Search the Internet          Tips

Fernandes, Modi lead peace march in Ahmedabad

Amid tight security, the marchers, carrying placards and banners demanding an immediate end to the "insane communal rage", wound their way through the lanes and by-lanes of riot-hit areas.

"Gujarat should be brought back to the track of humanity," Modi told a gathering near the historic Sardar Bagh. "It is time to forget the past and to isolate those who are indulging in violence."

Fernandes and other politicians, who also addressed the gathering, made a passionate plea for the return of peace.

But at least six persons were killed, three each in Baroda and Ahmedabad, and 22 were injured in police firing and group clashes in the state since Saturday night.

Three persons were killed and six injured when police opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob in the Chandola Lake area in Ahmedabad. Two more persons were injured when rival groups hurled crude bombs at each other, police said.

Two persons were killed in police firing and one in mob violence in Baroda where curfew remained in force in six police station areas. Fourteen people were also injured in communal clashes. Two others, including a woman, injured in violence a few days ago died in hospital on Saturday.

The peace march began from Manila Mansion near Kalupur railway station in a Muslim-dominated segment of riot-torn Ahmedabad with the rendering of a patriotic song by volunteers of the National Cadet Corps, the blowing of conch shells and drumbeats.

Gun-toting police and central paramilitary force personnel stood guard at strategic positions and on rooftops to prevent any untoward incident.

Besides Modi and Fernandes, others who participated in the 3km walk included Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley, Samata Party politician Jaya Jaitly and a host of BJP and Congress politicians.

The march was organised by the Eminent Citizens' Core Group floated on April 21. Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kalyan G Shah, who heads the core group, also joined in.

Gujarat desperately needs to re-establish mutual trust among various communities, Modi said. "It is ironic that today we have faith only in rumours and not in the people," he remarked. The "wildfire of rumours" had primarily contributed to such unprecedented violence, he said, and cautioned against the circulation of "illegal pamphlets" and "sensationalisation in the media".

Referring to the Godhra carnage, he said the incident led to the communal conflagration in the state. Yet, he added, as against 18,000 villages in the state, the pagalpan (madness) "was confined only to about 50 villages and parts of Ahmedabad. But all these also ought to end."

"In Gujarat, we all are unhappy today," he said. "What we all need is a healing touch."

Fernandes hoped Sunday's march would go a long way in re-establishing mutual trust. "We have to forget the past," he said, and cited the example of the Vietnamese people who, after fighting a fierce battle against the Americans, had started "working hard together with the same Americans".

Ahmed Horakila, a leader of the Vora Muslim community from Mumbai, quoted celebrated Urdu poet Iqbal describing Lord Ram as the imam of Hindus. "This shows that no religion teaches us to fight each other."

PTI

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report