Ghosts of polarization haunts ‘secular circles’; Owaisi hits back at Shah for ‘teach a lesson’ remarks

While there is susceptible silence in the ‘secular quarters’ over the alleged “provocative remarks” of Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he claimed to have “brought peace” in Gujarat by “silencing the perpetrators of crime in 2002”, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacted sharply saying the country’s home minister is “drunk with power”.

Owaisi said, “I want to tell Union home minister, the lesson you taught in 2002 was that Bilkis Bano’s rapists will be freed by you, you’ll free the murderers of Bilkis’ 3-year-old daughter, Ahsan Jafri will be killed…which lessons of yours will we remember?”

“Remember the seat of power is snatched from all. Drunk with power, India’s home minister is saying they taught a lesson… Amit Shah sahab, what lesson did you teach that Delhi communal riots occurred?…,” added Owaisi.

TMC leader and parliamentarian Mahua Moitra also slammed Shah for his statement. Taking a swipe at Shah, she tweeted: “This is home minister of India. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten his not-so-little hand.”

Reaction on social media
It is generally believed that Shah meticulously brought up the 2002 anti-Muslim massacre to communlaise elections, so the mainstream political parties avoid commenting on it fearing polarisation of Hindu votes. However, his remarks attracted huge traction across social media platforms with divisive views kept pouring in even though many reminded the BJP leader of his stature (home minister). While a large section dubbed the statement a “ploy to polarize elections” and “typical of BJP’s dog whistle politics, another section seems to buy the argument of “bringing peace” claim.

Many shared the number of riots took place following the gruesome “2002 genocide.” According to sources, a total of 1,740 incidents of rioting were reported in Gujarat between January 1 and December 31, 2017, with 2,373 people affected (victims).

Senior journalist Syed Hasan Kazmi wrote: “Here goes the home minister of the world’s largest democracy openly taking pride in the worst communal, state sponsored pogrom in #India’s history in which hundreds were massacred in a couple of days, dozens were raped, gangraped, women’s fetuses were ripped open and raised on swords. Can any flag cover this shame?”

Another user wrote: Oh really? There have been an end number of riots that happened in Gujarat post 2002. In 2006 Vadodara riots, 2015 Bharuch riots and this year in April 2022 another riot, apart from this there are many riots which happened but since it’s a double engine sarkar they are making sure Abdul is tight and news is not leaked.”

Earlier on Friday, while campaigning for Gujarat Assembly elections, Shah had said that the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat established peace in the state and “taught lesson” to the anti-social elements in 2002.

He said: “During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress had strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society.” – INDIA NEWS STREAM