India / Gujarat Genocide

India's 'Modern-day Nero' to be Grilled over Muslim Bloodbath
By Andrew Buncombe
The Independent, March 19, 2010
"With his face gazing from posters celebrating the 600th anniversary of the founding of this historic city, Narendra Modi -- chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat -- likes to present himself as a man of destiny. Yet slowly but surely history may be catching up with India's most controversial politician. Eight years after perhaps the worst episode of religious violence since Partition, a frenzy of brutality in which hundreds of Muslims were raped and murdered by sword-wielding mobs, the slow-turning wheels of Indian justice have finally stopped outside Mr. Modi's door. A special investigation team set up by the country's Supreme Court has summoned him to appear and answer allegations that he should be held responsible for the violence. ... No one alleges Mr. Modi, a member of the right-wing, Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), personally took part in the wave of killings that engulfed several Gujarati cities in the spring of 2002, an orgy of violence triggered by the deaths of dozens of Hindu activists in a train fire. But it is said that at the very least he did insufficient to stop it, even when he was contacted by those whose lives were fatally threatened. Others say he actively seized on the violence for political reasons and allowed it to burn for several days. He has always denied the allegations. [...]"