To: National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi

CC: Shri K.R. Narayanan, President of India; Shri A.B. Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India; Shri L.K. Advani, Home Minister; Shri S. S. Bhandari, Governor of Gujarat; Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Indian Embassies and Consulates

RE: GUJARAT GOVERNMENT'S BEHAVIOR DURING COMMUNAL RIOTS

We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the recent spate of violence in Gujarat and the Gujarat government’s shameful behavior during these riots. Having lost confidence in the capacity of the Gujarat government to deal with the current crisis, we call upon the National Human Rights Commission to safeguard human rights and ensure justice for all residents of Gujarat.

The horrendous massacre of the passengers of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra is a reprehensible act and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Instead of apprehending and bringing to trial the perpetrators of this criminal act, the Gujarat state machinery has decided to punish an entire community by letting loose reign of terror on the minority community. We strongly condemn the Gujarat State Government for failing to act responsibly on this issue, and indeed, encouraging the violence against the Muslim community in Gujarat. We also condemn strongly the role of the various religious factions in escalating the violence in Gujarat, for vitiating the communal milieu in the entire nation and creating the polarized atmosphere where such large scale riots are possible.

OUR DEMANDS:

• We call for the immediate setting up of an independent and impartial judicial enquiry into the cause of these riots and the government's inability to maintain law and order.
• We call for immediate government assistance, both material and psychological, to people affected by the riots.
• We demand that the amount of money accorded to the families of the dead in the riots should be equal to that granted for the victims of the Sabarmati Express fire.
• We call upon the Gujarat State Government to immediately issue a strong condemnation of those responsible for the violence in the state.
• We seek the immediate dismissal of police commissioners in cities worst affected by violence.
• We call for the resignation of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi.
• We demand that the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) not be applied in the state.
• We demand an immediate end to all measures to curb the freedom of press.

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