensifies.

On Sunday, there was a difference. "The BJP and Congress, which have perfected the art of bogus voting, faced resistance, leading to tension," said senior journalist Bhargav Parikh.

Social worker Ashok Shrimali said, "After the 1985 communal riots, the Sangh Parivar cultivated cadres among Dalits and the outcome was there for everyone to see during elections. They have been pitted against Muslims."

After nearly every communal riot, the names of young Dalits invariably appear in lists of the dead. Dalits and Muslims were mainly involved in the 1990 communal riots in Ahmedabad. Since 1992, Ahmedabad had not witnessed any serious clash, till Sunday's incident.

The BJP is using a double-edged-sword to strengthen its vote-bank and was successful In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won all seats in tribal areas, except for Sabarkantha.

Now, BJP Dalit and tribal leaders want power at every level. They will get it at considerable cost - they will have to counter Muslim sentiments during elections in communally sensitive areas in Gujarat.

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