Mumbai: One cannot justify communal riots under any circumstances, but for the Gujarat (Godhra) riots of 2002, there is no question of seeking a public apology, BJP leader L.K Advani clarified here. Several hundreds of (Muslim) people lost their lives, following Godhra train set on fire, in long retaliatory Hindu activities.
The Mumbai Press Club arranged a ‘Face the Press’ programme in which an Editors’ committee asked Advani for answers on violent incidents.
On the day when Babri dilapidated monument was razed to the ground (Dec, 1992), our credibility took a heavy beating, Advani replied. It was an unexpressed event for these who organised Ayodhya journey and movement for a temple. The movement ought to have been properly planned, he regretted.
The Editors’ Committee members present were N.Ram of the Hindu, Kumar Ketkar of Dainik Bhasker, Uday Shankar of Star India and other. One of them asked why BJP did not apologize for the violent riots following Godhra /Rath Yatra events, just as Sonia Gandhi and PM Singh had sought apology for 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Advani replied that Ayodhya movement was unmanageable and so Babri movement had fallen with Shiv Sena Karsevakas taking the credit. Advani said communal violence everywhere had to be controlled, but was not in 1992 or 2002, or later. He did not want to elaborate on or comment about what Vajpayee told Narendra Modi on ‘political duties’ (Rajadharam). But no apologies, Advani said.
To a question on M.F.Husian, a painter who tried to mock at Hindu gods and goddesses, and was driven out of the country, Advani replied that BJP did not react to Husain, but the painter did not exercise tolerance and went about damaging noble Hindu sentiments, so he could not be justified in art.