Ahmedabad: In Naroda Patia, one of the worst affected areas of riot-hit Gujarat,
capitalising on the communal divide may be a far cry for the Modi government.
In the narrow lanes of the minority-dominated locality where nearly 60 persons were
burnt alive six months ago by a frenzied mob of thousands, the Hindus and Muslims
live in complete harmony and most say they want the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
ousted in these elections.
The Hindus even hosted an 'Iftar' party for their Muslim neighbours on November 27
in the area, where the tell-tale signs of violence are slowly fading except from the
minds of the people who shudder at the thought of another riot.
"I saw the mob attack my neighbours. We have been living together for 20 years.
Won't I feel bad. Government did not do anything," says Hansa Ben, who lost her
house.
The area, which falls in Naroda Assembly constituency, wears a new look today with
the Islamic Relief Committee reconstructing 551 houses, including around 80 for the
Hindus.
Sushila Pandit, who gave shelter to several Muslim women during the mob attack at
the Jikar Hussain Chawl, says, "They did not see who was a Muslim and who a Hindu.
We will vote where everyone here decides."
Maya Kodnani, BJP's sitting MLA who has been re-nominated from Naroda, dismisses the
anger against BJP as that being expressed by only a small section of her over four
lakh strong constituency.
Abdul Hamid Akbar of the Islami Relief Committee is quite confident that the
violence will not repeat. "It was all planned. When the minority is attacked, the
majority community also suffers losses."
The residents also spit fire at the Modi government for trying to spoil the "good
old relationship" between the communities.
"We have been living here together for years," says Mohammad Hussain Sheikh, Trustee
of the Noorani Masjid, which was vandalised during the riots.
Memories of February still haunt most of the residents. Haja Moinuddin, a tailor who
has recently set up his shop again after spending six months in the Shah Alam camp,
fears some Muslims may disappear a couple of days before polling to other places
fearing violence and not vote.
"If my people leave I will too," he says adding that he had voted for the BJP
earlier.
Hansa Ben admits that the BJP government gave water and power in the area but says
bread and butter are not the issues today. "People died, their property was
destroyed and they were left without jobs."
Naroda Patia, with a population of around 10,000 and the only Muslim dominated area
of Naroda, is not representative of the entire constituency, but it certainly speaks
a lot for an election banking heavily on the communal polarisation.
Of the 4,19,288 voters in Naroda, comprising Sindhis, Patels, OBCs and non-
Gujaratis, less than 10,000 are Muslims.
PTI
