Dec '92 riots not against Hindus, says Pawar

Former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday that the initial reaction of Muslim youth just after the Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992 was not against Hindus, but against the government and related establishments.

Deposing before the Srikrishna Commission -- which is inquiring into the communal riots and violence during December 1992 and January 1993 -- for the second day, Pawar said, ''I am of the view that no one should take the law in the hands whatsoever may be the reason.'' He, however, said one should not forget the ''background'' of the aggressiveness. ''I still maintain the same thought,'' he said.

While being cross-examined by Shiv Sena MP and counsel Adik Shirodkar that when he (Pawar) reached Bombay on December 7 or 8, whether he was briefed by the then city police commissioner Srikant Bapat that 67 places of Hindus worship had been attacked by Muslim youth after the Babri Masjid demolition, Pawar stated, ''I knew about one such incident which occurred in Deonar or Govandi (in north-east Bombay). I was not briefed about the other incidents.''

On being asked whether he was aware that 22 corpses of Hindus were recovered from a sewer at Behrampada, a Muslim-dominated locality, Pawar submitted before Justice B N Srikrishna that he had been told about some incidents, but the exact details were not available with him. The exact facts and figures should be available with the home ministry, he said.

Pawar informed the Commission that soon after his arrival from New Delhi just after the riots, he had visited Kurla, Ghatkopar and Govandi which were the worst riot-affected areas.

On being asked by Shirodkar whether he (Pawar) had visited the Mathadi-dominated areas and Radhabai chawl in January 1993, the former chief minister said he had surveyed some neighbouring areas. "I met the representatives of the Mathadi Kamgar Union. I was not able to meet the families of the deceased as most of the Mathadi workers come from different states and leave their families behind. Elaborate arrangements to hand over the dead bodies to the respective families were made by the state government," Pawar told the Commission.

He again criticised the role of leaders who had delivered speeches which were inflammatory in nature, thereby resulting in aggravation of the prevailing situation. He said Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray had made some public statements which has made the situation tense.

Asked if the situation would have been different if the army had swung into action before December 10, 1992, Pawar said the army was already holding flag marches, but was empowered only on December 10.

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