The 2002 religious riots in Gujarat had killed over a thousand people, mostly Muslims. The State and Central government had promised several sops to the victims, but five years down the lane, they still live in squalor.
By Uday Adhvaryu
Ahmedabad, Aug.29 : The 2002 religious riots in Gujarat had killed over a thousand people, mostly Muslims. The State and Central government had promised several sops to the victims, but five years down the lane, they still live in squalor.
They are scared to go back to their old settlements for fear of reprisals by their tormenters. It has made their lives too tough to start afresh with trust and confidence like before.
Several well-off Muslims, who had temporarily shifted to different places for reasons of safety and security, have also decided to stay back.
Most of them have taken it as their destiny and given up all hope from the local authorities.
Many of these families do not wish to live in Hindu-dominated localities. They say even if some of them want to live in other localities like before they are not sold any plot or flat by their Hindu brethren for reason best known to them.
"A feeling has developed between Hindu and Muslim that we should live in our own area," said Abdul Wahab, a resident of Muslim dominated Juhapura area in Ahmedabad.
Their preference to stay limited to such localities has prompted many Muslim real estate developers to build exclusive housing colonies for their community members.
"Clients who are coming to me are basically Muslims. Because at present the culture of Ahmedabad is, a Punjabi will not live next to a Jain," said Yunus Pathan, owner of Unique Builders.
Akikbhai, owner of Kakrawala Builders, said: "Government is cooperating to build or develop the infrastructure. May be a bit slow but it's developing things. Even people have the feeling that we should develop and should have better infrastructure."Juhapura has a population of nearly two lakh people.
ANI