‘Picture not so rosy, let Kalam see for himself’

His visit may have set the BJP’s teeth on edge but there are many in Ahmedabad who are waiting for President A P J Abdul Kalam to arriv...

His visit may have set the BJP’s teeth on edge but there are many in Ahmedabad who are waiting for President A P J Abdul Kalam to arrive, to ‘‘come, see for himself’’ the true face of the Narendra Modi government’s ‘‘achievements’’ since February 27. While BJP activists are, predictably, resisting Kalam’s unexpected two-day visit, others hope that he will ‘‘understand the situation better’’:

BJP City unit president and MLA Mayaben Kodnani: The president should see things positively. The situation in Ahmedabad is normal. People have returned to Naroda Patiya. Relief camps do not present the true picture since very few people live there now.

Laxmiben Shah, Naroda Patiya resident: We are happy Kalam is visiting Naroda Patiya, it didn’t look this good even before the riots.

I hope he can help people regain their lost confidence. Even today, my Muslim neighbours think twice before stepping out alone.

Jagdish Bhavsar, City BJP unit spokesperson: The president should organise a joint meeting with intellectuals, political and non-political persons, NGO representatives and people from the corporate world. Discussions should not be related to the riots and riot victims, but overall developmental issues.

Abdul Khalid Tailor, Chamanpura resident who now lives at Gujarat Haj House: I want to spend at least an hour at the places Kalam plans to visit. I hope he meets more people and know what problems they are facing.

B D Desai, bank officer and riot victim of Mirzapur: It took almost two months for Gujarat to regain normalcy. Things are slowly but steadily falling into place, people are returning to their damaged houses. Why should Kalam visit the riot-affected areas? This will only prove that normalcy hasn’t returned.

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Tushar Kapadia, M.Com student of Gujarat University: The president should also visit camps that are declared officially closed and where refugees continue to live. They might tell him why they aren’t comfortable with the idea of returning home.

Narhari Amin, Congress MLA from Sabarmati: A personal visit will make the president understand the situation better. Kalam should visit riot affected areas and relief camps, meet riot victims which will give him the real picture which is not as rosy as the government makes it out to be.

Jeetunbiwi Shiekh, riot widow from Gomtipur, mother of three: What different does it make whether it’s the prime minister or president visiting us? If at all the president wants to do something, he should make arrangements for our rozi roti. He should declare schemes through which riot victims will be able to earn a living.

Mohsin Khadri, chief organiser of Shah Alam camp: The president should find out whether the Rs 150 crore package announced by Prime Minister Vajpayee has reached the riot victims at all.

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Shabnam Noorani Ghachi, Naroda Patiya resident: Kalam should also visit other areas like Dariyapur, Dariyakhan Ghummat and Bapunagar. These are areas with a mixed population, he should meet the residents and see just how uncomfortable they are living in these areas.

Aamina Sharif, Rakhial resident: Even today, people are not too comfortable with their Hindu neighbours. Kalam should also visit places which have been encroached by Hindus. This speaks volumes about how secure minorities feel.

Shachee Patel, secondary school teacher: The president should pay more attention to issues like compensation and rehabilitation of victims. Why not pay a visit to the collectorate and take a look at the compensation files? Why not meet representatives of NGOs who claim to know victims who have not received any compensation?