Even cricket fails to unite voters in Vadodara

Irfan Pathan's heroics in Lahore united the two warring communities in the city. But fear still stalks the minority community here.

Irfan Pathan's heroics in the penultimate one-dayer in Lahore united two warring communities in a city that has been scarred by communal violence. The people of Vadodara came together to celebrate the victory in a temporary truce.

That wasn't the case when India won the first ODI without Irfan. The two communities clashed in some parts of the city.

The strapping pacer's parents are in Lahore. But elder brother Yusuf did have a comment: "Both communities celebrated that evening, but those who suffered (in the riots) know what it was like."

There is enough evidence of the fear that stalks the minority community here.

Harsh Mander of Action-Aid, an NGO that has been working among the riot victims, says: "There is now a clear sense of domination by the majority community that has successfully instilled fear in the minds of the Muslims." And it will be reflected in the manner in which the two communities exercise their franchise when Vadodara goes to the polls on April 20, Mander warns.

Nissar Hussein Bapu, a former deputy mayor, who, along with his son Abid, was arrested for murder during the riots, says: "Our existence here is such that we have to choose between the well or the ditch. We are so numb from the events of the last two years that we are yet to decide who to vote for.''

The dilemma is echoed by Mohammad Rafeeq whose Hindu boss fired him when the VHP and the Bajrang Dal "imposed" an economic boycott of the Muslims. The boycott continues.

Some Muslims have joined the BJP. But that has more to do with the prevailing sense of fear and is considered to be a ploy adopted by some wealthy Muslims to protect their business. "It is purely a tactical ploy, though its is equally true that the Muslims are leaderless in a society where the communal divide is complete," says a senior police officer.