VHP to hold silent protest against Naroda Patia verdict

In a show of solidarity with the convicts in the Naroda Patia massacre case as well as the Hindu community, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will conduct a silent protest at the Income-Tax circle in the city on Saturday.

“VHP stands by the side of BJP MLA, Maya Kodnani and the 31 others convicted as well as their families in this time of grief. We will support them, even if the case goes to the Supreme Court, and also provide financial assistance to the families,” VHP international executive president, Praveen Togadia said on Thursday.

“We will show the solidarity and unity of the Hindu community by conducting a silent protest,” said general secretary of VHP, Gujarat, Ranchhod Bharwad. “We will share the grief of the convicts’ family members with this show of unity,” he said.

VHP’s north-Gujarat region general secretary, Ashwin Patel said, “We appeal to all Hindus to observe a one-day symbolic fast on Saturday to share the sorrow of the family members of the Naroda Patia convicts.”

The VHP’s reaction comes a day after 32 of the 61 accused were held guilty by the designated judge in the Naroda Patia case on Wednesday.

The massacre at Naroda Patia took place on February 28, 2002, when the VHP had called for a Gujarat bandh in protest of the killing of 59 karsevaks in the Godhra train carnage a day prior.