For the first time, they don’t feel alone

There were no TV cameras here, no celebrations, just a sense of surprise and a silent satisfaction in Naroda Patiya, the epicentre of the po...

There were no TV cameras here, no celebrations, just a sense of surprise and a silent satisfaction in Naroda Patiya, the epicentre of the post-Godhra violence. Satisfaction that across the country, faceless men and women had stood up to defeat the party whose government they say watched them die.

You can’t expect more from people who have lost their loved ones in riots—and then seen the Narendra Modi government that allowed all that to happen get a resounding victory in the Assembly elections. And then openly package that victory as a ‘‘clean chit from the people’s court.’’

Disenchanted with the election process and aware that at just under 9 per cent their numbers didn’t matter in the state’s political arithmetic, many Muslims had, in fact, chosen to stay away from polling booths this time during the Lok Sabha elections. Those who had voted had voted with defiance more than hope.

Story continues below this ad

But when the results started pouring in today, they realised that the rest of the country, too, had rejected the carnage at Godhra, the riots that followed and the politics of Narendra Modi’s party. And closer home in Gujarat as well, the BJP was heading for its lowest tally in 15 years. ‘‘It is not just the Muslims but even the Hindus that have voted against the BJP,’’ said Shabana Shaikh who lost her mother and sister during the 2002 riots. ‘‘The results are actually a slap in Modi’s face. Even the Hindus don’t want the country to go along that path.’’

Tanvir Jafri’s father Ehsan Jafri was burnt alive in Gulbarga Society. Today he said he realised that while all along, he has been feeling terrible, there are others, ‘‘many others, too, who were not feeling good.’’

Meanwhile, the man who was on every mind and every tongue sulked in his official bungalow, refusing to meet anyone. Modi watched TV all day and only broke his silence to speak on the phone to senior party functionaries L K Advani, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu.

His spokesman said Modi did not want to meet anyone, especially journalists. This was confirmed by staff at his residence. One of them told waiting mediapersons: Sahib ne manaa kar diya hai kisi se bhi milne se (Mr Modi has refused to meet anyone).

‘Double bonanza for poor, middle class’: PM’s swadeshi pitch ahead of new GST roll out

India7 hr ago

PM Modi announced the rollout of new GST rates, calling it a "GST bachat utsav" and promising cheaper prices for medicines, insurance, and daily essentials. He emphasized that these reforms would ease doing business, attract investment, and benefit the poor, middle class, MSMEs, farmers, women, traders, and youth. He urged citizens to promote swadeshi goods.

View all shorts

Live Blog