Gujarat Muslims still live in fear: Report

The UN Human Rights Council in its latest report slammed India for denial of justice to the 2002 Gujarat riots victims, and said the investigation in cases of communal violence is delayed and partisan. It also said post-riots, the Muslims in Gujarat are living in fear, reports Nagendar Sharma.

The UN Human Rights Council in its latest report slammed India for denial of justice to the 2002 Gujarat riots victims, and said the investigation in cases of communal violence is delayed and partisan. It also said post-riots, the Muslims in Gujarat are living in fear.

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“A large number of criminal cases relating to the communal violence in 2002 remain un-investigated or have been closed by the Gujarat Police and the miserable plight of those internally displaced from their homes continues,” the UN report said. “While discussing the events with the victims, the special rapporteur could see the continuing fear which was exacerbated by the distress that justice continues to evade the victims,” the report stated.

The report has drawn sharp reactions from the Congress and the Left parties calling the Narendra Modi government a “dark blot on India”. The BJP has refused to react and party spokesman Rajeev Pratap Rudy said :“I cannot react as I have not seen the report.”

The report, based on the human rights activist and special UN rapporteur, Asma Jahangir visit to seven Indian cities last year, said India has not learnt lessons from the past. “The extended timeframe of investigations in cases involving communal riots, violence and massacres is a matter of concern,” the report stated.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said: “The UN report has reinforced what is already widely known in India. The riot victims have been denied justice for years.”