The World Briefly

April 24, 2023

The Long Chapter

India

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An Indian court acquitted 69 Hindus, including a former minister of the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of the murder of 11 Muslims during the deadly 2002 riots in the western state of Gujarat, the Guardian reported.

The victims died after their homes were set ablaze by Hindu mobs in the city of Ahmedabad during an outbreak of communal violence in February 2002.

Initially, there were 86 Hindus accused of the Ahmedabad murders, but 17 died before the trial was concluded. The special court cleared the remaining defendants of all charges, including Maya Kondani, a former minister in current Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Kondani was a lawmaker during the 2002 riots.

Others acquitted were members of Hindu vigilante groups that have close ties to the BJP.

The verdict is a major blow to those fighting for justice for the victims of the Gujarat riots. Many have accused the state government – controlled by the Hindu nationalist BJP – of protecting alleged Hindu culprits, intimidating victims and obstructing justice.

The riots began after Muslims were alleged to have set fire to a train carriage carrying Hindu pilgrims, prompting retaliatory attacks from Hindu groups. The unrest is considered one of the worst outbreaks of religious violence in India’s post-independence history.

More than 1,000 people – mostly Muslims – died in the violence, a number that human rights groups believe is higher.

Modi, who was chief minister of Gujarat during the riots, has also been accused of being complicit in the bloodshed by allowing Hindu groups to perpetrate violence and ordering authorities not to intervene.

The prime minister has denied the allegations and a supreme court panel found there was not enough evidence to prosecute him.

This story originally appeared in the April 24, 2023 newsletter, The Bombs of Ambition.