Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi is being both petulant and petty in refusing to tender an apology for the post-Godhra riots of 2002. He has been doggedly stonewalling the suggestion, on the ground that he had done no wrong.
In the 2002 riots more than 2,000 persons, majority of them Muslim, were put to death by blood-thirsty mobs. Life-long trauma has been caused to members of as many families which will never be able to forget the horrors they went through. The whole of India was plunged into shock because of what happened in Gujarat and it is yet to come out of it.
It is immaterial where the instigation came from. The fact of murder, mayhem and arson is undisputed and indisputable. Equally so is the fact that they occurred under Modi’s watch.
Apology doesn’t mean any personal stigma or indication of personal culpability. It simply means expressing, as a human being, unbounded sorrow for what happened and setting an example in nobility and humanity. It raises the stature of the person tendering the apology in the eyes of the world.
I wish to bring to the notice of Modi some deeply touching instances of nations and their governments as a whole offering apologies for events that had occurred centuries ago for which the present ruling establishments could not be held responsible or blameworthy.
TRIPLE APOLOGY
In February 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in a speech to Parliament in Canberra for White Australia's policy of Indigenous assimilation during the first seven decades of the 20th century and for the “profound grief, suffering, hurt and loss” for “the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture”, and “for the breaking up of families and communities” of Australia's Indigenous people, and their descendants.
Mark his words Modi: “As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Government of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Parliament of Australia, I am sorry. And I offer you this apology without qualification.”
In April 2009, US Congress, in a solemn resolution unanimously adopted, expressed its deeply felt remorse at the “long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes” and apologised on behalf of the people of the US “to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States”.
In February 2010, the Japanese Foreign Minister apologised to South Korea for the more than three decades of occupation calling it “a tragic incident for Koreans when they were deprived of their nation and their identity”.
HORRIBLE CRIMES
The anti-Sikh riots of 1984 in which more than 4,000 Sikhs were done to death following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by a Sikh bodyguard are brought up by many Modi sympathisers the moment post-Godhra riots in Gujarat are mentioned.
Here again, it is necessary to take note of the unconditional apology offered in Parliament by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to the following effect: “I have no hesitation in apologising not only to the Sikh community but the whole nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood and what’s enshrined in our Constitution. So I am not standing on any false prestige. On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country, I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place.”
He apologised once again to the Sikh community of the US and Canada in 2010 while on a visit to Toronto for the “horrible crimes … (which)… should never have happened.”
Modi’s adamant refusal is doing him no good. It is only making him seem arrogant and insensitive, besides fuelling suspicions about his connivance.
It is surprising that one whose achievements have earned high praise from different quarters, including an effusive tribute to his leadership from the Time magazine, should exhibit such behaviour.
Keywords: Narendra Modi, refusing to tender apology, post-Godhra riots of 2002, stonewalling the suggestion, he had done no wrong, BJP
Comments:
It is already come out from Supreme Court and SIT that there is no involvemnet of Modi in post Godhrra riots.Do you have any thoughts on 1984 Punjab and 2012 Assam riots? I dare to you to post it also.
With our media currently acting as the accuser, police and the judge, your proposition is very tricky in our country. Even without him accepting any culpability or wrong doing and on the other hand challenging to be hanged if found guilty, you have hounded him for past 10 years. Imagine what would be his fate if he does what you have suggested. The only thing that is protecting him is his work (Dharmo rakshati rakshitaha!)
I just dont understandt why the media keeps on talking about the Gujarat Riots.Why should they not talk about anti-sikh riots. The CBI itself has proved that a Congress MLA was involved in the Anti-Sikh riots. CBI has alleged that Rajiv Gandhi was involved in the riots. He had approved the riots openly. The media never talks about anti-sikh riots.
In Modi's case, he is blamed for the riots and that is why he should not apologize. If he apologizes then it will provide an ammution to his opponents to say he had accepted responsibility for the alleged crime which is not proved. Modi has already accepted responsibility of the government to protect people of all the religions and expressed genuine sorry for those who were affected. Also, he took care of the people who
were affected, better than anyone else in past. In Modi's case, nothing has been proved that he did not take adequate measures after the The Indian justice system is based on the principle that innocents should not be declared guilty.
Its time The Hindu Changed its name to The Muslim. Journalists should submit evidence to what ever they claim. Blindly they can't put their views and numbers. The Hindu should stop becoming a blog post and be a Newspaper.How many times journalists had tendered apology for their wrong reporting? Has Assam CM tendered apology for the killings in that State recently? When did ManMohan singh tendered an apology for his failures? If any BJP MLA gives an apology will that be ok for this author? Be pragmatic.. I would like to have a detailed answer.Is The Hindu ady to submit the answeres?
I agree with the writer and would appreciate the fact that Mr. Modi tender his apology to the people of Gujrat and India in the wake post-Godhra riots. The fact of the matter is that Mr.Modi was not involved in the riots but the lawlessness took place when he was the CM and he is CM even now. So an apology will not make anybody conclude that Mr.Modi was behind the riots but on the contrary it would be appreciated by people that a responsible person like him has accepted the responsibility for the inhuman act executed by both the communities involved.
Why should he apologize? Is media ready to apologize on defame of him? Incorrect ,false stories were published on him while Supreme court had cleared from all charges. Why should he apologize? Has PM aplogized over his rajysabha seat which belonged to asam. He is just tricked to make apology -to win punjab election. Yes That is politics. If truely manmohan and congress apologized for sikh riots where were they all these 20 years ? Why so late? You are making same question to modi then why not PM or congress? Why you dont cover asam riots. Havse riots any religion or caste? Why dont you blame and defame PM and Congress on Asam riots. Why did you forget Sikh Riots long ago? Answer all of these. Then we will answer why modi should apologize. One More Question: Why dont you cover anna hazare agitation?
So u have almost confirmed Modi as next PM !!! Despite ur hatred u r
helping Modi
Mr Raghavan may have his views but has not offered any real reason for Modi to apologize. First, Modi believes he has not done anything wrong. Secondly, going by the examples that Raghavan gives, Modi could consider an apology after some twenty years. In fact just as the Australian and Indian PMs apologized for something that did not happen in their time, one of Modi's successors could quietly take the credit. If Modi has not done anything wrong, why must he apologize. By your logic that the riots happened under his watch, the PM could as well apologize as he is the PM of India that includes the State of Gujarat.
Rajiv in his life time never offered an apology for what happened in 1984. Modis is a unique case ,for modis detractors are waiting and it will be construed as admission of guilt by them and will be projected as complicity in the crime and pounce on him and drag him to court.the hatred of Modi by his hate campaigners are visceregal. the whole gujarat society and muslim hard liners are to be blamed
Dear Sir,
It is a very good suggestion from Sri B.S.Raghavan pleading for apology from Sri Modi for 'what had happened in Gujrat post-Godhra. It is not indicative of his negligence/connivance in the riot,yet as the Chief Minister of Gujrat some moral responsibilty-nay sympathetic to the event that took place in a trice immendiately after the burning of 56 kar-sevaks who are bolted from outside and set fire by some bad elements which is unpardonable but the reply by some gang to this tragedy is disproportionate at any rate. With the result innocent people were killed for the fault of some black sheep. Raghavan
Narendra modi is not the perpetuator of violence nor does he condone violence. The need to apologise is irrelevant. The demonisation of modi and articles of that nature are paid articles. The hindu newspaper is one which is anti-hindu it has lost its ournalistic integrity long ago. Its declining readership will confirm the same.
What is really expected by the people from any such personality with a public stature is not just an apology but a soul-driven, from bottom of the heart , 'i am responsible'. Albeit, 'i' not necessarily meaning the individual as such, but as one among the 'humanity' in its true sense.To warmly recapitulate: Former PM Lal Bahadur identified himself with the Railways so much that he felt he was responsible for a railway accident if anything went wrong ..When he was the Railway Minister in 1956, 144 passengers died in an accident that took place near Ariyalur ... three months before an accident had occurred at Mehboob Nagar in which 112 people died. Lal Bahadur was in no way responsible... Yet he was very much pained. He felt he could not escape the moral esponsibility ... He submitted his resignation letter to Pandit Nehru when the Mehboob Nagar accident took place. .Nehru had not accepted it. But when the Ariyalur accident took place Shastriji resigned from railway ministership, which was accepted.
'I must do penance for this. Let me go.' So strong was his sense of
responsibility.
UQ
(Excerpt from a book)
Even as I start '2,000 persons, majority of them Muslim, were put to death by blood-thirsty mobs'. Can you please provide a source for this number? The official number is 1,044 (790 Muslims and 254 Hindus)and 253 missing. Since these are the official nos. there is no need for you to quote otherwise!!!
A mango tree can only give mangoes - the gardener who has cultivated communal divide which has lead to mistrust and Godhra is responsible -
Modi has given good communal free Gujarat post Godhra - The people who
started Godhra have agreed and accepted that such things will not be
allowed in Gujarat.
You have noted few cases where people have apologized for something happened to others by others. In none of your noted cases, person who is blamed is also apologizing publicly (e.g. Australian Prime Minister). This argument has a big logical fallacy. Even Manmohan Singh did not apologize for even one single mistake - small or big. He is no saint as your have portrait here...
Judicial system is working because Courts have punished criminals.
Why anyone would expect Head of State to apologize? Manmohan Singh has not apologized for blackouts, suicide by thousands of farmers, mismanagement, scams (and you can go on) happened under his watch... Question is where do you want to draw a line?
Dear All,
Apologies will be definitely to be given by Mr. Modi being CM of the state at that time. But the circumstances are made really different and abnormal for Mr. Modi. Even if he apologise on humanitarian grounds, then these so called new generation pseudo media , congress and NGO's cry that Mr. Modi has accepted his sin.
If things were normal for Mr. Modi, he would have not mind in apologizing on moral grounds. However he said that prove him guilty he is ready for punishment. Since ruling govt is congress in India and all investigation agencies are under his control, it would have definitly fixed him. But they could not do it as they are unable to prove it. The whole hatred ness against Mr. Modi is based on News published in print and TV and created a strong and wrong perception in the minds of minorities and NGO's are feeling heroism by standing against tall Man Mr. MODI..
I also agree, Modi (The administrative government of 2002 Gujarat) should concede an apology to the people of Gujarat. but same time i also feel, Time of apology must be wisely chosen. They should not make the apology right now because it can hinder the process of jurisdiction. His detractor might not accept it as apology but as a confession. They can also use it as legal weapon against him.
All the instances quoted by Mr. Raghavan came after a few decades to a few centuries. Of course, that is no reason that every apology should only come after a few decades. However, what use is an apology like the one offered by Dr MMS when after that Congress give tickets once again to the accused like Tytler etc. It finally needed a shoe thrown at Chidambaram for Congress to act. Mr Modi is being honest when he is trying to say that rather than giving pretentious and sham apologies, let him face the strictest punishment when found guilty. But I do agree he can and should try to shed his perceived indifference and reach out to all communities. Thankfully Modi soesn't believe in the kind of symbolism which opur politicians have come to be identified with.
I appreciate the writer for writing some illogical and non-sense article which is not backed by facts and figures. I do not understand why an esteemed press like "The Hindu" has been so lenient in accepting articles from people who write whatever they feel like. In that case, I would also like to submit an article on the list of apologies to be made by the Prime Minister ManMohan Singh and his Congress members. True Leaders like Modi need not accept any apologies as his work on development speaks his charismatic personality. Rather corrupt politicians like Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are expected to apologize for all the mess thats happening in the country as the people have elected them to rule the country. And lastly, my humble request to PM Manmohan Singh to apologize for joining politics instead of teaching Economics at Delhi School of Economics as he makes it obvious that he does not know the ABC of politics.
It is a shame that the press and all other Tom, Dick and Harry want to take vengeance on Mr. Modi for something that happened a decade ago. The country is going to pots each day with starvation, malnutrition, etc. and it is lucky for Modi that the blame is not put on him for devastating the country. To be frank, he has the capacity and patriotism in him to turn around the degrading direction in which the country is heading into. If you can leave him alone the country will have a chance to progress from the quagmire our Congress party and politicians have taken it into. For the sake of the country and its innocent poor people, please get off the back of this man who has the potential do something good for the country.
To apologise, one needs to have guts. Most of the politicians in this country do not have it. Modi cannot be an exception. The politics in this country is perhaps the worst in the world , may be worse than Nigeria, Ehiopia etc. That is why very often we are termed Banana Repulic. We have different rules and different yardsticks for similar actions, especially since you cannot find identical situations and happenings, those difference are conveniently used as escape routes. The last bold statesman in the coutry had was Vajpayeeji after which every one is only an opportunist, with no exception what so ever !
A very biased report, yet again by "The Hindu". The Supreme Court of the Media "The Hindu" , "The Times", "Hindustan times" etc have pronunced the judgement long back - in 2002 - that Modi is directly responsible for the 2002 riots. Now the same media is hearing from SIT - which was setup on the advise of the people's court "The honourable suprement court of India" representing true judiciary - that there is no proof to show that Modi was directly involved in the riots. So the English media particularly is unable to digest the fact that their own judgment delivered in 2002 has not been upheld by the "The honorable supreme court of India". Hence this frustration. The author says Manmohan sigh apologized for the 1984 riots - this is just utterly laughable and truely reflects the negative bias that "the Hindu" has on Modi. Why did Manmohan had to wait until 2010 for the riot that happened in 1984. Was he growing all these years and gained maturity in 2010?
Chief minister Narendra Modi didn't spell out any apology for the 2002 riots, during his speech. But he gave indication that he wants this history to be buried. Addressing people before starting his fast on Saturday, Modi asked them to forget the past and be part of the development spree. His choice of words and tone of speech were aimed at conveying a sense of regret, especially to the Muslim community.
Apology will come from generous heart. Not form iron hearted dictator. Because of his /this attitude only ,even people from BJP /NDA itself not ready to accept him for the “Yet to win the PM post “. They themselves consider that they already won the 2014 elections. Secondly why such an irresponsible article “begging for apology “type of article has to come in “The HINDU” as if India is short of PM candidates. There are many more talents /person are available. Moreover present government has to go first in a legitimate way. As per many comments, Our PM was supposed to be responsible/accountable/apologize for Assam, Power etc, but Mr. Modi is not responsible/accountable/apologize for what happened/happenings in Gujarat. What kind of view is this ? I hope this comment is also published. Atleast after I have submitted it twice.
Mr Raghavan,
The nation asks for an apology from you for having murdered 3 people in those riots and for raping 2 girls. Can you please apologise? What is your reaction to this? The Supreme court hs proved that he is not guilty? So what is your problem? You media people are so sick breeding in negativity. Have you written atleast one positive story about the Gujarat deelopment story and what positive things he has done for our country. This artile is a black mark in The Hindu's history for stooping down to such low levels. You are so pseudo secular! God must save this country...Jai Hind
Considering the recent Indian Political History, No Politician has worked for the Progress & Growth of Gujarat and India as Narendra Modi has. While Gandhi Ji gave India the Non Cooperation movement, Modi Ji gave India the Non Cooperation to Stagnation. Modi Ji gave India the Non Cooperation to RedTapism. Modi Ji gave India, what every common man wanted. Progress. Progress. Progress. How long can this nation be in Slumber. And what is this big cry about Secularism going on? Mr. Raghavan can you write a detailed report about Assam & 1984? Can you write a detailed report about Bofors? Can you write a detailed report about Bhopal? Can you write a detailed report about 2G? The time you spend on worthless efforts, on negativity, to breed hatred, if you direct towards the progress of the Nation we will be a Global Guru in 5 Years. Regards, Shiva
There is no basis for the author's demand seeking an unconditional apology from Mr Modi, for a fault not his making, though he is accused of being a witness, just because things have occurred when he was at the helm of affairs. There is no logic and legitimate reasoning in comparing a similar instance of MMS seeking apology in the past for 1984 riots...!! Mr Raghavan, please do not make us believe 'it is no politics in this!!'. MMS has been cornered to seek an apology after several years, he himself being from the victims' community, while the onus was and is still vehemently on Gandhi family and its loyalists or kitchen cotery who were somewhat involved or can be considered party to the then riots whatever fashion it had happened in 1984. If someone to seek apology, it must have been Rajiv Gandhi and/or his political heirs in the party, and not definitely MMS. By allowing or asking MMS to do so, the congress party has reaped two mangoes in one stone approach, period!!
Apology - There has to be special education given about what apology means. There is no actual proof (in fact there cannot be one) for any wrong doing by Honourable Mr. Modi. Even the esteemed Supreme Court has declared ZERO involvement in the riots and what we are seeing is a pure fabrication of reasons/facts, very similar to this article. Mr. Raghavan has himself admitted that Stigma of that event is somewhere,something else. Further if now, in 2012, we are thinking of 2002 event, we should also go back and think about 1947-1950s where no mankind can digest the events like Partition and affect it had on various innocent across all religions. Lets also recollect the what had happened to the Sikhs in the past. Publish "Apology needed" articles for all those leaders who were responsible.Their kith-kin of present generation line up for an apology note as those leaders are No More! Please apologize for trying to dent an image of noble person for some pure biased and selfish reasons.
Author pays a left-handed compliment to Narendra Modi accepting he is not personally culpable of Gujarat riots. If apology were to mean sorrow for loss of life despite the best & honest efforts ; NOT an indication of personal culpability, then Narendra Modi has expressed exact same sentiments several times. Perpetually moving goal posts of pseudo-secularists, despite SC SIT's clean chit reflects on their presumption of Narendra Modi's guilt. Author is better off showing examples of other top 10 riots in India in which the state government acted faster & more effectively than Gujarat did under Narendra Modi. Let number of preventive arrests, time for full police force deployment, public utterances of leadership, time to seek & deploy military assistance, number of deaths in police firing, arrangement for those displaced by riots, successful prosecution of guilty, be some criteria by which to judge top 10 riots in the history of India. Want to accept the challenge or cop out?
Raghavan Sir....
Please stop authoring articles....It's because of your such articles that the journalism keep on touching new lows....And why don't you cry for a while; trust me you will feel better :)
Typical "The Hindu - Trash" article. Why don't you start with an editorial or article asking the muslims of India to apologize for the rape/plunder/conversion of the Hindu society, forcibly demolishing sacred temples and building mosques th
ere. Apologize on the same humanitarian grounds that are being asked of Modi, let us see for how many minutes your newspaper's offices will be left standing by muslims. It is to only tolerant Hindus that you can peddle such drivel and still feel safe. It is time your paper started being impartial. I am not even asking you to be "THE HINDU" but just be impartial... That shouldn't be too hard isn't it ? Let us see... I am certainly not holding my breath for it...
By writing this article, Mr.B.S Raghavan has proved that he belongs to the secular parivar. A member of the Secular Parivar will always spread hatred against Narendra Modi or RSS and will never speak against the atrocities committed by Muslims. Had some misguided elements not put train on fire at Godhra there would have been no riots in Gujarat. BS Raghavan and his friends in the media are after Modi because those who were killed in riots were unfortunately Muslims. Had those killed were Hindus there would have been no BS Raghavan and his other secular journalists writing articles or filing PILs in Supreme Court. Some secular political leaders also alleged that Mr. Modi was involved even in putting train on fire. It is a matter of great shame that persons like Mr.BS Raghavan have joined the campaign to spread hatred against Mr. Narendra Modi under whose leadership Gujarat is progressing by leaps and bounds and is being targetted on flimsy grounds.
Dear The Hindu and Mr . Raghavan. Please note that your views, examples and opinions are not above the Supreme Court of India. By writing this article and The Hindu by publishng this has proved that they have no respect to the apex body of Justice. This clearly shows how Hyp0crites you are and your inner sense of Anti Nationalism. Appeasing the Muslims with thses cheap ideas willnot Work. I am sure the brother Muslims readers are intelligent to understand that you are fooling them. My suggestion to you is:1. Try reporting facts. 2. Have a sense of patroitism. 3. While it is difficult for you, pl do try to see if there are any positives that you can report that have happened in gujrat in the past 10 years. 4. Also write articles on Sikh riots and Assam riots....if you dare to stand by values of journalism. 5. Be human. You have a key role to play in Society..Vande Mataram
Oh, it was long overdue; The Hindu must change its name to The Muslim. Being understanding of muslims' living conditions must not become being anti-Hindu. A paper harbouring distinct anti-Hindu sentiments should not name itself The Hindu.
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