Other Gujarati Papers

Full Text
Ordeal by Fire in the Killing Fields of Gujarat
Editors Guild of India Fact-Finding Mission Report

Other Gujarati Papers     

There are a large number of Gujarati papers, 32 large and small vernacular publications in Ahmedabad alone.Fulchab, in Rajkot, was characteristically the first to take out a peace rally immediately after Godhra.    In Ahmedabad we met editors of three other dailies, Sambhav (four editions), Prabhat (Ahmedabad and Mehsana)and Gujarat Today (which has a Muslim ownership). All three are seen to have been moderate and balanced inapproach.    

Sambhav’s CMD, Mr Kiran Vadodaaria, avoided publishing pictures of corpses. The paper received ananonymous threat on April 1 because it had carried a column by M.J. Akbar, the Asian Age Editor. The Editortold us that though no curfew passes were distributed to his staff, they were able to move about quite freelywith their formal press cards which were honoured.   

Prabhat’s Director, Mr Ashish Kothari, spoke of swords and liquor being distributed on February 27. ItsEditor felt that TV had played a very positive role by exposing the machinations of those behind the riotingmobs.  Mr Aziz Tankarvi is Editor of Gujarat Today, the only daily newspaper owned and run by Muslims inGujarat. He told us that his paper had carried more editorials on the developments in Gujarat than any otherpublished in the State. His endeavour, he said, was to cool tempers. Independent observers confirmed thatGujarat Today generally carried balanced reports – an assessment that VHP officials whom we met stronglycontested.   Like Prabhat, Gujarat Today too did not receive Mr Narendra Modi’s letter ofcommendation.   Senior administrative and police officers in Anand told the Guild team that localnewspapers incited violence through irresponsible reporting. One paper, Madhyantrar, edited by Mr JashwantRawal, was specifically named. The paper’s April 3 edition, shown to us, alleged that a Muslim policeofficer was behind the local riots. An eight-column commentary on the front page was headlined: “Muslimswill have to prove that they are full Indians”. 

The Kutch Mitra ran a statement by a prominent Moulvi on its front page for several days condemning Godhraand expressing regret over what had happened. The Saurashtra Samachar, Bhavnagar, of March 2 carried a specialsupplement devoted to religious harmony.