In 2002, a sword-weilding Ashok Parmar and a hapless Qutubuddin Ansari became the faces of Godhra riots. Seventeen years later, they are the ambassadors of Hindu-Muslim unity. Ashok Parmar, a Hindu, and Qutubuddin Ansari, a Muslim, unwittingly became two haunting faces of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
How many people died in Godhra train incident?
59 persons
The mob torched a coach of Sabarmati Express near the Godhra railway station and 59 persons were charred to death on February 26, 2002.
Who was the mastermind of Godhra Kand?
Maulvi Husain Haji Ibrahim Umarji, a cleric in Godhra, and a dismissed Central Reserve Police Force officer named Nanumiyan were presented as the “masterminds” behind the operation.
What is Godhra famous for?
Godhra is widely known in India and internationally for being the starting point of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Statewide religious riots between Hindus and Muslims began after the Godhra train burning incident near the Godhra railway station on 27 February 2002, where about 59 Hindu train passengers were burnt alive.
What was the ancient name of Gujarat?
Gujarat was also known as Pratichya and Varuna. The Arabian Sea makes up the state’s western coast. The capital, Gandhinagar is a planned city.
Was Godhra train burning an accident?
A total of 59 “karsevaks” were killed in the Godhra train burning incident on February 27, 2002, triggering the worst communal riots in the history of Gujarat. The SP said Bhatuk used to work as a labourer at Godhra railway station.
How many Muslims were killed in Babri Masjid?
After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, on the evening of December 6, 1992, kar sevaks started attacking Muslim residents of Ayodhya, ransacking and demolishing their houses. Eighteen Muslims were murdered, almost all their houses and shops were torched and destroyed, including 23 local mosques.
Was there a Ram temple before Babri Masjid?
Babri Masjid (IAST: Bābarī Masjid; meaning Mosque of Babur) was a mosque in Ayodhya, India, at a site believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. According to Hindus, Baqi destroyed a pre-existing temple of Rama at the site. The existence of this temple is a matter of controversy.
Who is the mastermind of Godhra Kand?
Twenty others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Maulvi Saeed Umarji, who was believed by the SIT to be the prime conspirator, was acquitted along with 62 other accused for lack of evidence. The convicted filed appeals in the Gujarat High Court.
How old is Godhra?
The historical name of Godhra is “Godhrahk”, which was established by Parmar king named Dhudhul Mandalik in A.D. 1415. Five hundred years ago, in the 15th century, the respectable Saint Shrimad Vallabhacharya in his morning ritual speech gave the example of his dream city.
Who is to blame for the Gujarat riots?
Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat and later Prime Minister of India, was accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police and government officials who allegedly directed the rioters and gave lists of Muslim-owned properties to them.
What does Nanavati report say about Gujarat riots?
Godhra wary, Vadodara confident The Nanavati Commission report on the 2002 Gujarat riots gives a clean chit to the state government then led by Narendra Modi, who has been Prime Minister of India since 2014.
Who was the mastermind behind the Godhra rishis?
Maulvi Husain Haji Ibrahim Umarji, a cleric in Godhra, and a dismissed Central Reserve Police Force officer named Nanumiyan were presented as the “masterminds” behind the arson. After 24 extensions, the commission submitted its final report on 18 November 2014.
Was Sabarmati fire a conspiracy hatched by Congress from Godhra?
The February 2002 Sabarmati train fire, which killed 59 kar sevaks and triggered large-scale riots, was part of a “conspiracy” hatched by Congress’s elected members from Godhra, according to a reference book on political history of Gujarat published by a state board.
