Fifteen years after the Godhra carnage its people are being seen as a vote bank by politicians, now people want a change. But the bigger question is, will the elected leaders deliver the promises that they are selling to people deprived of development
Abdul Hafiz Lakhani | Caravan Daily
VADODARA — The ghosts of the past never leaves to hound. No matter how much we try to forget Godhra, the skeletons just keep tumbling out. If not for all then at least for those living in the ghost town of Godhra. For them the memories of the 2002 incident are as fresh as yesterday.
Fifty eight people, mostly kar sevaks, who were returning from Ayodhya by Sabarmati Express train, burnt alive allegedly by Muslims living near Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002. The incident made Gujarat spiral into a web of communal violence which took months to ebb out, leaving 1000 killed and several thousands both maimed and scarred for life.
Godhra, in a way, changed not just the history of Gujarat but also of the social fabric of the country, post 2002. Sadly enough people of this region still lie entangled in the web of poverty and under development and lack the basic amenities, years after years of the carnage.
The reason for the dismal condition of Godhra is only one – communism. None, be it the locals, politicians or non- governmental organization, are moving beyond communism. And ‘development’ seems to be stuck somewhere. Some of the youth decided to work for themselves leading to the formation of an independent body, post Godhra municipal election in 2015.
Since 2002, BJP has been keen to capture the Godhra seat. Their intention is evident with CJ Raulji, a politician who had won the Godhra seat on an INC ticket, has shifted loyalty to BJP. He will be contesting the 2017 election as a BJP candidate from Godhra. Raulji is considered to be very close to Shankarsinh Vaghela. This shift predicts an interesting battle which will be fought in Godhra.
Raulji maintains that changing party doesn’t matter. “I have been elected five times from Godhra. Two times each from Janta Dal and Congress, while one time from BJP. Before joining BJP, I have informed the local issues to the Chief Minister,” he said. “My priority will be on providing irrigation facility to farmers and employment to youth. If BJP will form the government this time, then we will work hard on achieving results,” he added.
Raulji himself said he was confident of getting Muslim votes again. Addressing party workers on Thursday at a function he said, “I have been working for all communities in Godhra despite being in the Opposition. Now that I am with the ruling party it will allow me to take up the issues and work for the people of Godhra. I want to ensure irrigation water to be available for Panchmahal district, all through the year, and providing employment to the youths by inviting more industries to Godhra.”
During this event he was even felicitated by some Muslims.
On the other hand an independent candidate, who is also a Councillor at the Godhra municipality, Hanif Kalandar said, “Neither BJP nor Congress leaders are working for people of Godhra. For this precise reason in 2015 people have voted for an independent candidate in the local body election. After Raulji changed party, people have lost faith in him. There has been no developmental work done by any government here and people want a change.”
Making their demands clear, first time voter, Sohel Gora said, “The political leader or their party have never worked for our development. Any one can see the ‘development’ here. We don’t have proper roads, drainage or water lines. For politicians we are nothing but vote banks. They come to us only when campaigning for elections and forget us after winning and come back again, with new promises, when the next election sets in.”
“Godhra municipality had 44 seats, of which BJP has 18. The Congress won only one seat and Independent candidates bagged 25 seats. With some local congressmen joining BJP, at least seven more councillors are likely to shift their loyalty to the saffron brigade,” said a local Congress leader on condition of anonymity. Many believe that Raulji, who began his political career with Janata Dal, will emerge as kingmaker of Godhra.
(Abdul Hafiz Lakhani is an Ahmedabad-based senior journalist and editor of Gujarat Siyasat.)
