Curfew relaxed in Vadodara

      Vadodara: Curfew in some places of violence-hit Vadodara was relaxed for two hours from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (IST) for women and children on Thursday. Curfew was relaxed in Vadi, Nayapura, Panigate, Karlibaug and Raopura areas of the city. Police Commissioner Deepak Swarup said that another flag march would be conducted between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to prevent any untoward incidents. He also attended a peace meeting with the Municipal Commissioner, City Mayor, and representatives of both Hindu and Muslim communities, where it was decided that no religious structure would be demolished in future without consultations with members of the concerned community. The city has been tense following violent clashes triggered by the demolition of an over 300-year-old dargah in the city on Monday in which six persons were killed. The Centre sent Army troops to the troubled city on the request of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who toured the riot-hit areas. He said that the situation was under control and warned of stern action against anyone fomenting unrest. Gujarat is one of the most communally sensitive states in the country. The highly industrialised state was rocked by Hindu- Muslim riots in 2002 after 59 Hindus were burnt to death in a train compartment.

Centre to assist Gujarat in Vadodra (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sri Prakash Jaiswal on Thursday said that the Centre was keen to provide support to the Gujarat authorities to deal with the troubled situation in Vadodra. "The centre is willing to provide all necessary assistance to the Gujarat authorities to deal with the situation," Jaiswal said here today. The Minister, who had already visited the city to review the violent situation, said that the foremost need was to contain the violence and bring peace, patience and normalcy there. "I have full confidence that the state authorities will take all measures required to quell the violence and restore peace," Jaiswal said. Jaiswal, in a report submitted to the government today, is understood to have mentioned that demolition of a dargah could have been avoided by the Vadodara administration in view of the people's sentiments associated with the old shrine. The Minister is also believed to have mentioned, in the report, that a district administration has right to carry out demolition drives to demolish illegal structures but decisions related to the demolition of religious places should be taken after due deliberations keeping in mind the sentiments of the people. According to sources, the report, which was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, also stated that the police firing during demolition activity could also have been avoided.

SC stays demolition in Vadodara (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a stay on the demolition drive carried out by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in the city that led to the demolition of a 'dargah', fuelling a communal clash that has already left six people dead. Hearing a petition filed by the Centre, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ruma Pal put a stay on the Gujarat High Court order of demolishing all the encroachments, including the illegal religious structures in four cities of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot. The apex court also issued a notice to the Gujarat Government to clear their stand on this matter. Arguing the case for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said that the Gujarat High Court order was a blanket order that would leave 1200 Hindu and 250 Islamic religious sites demolished. Subramaniam also said that the no survey was conducted on the religious structures and that many structures were old enough to come under the purview of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Demolition of sites under the ASI requires special permission from the Centre, Subramaniam stated in its petition. Meanwhile, curfew has been relaxed in some parts of Vadodara for two hours and the relaxation has been confined to the movement of women and children only. Army that has been deployed in the city, will carry a flag march for the second day in the evening to instil faith and confidence among the people.

Minorities Front rally over Vadodara (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Members of the All India Minorities Front (AIMF) will on Friday demonstrate in New Delhi to demand imposition of President's Rule in Gujarat following the Vadodra communal violence. The AIMF members would be led by National President of the AIMF S.M. Asif. Besides President's rule, AIMF will also demand compensation of minimum Rs. 10 Lakh to the family of the killed and Rs.3 Lakh to the injured, and registration of cases against the police officials who ordered and used bullets.

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