Gujarat CDs spin hate as riots pause

This is one propaganda war that even the government might find tough to counter. In what can be termed as an underground movement spawned by...

This is one propaganda war that even the government might find tough to counter. In what can be termed as an underground movement spawned by communication technology, a very different story is fast gaining ground with gruesome pictures, live action and terrifying accounts of riot survivors 8212; all on Compact Discs.

The alarming fact is that these CDs 8212; whether pro-Hindu or pro-Muslim 8212; recounting gruesome tales, are fast becoming collector8217;s items with youths. 8216;8216;The most authentic CD is one made by a Hindu, he has done a good job and we get to know the exact truth,8217;8217; says 20-year-old Imran with the air of an expert. Imran and his friends have managed to get copies of three such CDs.

NMC hails move on panel

NEW DELHI: The National Minorities Commission NMC on Wednesday welcomed the Gujarat government8217;s decision to restructure the K.G. Shah Commission of Inquiry, probing the communal riots in the state, by appointing retired Supreme Court Judge G.T. Nanavati to head the two-member panel.

The Commission, which had demanded appointment of a retired Supreme court judge to look into the incidents of riots, held a emergency meeting to discuss the response of the state government and appreciated the step taken by the government, NCM vice-chairman Tarlochan Singh said. PTI

One of the more popular CDs, Genocide in Gandhi8217;s Land, is one that has a credit line of Gopal Menon and has done the rounds of many NGOs too.

There are other CDs 8212; with survivor accounts such as that of Sufiya Banu, the girl believed to have been on the Sabarmati Express, and plenty of pictures of charred bodies, burnt homes and desecrated religious places 8212; with no credits and masked as anonymous production efforts.

Altaf owns neither a computer nor a CD player but is ready to spend his pocket money on getting the CDs copied. 8216;8216;It takes guts to view these CDs. Many walked away during the viewing. I want to keep the copies as a reminder of what happened,8217;8217; says Altaf with a chilling defiance when asked what he might gain from seeing them.

Story continues below this ad

For these youngsters watching gruesome acts indicating state and police complicity is an act of bravado as well as a chilling reminder of what happened.

There are even some enterprising souls who are making a quick buck by making copies of such CDs and selling them to an eager audience. Group screenings have also caught on since it is difficult for everyone to lay their hands on such a CD.

What is disturbing is that it is difficult to trace the origin of these CDs as they don8217;t have any credit lines, except for a background commentary leaving no doubt as to where the sympathies lie.

8216;8216;This is a very dangerous trend and one apparently beyond control. I, too, have such a CD though I have not managed to see it as my son is very young,8217;8217; says Rohit Prajapati, a PUCL activist.

Story continues below this ad

But it is the words of a youth who8217;s seen such a CD that sends a chill down one8217;s spine. 8216;8216;Look at this stuff, let it spread around the world, we might not be able to do anything, but we surely hope that somewhere someone might watch and give a fitting reply,8217;8217; he says, a sign of a tenuous trust lost.