Lessons Learned from Post Godhra Riots

On last Saturday the big news was that SIT questioning Narendra Modi in connection to riots after Godhra train burning. I watched the mad coverage by media and debate between spokespersons of political parties. I think this is all waste of time and money. The real issue is not that was Modi involved in the riots? Even if we can punish the 60 people who were involved directly it is enough.

I think the real issue is this - Is Indian Police Prepared enough to handle communal violence ? If congress is really interested in solving problems, they should have done Police reforms after the riots. Police in any state in India is incapable of handling sensitive issues like riots or cases related to the politicians. And simple reason is that they are controlled by the politician. Police is not independent.

Lets compare what happens in 1984 and 2002. There is a gap of 18 years but there is a lot of similarity.
In 1984 Indira Gandhi was murdered in a well thought planned way by an Sikh person to revenge Operation Blue star. In 2002 a group of Muslims burnt 60 people who were coming from ayoudha to revenge the Babri masjid demolition.

After these incidents the riots started in the Delhi in 84 and Gujarat in 2002. Now the police in both the cases was incapable of handling the riots. Not because somebody asked them not to stop rioters, but they did not have enough force, ammunition, courage to stop the rioters. We keep blaming congress and BJP governments but never thought about real issue of Police reforms and modernization.

Ten militants came from Pakistan and killed hundreds of people. Did CM responsible for that? Yeah he is directly responsible for that because he did not modernize police force. The police men on VT station had decades old guns which they were firing bullets after 10-20 years. What a joke.

Even today in any state or in Delhi, if something like 1984 or 2002 incidents happen and have same reaction by group of people, I am sure Police can not handle it. It iss not the problem of BJP or Congress states or CM's or Narendra Modi, its Problem of Police modernization, reforms and making them independent.

I hope someday people will look at the real issue and act on it instead of just basing each other. For past few days in Hyderabad, the city where I live in, is having come communal disturbances. Hope police can control this before it grows into big riot.

Thanks
Sudhir