[xx223]

Seems that NYTimes forgot to mention that the Indian PM Modi has unleashed murderous mobs on innocent people in the past.

For those are unaware, Modi and his government of extremist Hindus have murdered thousands of people in his state. Some reference: http://www.tehelka.com/the-sting-in-the-story/

[sremani]

xx223, You are doing a disservice to the article by veering away from the thoughtful parts of the article. There is some discussion about "Warrior Gita" and Hindu-right, but nothing to imply about Gujarat riots. I would be more than willing to debate about the whole episode, especially about the initial part where 50 Hindu pilgrims were burnt alive in a train by Muslims, but I am fully aware this is not the forum for that.

[ameen]

There is a clear contrast to what xx223 says and what you imply, and in that unravels a lot that doesn't need to be said. He says extremist Hindus and you said just plain Muslims.

I'm an Indian Muslim and myself and others that I know would never think of such an act, yet I'm being grouped with the miscreants just because of association by religion.

Evil doesn't need a religion, what happened in Godhra was the triumph of evil over not just good, but basic humanity.

[sremani]

It is not my intention to implicate all Muslims. All the conspirators in Godhra which ignited the religious tensions in Gujarat were Muslims and all of the victims are Hindu.

[vaishaksuresh]

If you're really going to talk about semantics, xx223 says 'Modi and his government of extremist Hindus'. There is no evidence to back the point that the entire government is made up of extremist Hindus.

[ameen]

Yes, what's wrong in his statement. He just says extremist Hindus. He isn't painting all Hindus as culprits, as sremani does to Muslims.

[xx223]

The government is from a party that glorifies and admires Hitler. Their founder praised Hitler for the ethnic cleansing of Semites and wished to replicate that in India. In order to be a member of this party, one has to pass their litmus test, i.e. hate minorities like Muslims and Christians. They have been banned in the past by the fathers of the Indian independence movement for murdering Gandhi and spreading hate. Their party has orchestrated numerous riots after Indian independence.

You cannot deny the fact that Modi and his government are extremists.

[vauydoot]

That's BS. BJP is a political party, RSS is a non-government organiaztion. Founder of RSS was Dr Keshav Baliram Hegdewar, please show any evidence against him regarding any wrong doing, or any of his contemporaries saying anything negative about him.

Modi's government is democratically elected government. In fact, it won by a clear majority which was not seen in India in decades. Unlike other parties, BJP fought election under Modi and pledge that he will be PM if elected. Given that, your argument is that majority of India is extremist!

[ameen]

BJP obtaining a clear majority is a fallacy [1].

[1] http://www.livemint.com/Politics/3icITaIhURYOiptoaidAhN/BJP-...

[vauydoot]

ameen, but you need to understand too that almost all culprits of bomb blasts in India were muslims, majority of mafia is run by muslims, most riots happened between hindu/muslim, or sikh/muslim, or recently bauddh/muslim. While I agree, majority of muslims are peaceful and just like any other person, Islam in general is failing to corroborate that image. Instead of blaming other about how they perceive islam, time is ripe for muslims to work for cleaning up image of islam.

[kxc]

Gandhi assassination :- Hindu extremist (RSS member actually).

Indhira Gandhi assassination :- Sikh.

Rajiv Gandhi assasssination :- Tamilian (who happened to be Hindu).

Never mind the maoists, the naxalites, the RSS, the scores or more assorted seperationist groups (majority of which are non-muslim) operating in the North-east provinces. Statistically speaking I would bet the Maoists and Naxalites killed more people than Pakistani and Kashmiri separatists in the last few years.

Also your statements imply that because muslims were a party in all the conflicts and events you cherry-picked - that makes them responsible for all or most of them. By that logic, Jews were persecuted over millenia, (and are still embroiled in conflict today). So does that make them responsible for all those conflicts? Maybe you should face the fact about your anti-muslim prejudices.

I do agree with your last line about muslims needing to clean up their image. Also we need some serious soul-searching in light of the insanity that is happening in Iraq and Syria(Luckily the 175 million Indian muslims have been practically un-involved in these outside conflicts). But it is a uphill battle because the bad guys always get more ink than the good guys. The media in turn, are just feeding off the public fascination with shock and violence.

[ameen]

There was a report recently that most of the prison inmates were Dalits and Muslims, and the reason were mostly socio-economic than anything nefarious.

Illiterate people are an easy target and can be swayed by emotions. The need of the hour is education. And the worst part is our education system is regressing rather than progressing.

A parallel in the US is the case of African American youth. Most of them are of lower socio-economic status.

Also coming to your first point, there have been bomb blasts committed by Hindu extremists, Maoists, Naxalites, etc. Riots still occur in 2014 due to ugly vote-bank politics. So called leaders fan flames and then feign innocence in the media.

Not unless we conquer ignorance and prejudice can peace prevail.

[cma]

New York Review of Books is unrelated to NYTimes.

[tn13]

Neither Modi not "his" mobs have murdered anyone. Please stop spreading insinuations.

[rajdevar]

Your use of the word "unleashed" shows your deep hatred for him. Will you say the governor of Missouri unleashed the shooting incident and subsequent riots? Should we sentence him for life?.it was exactly the same situation back then. I agree that modi did not do a good job in controlling the mob as the head of the state but those riots were an immediate reaction to the actions of one religious group that put arsenal in a railway coach and burnt 200 people alive. 3 separate investigative committees headed by supreme court of India couldn't find any evidence that modi instigated these riots.

[ameen]

59 people were killed, not 200.

Isn't Modi hailed an as administrative genius, are you saying the riots were justified?

[vaishaksuresh]

59 makes it alright?

[ameen]

Did I ever say it makes it alright? All I asked for was given how Modi is hailed for his "Administrative skills" should he have swung into action contained the riots and brought the criminals to justice.

Isn't that what we expect from our elected officials than a horrific free-for-all?

[dang]

Please stop, all of you.

[xx223]

The classic bait.

> Give a wrong number.

> Someone corrects.

> So that makes it alright?

[vaishaksuresh]

This is the only post you've ever commented on. You're either very passionate about this subject or you're just looking to troll. Either way, I am off this thread because like @sremani said, you're doing disservice to the article and this comment thread. This is not the HN I like.

[GFK_of_xmaspast]

"Will you say the governor of Missouri unleashed the shooting incident"

Actually, considering his ties to the police, I would.

[xx223]

The riots went on for 3 days with the government actively participating in arsoning, looting and murdering. It is not even close to the current situation in Missouri.

You choose to believe the Supreme court headed "investigation" committees as though they are the gospel of truth. If you're from India, do I need to remind you how the judicial system in India works? Most of the evidences have been destroyed the police and the judiciary in fact has been further victimizing the riot victims. There is video evidence of Modi instigating a mob to cut people up which has been ignored by the judiciary.

Moreover, the riots were not an immediate reaction but they were being planned since years. Thousands of weapons don't land up in the hands of rioting mobs overnight.

[vauydoot]

Different levels of India judicial system didn't find any evidence against him or wrongdoing on any sort. In fact, he took steps to prevent riot which was commended by Special Investigation committee. The link you posted is from a magazine run by people who were sworn to malign Modi at any cost (think of republicans who said they'll do anything against Obama). For other side of the story, one can go to http://www.gujaratriots.com

[srean]

Meta comment: never in history has anyone been found culpable of riots or crimes against humanity when the accused entity was in charge of running the government. Going by history again most of the time the govt was indeed responsible.

It is disingenuous to claim that the govt could not find any evidence when the Gujarat govt has actively blocked access to evidence, harassed / threatened officials in charge of the investigation. Allegation of destruction of evidence is well documented, but this is hardly the forum to discuss that.