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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The Union Home Ministry will present a white paper on the recent violence in the Dangs district in Gujarat by early February, according to Home Minister L K Advani.
The Ministry plans to delve into the root of the conflict in the area, going back by nearly 10 years. Among other things, it will examine what the Christian population in Dangs was then, how much it has shot up since, what factors led to the tribals’ ire over alleged forced conversions, and why the violence did not erupt earlier.
The white paper will also detail the spread of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence in India over the years, its links with known criminals and mafia dons and its hectic efforts – particularly during the last few years – to forge links with regional insurgent groups.
Home Minister L K Advani feels that it may be a good idea to get to the root of the problem – and that would necessitate going back a decade at least. A Gujarat-based agency recently handed over to the Ministry a report whichclaimed that the Christian population in Dangs district rose at an amazing rate during this period despite sporadic protests from the tribals. However, following Advani’s instructions, the Ministry has initiated a “thorough study” of the rise in the Christian population in Dangs. It will also take into account related factors like the tribals’ anger – if any – recorded over the conversions and incidents of similar clashes between them and the Christians during this period.
The Ministry had, in fact, prepared the final draft of the white paper some time ago but it was rejected by Advani, who thought it was voluminous, and carried references which would have been hard to defend in court in case the need arose. “We wanted a thorough job on the white paper,” he said.
Nariman resignation yanked off the air
The first 20 minutes of Star News on Sunday containing the resignation of Fali S Nariman as Gujarat Government counsel in the Narmada dam case, went off air. Though Star India officials blamethe missing portion on a technical glitch in Hong Kong, sources indicate that they had been insisting that the item be dropped from the bulletins of the Star News channel and Star Plus from 7.30 pm. When New Delhi Television, the provider of Star News, did not accede to the request, a Doordarshan-like axe fell on the main bulletin, Star News on Sunday.
A Star News spokesperson, however, insisted that it was a problem at Clearwater Bay, Star TV’s earth station in Hong Kong, that caused the black-out. A recorded debate between Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya and National Minorities Commission Chairman Tahir Mehmood was also blacked out. Pandya was specially flown in to New Delhi for the discussion.
Nariman’s resignation, protesting against the Gujarat Government’s failure to protect the minorities, has embarrassed the Government; a fact that Star TV, with a make-or-break decision on the DTH band expected in the next two months, may not have wanted to highlight.
