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Journalism of Courage
AHMEDABAD, May 30: The city Bajrang Dal chief A Modi said today that he had called off its “Swadeshi agitation” after “orders from the top”.
However, once again, a Pepsi truck was damaged by Bajrang Dal volunteers in Surat today. The driver and cleaner of the truck were asked to get down and then it was rolled off the road.
Sources said that Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel got a call from Union Home Minister L K Advani’s office asking him to cool off the “Swadeshi” agitation. And late last night, Patel who had virtually endorsed the violence, issued a statement: “Gujarat is known for its wisdom and non-violence. Our culture does not allow indulging in such acts of violence.” The Congress yesterday had criticised the vandalism and rioting by Sangh Parivar cadres in Gujarat saying that such incidents would antagonise US businesses at a time when they may be lobbying for easing of the sanctions.
Eleven people who had been arrested have been released on bail since the police couldn’tcheck out their antecedents. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal, suspected to be behind the operations, have also laid off at least for now.
Over the past ten days, the damage to property alone has exceeded Rs 40 lakh and a fear psychosis had gripped event organisers and restaurant owners after Surat and Vadodara city VHP chiefs issued ominous warnings to the MNCs in general and cola companies in particular.
“After ten years of continuous `education’ salient features of Hinduism and Swadeshi have got so ingrained in average Gujarati youth that now they do not even need a clarion call. Things like these begin on their own,” said Pravin Togadia, VHP national general secretary.
Apparently after a word from Delhi, the Chief Minister had a brief chat with Togadia who assured him that his men were not involved in the agitation.
Ahmedabad Police commissioner Hira Lal told The Indian Express: “There will be no more such cases.” He claimed he could do little about the incidents last week becausethey were sporadic and unplanned.
