Modi of 2002 vs Modi of 2020: Appeals for peace and brotherhood, doesn’t condemn violence

After 69 hours of brutal violence, loot and arson in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people for maintaining peace and brotherhood. The sporadic violence across northeast Delhi killed 39 people and injured hundreds. The death toll is expected to rise still.

The appeal made by the Prime Minister in view of violence in Delhi has stark similarity to the appeal made by then Chief Minister of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi during tone of the worst instance of violence in the state in 2002.

Both the statements didn’t condemn the intense violence which targeted Muslims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Peace and harmony are central to our ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times. It is important that there is calm and normalcy is restored at the earliest.”

Had an extensive review on the situation prevailing in various parts of Delhi. Police and other agencies are working on the ground to ensure peace and normalcy, tweeted Modi.

He did not even mention the attacks even on police officials and journalists.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi responded to the violence in Gujarat through a peace appeal on Doordarshan on February 28, 2002. This was the day after 59 Hindus who were returning from Ayodhya, were burnt alive at Godhra railway station.

Then Gujarat CM Modi had mourned the deaths at Godhra. He had promised action against the culprits. He did not even mention the killings of Muslims.

At that time Modi recorded his appeal at 6 pm in Circuit House Annexe, Ahmedabad, first post-Godhra killings had already happened, over two hours earlier at 3.45 pm, just 3 kilometres away at Gulberg Society.

In 2016, a trial court convicted 24 accused in the Gulberg Society massacre. The court sentenced 11 of them to life imprisonment. This particular massacre resulted in the killing of 800 Muslims and 200 Hindus.

On February 4, 2020, the Supreme Court said that the plea of slain Congress MP Ehsan Jafri's wife Zakia Jafri challenging the SIT's clean chit to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots, has been already adjourned many times and it will have to hear it someday and it fixed April 14 as the next date of hearing.