The arrests of Maya Kodnani and Jaideep Patel may have generated national interest; but the victims of the 2002 post-Godhra riots believe the move is a little too late.
The arrests of minister of state for women development and child welfare, Maya Kodnani, and VHP leader Jaideep Patel may have generated national interest; but the victims of the 2002 post-Godhra riots, though happy, believe the move is a little too late, and a little short of what they desire.
The initial jubilation of the riot victims residing at the Sindikabaaz society committee homes at Juhapura soon faded as they expressed their apprehension about the future of the matter. They believe the move is a political stunt and that Kodnani and Patel will soon be granted bail, without being punished by the respective courts. Besides, they claim that the arrests, though a sign of justice, will not be of much help to them in any manner.
"We lost everything in the 2002 riots and Maya Kodnani is one of the people responsible for that. Like her, all the other culprits should be arrested," said Mohamad Ismail, a victim of the Naroda massacre who resides with his family at Naroda Bethak at Mafatnagar.
His wife, Amina Mansuri, said they had seen young girls being raped during the riots and primarily blamed Kodnani for the same as the culprits had followed her directions. Mansuri also said that they had not received compensation as promised by the Centre.
"It is pointless to discuss the happenings at Naroda during the riots. The government has so far not done anything concrete," Ismail said.
Another victim of the riots, Razwana Kathiaria, who is just 12 years old, has been through much pain. "I was very young at the time of the riots. But in my faint memories, I remember that there were dead bodies in large numbers lying on the roads. My father was hit in the hand by a bullet. This could have been avoided if chief minister Narendra Modi has acted in a positive and unbiased manner," she said.
Razwana has been through and heard so much about the 2002 riots that there is not much beyond this that she can think of. Her case is similar to those of many others. The victims staying at Chamanpura at the time of the riots said there were not interested in giving their comments on Kodnani's arrest as "the state and central governments have both behaved irresponsibly in the case. It has been nearly seven years, but neither has come up with a concrete decision or order."
"Whatever happens to Maya Kodnani is fair as she deserves strict punishment for ruining the lives of hundreds of families," said Mohamad Ummar Pathan, a victim of the Chamanpura riots.
Dilawar Saiyad, a victim of the Naroda Patia riots who testified before the Special Investigation Team as an eyewitness, said, "We are glad to receive justice. However, there is fear in the air that something may happen; the situation is tense. I feel I may be targeted as I am one of the witnesses."
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