Godhra victims say leave our dead in peace. Is Modi listening?

The entry in the card shows that the Shukal family was given 20 kg of wheat, 5 kg of rice, 2 kg of dal and 1 kg of edible oil. But that was in May. There are no entries for the following months.

Though Shukal avoids direct criticism of the VHP, the anger shows on his face. For several months after the carnage, hordes of VHP activists made frequent forays to the Janata Colony, home to family members of about a dozen karsevaks burnt alive on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra. Now forgotten, the karsevaks maintain a low profile.

News that Modi’s election office was inaugurated by the teenage daughters of a Godhra carnage victim evokes cynicism and contempt. ‘‘Godhra is a separate matter and the elections an entirely different subject. Nobody should use Godhra for political gain,’’ asserts Shukal.

Visibly angry, he bristles: ‘‘Are the issues of basic sustenance being discussed by any political party? No. Here the parties are trying to cash in on the tragedy in whatever way possible.’’ Asked why he has preserved the relief card given to him by the VHP, Shukal says: ‘‘It will remind me of the tragedy always.’’

Incidentally, since the Panchal sisters inaugurated Modi’s office, the VHP has plonked itself outside their doors and is apparently screening mediapersons wanting to meet them.

When The Indian Express made an attempt to meet the sisters at their residence in Mahavir Nagar, they were told by a VHP activist that the meeting could be possible only after clearance from the headquarters. ‘‘The English press is attributing statements to the sisters which are wrong and damaging to the VHP,’’ he added.

The other families in Janata Colony have no intention of jumping into the campaign fray. ‘‘Nobody has approached me. But if I am asked to do so, I will say no. I will vote but I will not campaign for any party. I don’t want people to vote for dead bodies,’’ says Babubhai Chonakar, who lost his daughter-in-law in the carnage.

Ironically, like the victims of the riot, the foremost grouse of families here too remains non-payment of relief. ‘‘We are still to be paid Rs 20,000 of the Rs 1.5 lakh promised as compensation. We were told that we would get the money soon, but nothing has happened,’’ complains Shukal.

At the Matre house in the locality, silence reigns. Fourteen-year-old Shrutika Matre has tried to forget the loss of her mother, Shardaben, in her studies, but in vain.

‘‘A lot of people used to come earlier but nobody comes here now,’’ she says as her 10-year-old brother Chirag looks on.

Their father, Sharad Matre, is out and none of the neighbours is willing to talk polls. ‘‘Everybody knows that it is all about politics,’’ remarks a neighbour.

At Bharat Panchal’s house, nobody is interested in talking about either elections or Godhra. Panchal, an autorickshaw driver, lost his wife and prefers to keep his grief private.

His mother pleads with everyone, including scribes to ‘‘leave us alone’’. If only Narendra Modi would listen.