Agencies, Deesa, Gujarat
A survivor of Godhra train inferno – February 27, 2002, Ashok Khatri swears by Hinduism and urges ‘pro-Hindutva’ voters not to be misled and commit a political blunder by voting against BJP in the Gujarat polls.
Mr Khatri, a former Bajrang Dal chief of Banaskantha district in North Gujarat, appears concerne over ‘Patidar revolt’ in Narendra Modi’s political backyard and urges Hindu voters to appreciate the importance of the coming polls in the state.
“These elections will be historical in more ways than one. Hindu voters in Gujarat and more so in Patidar dominated stronghold will do a blunder if they vote against BJP. Each vote in favour of Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is betrayal to Narendra Modi’s commitment towards Hindutva,” Mr Khatri told UNI here.
He admits there are issues between Mr Modi and several Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders and hastens to add that these issues can be settled through some other manner. Mr Khatri recalls minutely every detail of the fateful day – February 27, 2002.
“I was in coach S-7. The train Sabarmati Express from Faizabad had arrived Godhra station around 0740 hrs…..slowly the carnage started at the platform. ‘Suddenly we overheard ‘train ma aag lage chhey (there is fire in one of the compartments)….slowly there was stone pelting and we shut all doors and windows….After a while, we all – about 150 passengers – jumped out from the other side of the platform,” he recalls.
At present doing a small business of running a tea canteen and pan-stall at the Deesa main market, Mr Khatri says, “As far as Hindutva interest is concerned, there is no alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. My appeal to all Gujaratis is we should not weaken Mr Modi in Delhi”.
The train was delayed for hours and from Ahmedabad, he and 20 other ‘Ram Bhakts’ from Banaskantha district took a late night bus and reached home around 0200 hrs next day. “My son who was 12 years old then was awake to receive me,” he said in an emotionally choked voice.
To a question, he said there would be several other problems also — if in case Congress comes to power in the state. “All the temporary and part-time visitors will stop visiting temples,” he said in obvious reference to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Asked what is also special about Rahul Gandhi visiting a temple or not visiting, Mr Khatri, now 50, says, “the answer to your question lies in the query itself. This temple tourism is only for votes. The Congress party’s renowned anti-Hindu stance will come into play. Hindus will be unsafe yet again.
Law and order situation will return to the old era when Latifs and other anti-social elements will rule the roost”. “In fact, even for Rahul Gandhi’s temple visits, I see it as a success of Hindutva movement of VHP and RSS. Narendra Modi deserves his part of the credit that a leader of a party which always undermined Hindus, today is going to temples,” he said.
It in these contexts, Mr Khatri said, “The Hindu voters should understand the importance of this year’s elections. Whether you get reservation or not, several mayhem related cases of 2002 implicating Hindus will be reopened.
Patidar voters should be careful about that”. Mr Khatri said, “In fact only the other day about 48 Hindu young men were acquitted in connection with a rioting charge at Seshan village in Deodhar Taluka near Deesa.
All these cases will be reopened”. On the Patidar agitation, he said the community has been “misled” by raking up emotive issue of children education and reservation for medical and engineering seats.
“I have no issues with that; but the path the Patidar leaders took under Hardik Patel is purely unwarranted and is a part of motivated strategy against BJP and Narendra Modi.
This is my issue and I am confident that good sense will prevail and Hindu sentiments would ensure that people vote sensibly”. “If we do not vote for Modi in Gujarat, who will vote for him…..Will a Bengali ever vote against a Bengali Prime Minister,” he asked this reporter.
