Citizens now say enough is enough

MUMBAI: Until last week—when the mobs attacked even ambulances, the fire brigade and factory workers— Ahmedabad’s was a tale of two cities.
While one part was flooded in a bloodbath, the affluent part carried on as though nothing was wrong. But now middle and upper class citizens from the majority community in Ahmedabad are finally saying enough is enough.
Although it is still just a whisper, young, educated Gujaratis are speaking up against the violence that has disrupted life in their state for the past three months.
“What stopped Narendra Modi from immediately booking the perpetuators of the Godhra massacre? Why did he allow this massacre of poor and innocent people from both sides?’’ one young Gujarati businessman asked.
“No political party in Gujarat can be trusted to stop this madness now. The only way out is to implement President’s rule. Meanwhile, we need personalities like Aamir and Shah Rukh, Amitabh and Sachin who are the heroes of Gujarati youth to join in the appeal for peace.’’
Several young businessmen in Ahmedabad and Baroda said reality is now setting in for the working class. Many employed in small businesses do not have jobs to go back to, they said. One Gujarati businessman said the violence had meant his workshop in the walled city has remained shut for the past three months.
“I cannot afford to continue paying the salaries and will have to lay off the workers who are of the majority community,’’ he said.
The uncontrolled street violence ensures that no relief and rehabilitation efforts can take place.A visit to the Shah Alam Camp, housing 13,000 people, revealed there is no threat to unescorted visitors from its residents.
Instead, there is a problem in areas surrounded by hostile elements, where the safety of medical personnel or relief workers cannot be guaranteed and armed escorts have to be provided. The strain in the camps is palpable.
Families are packed into a few square feet of space. Sanitation and water services are inadequate. Women are suffering from urinary tract infections because they delay using the toilets.
Although the government has issued circulars stating that free drugs and treatment would be given to all riot victims and camp inmates, not a single rupee or box of drugs has reached VS Hospital, where incoming patients were recently attacked.According to the hospital superintendent, the requisition for emergency drugs was dispatched a month ago.
The State Commissioner for drugs said that the drugs were available, but the requisition has not reached him. Community representatives highlighted various other problems encountered in the hospital. For instance, patients with bullet injuries received a certificate that merely said “injury’’ without specifying how it was caused.This would hamper their claims for compensation or insurance. Patients complained they were discharged before it was warranted. Families complained that members died unattended.
When the hospital administration organised a meeting with a few leaders of both communities, to explain its constraints, and understand community perceptions, the sensitive meeting was disrupted by an instigated union mob, which had been misinformed about the purpose of the meeting.
The option for President’s Rule seems to be gaining momentum amongst Gujaratis, who say it is now the only feasible option in conditions of a political vacuum that has existed in the state since 1980.