seema's Letter to The Economist Editor

aug 7th, 2009

good of you to write, seema, although given the esteemed james "i like to hang out with those virile pakistanis and i think indians are weedy, prickly nationalists" astill in delhi, coverage of india by the atlanticist is going to be extremely negative.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: निरवधि सीमा <seema429@gmail.com>
Date: 2009/8/3
Subject: Opinion Letter to The Economist Editor
To: letters@economist.com
Cc: Seema <seema429@gmail.com>


Dear Sir,
This is regarding an article "Necessary, but wrong" (http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14120046) in the latest issue of The Economist. I am absolutely flabbergasted to find such a reputed Magazine like yours quoting and hence, propagating the fictional lies and prejudices of a Leftist Extremist like Ms. Arundhati Roy without even verifying the facts yourself.

As quoted in the under-researched article, The Economist says without any clear disapproval or disagreement,

As prime evidence of democracy's failure to protect Indians, in this collection of her recent journalism and other writings, Ms Roy cites a massacre of perhaps 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, in which the state's Hindu-nationalist government was allegedly complicit.

I would like to clarify that this is a blatant lie as concocted by likes of Ms. Roy. This myth of "2000 Muslims were massacred" falls flat on its face when put across facts provided by the Government of Bharat. As per which the actual figure of casualties is not even close to what is mentioned in the article above. According to the Bharatiya Government,

1044 people were killed in the violence of which 790 were Muslims and 254 were Hindus. Another 223 people were reported missing, 2,548 injured. The rates of compensation paid by the State Government of Gujarat are as under: An amount of रु 1.5 lakhs has been paid as ex-gratia to the next of kin of each person killed. In the case of those injured the rates of payment to each individual are as under: रु 5,000 each to those with upto 10% disability; रु 15,000 each to those with 10% to 30 % disability; रु 25,000 each to those with 30% to 40% disability; रु 50,000 each to those with more than 40% disability and permanent incapacitation. In addition, relief has been extended by the State Government to the victims of the riots under the following heads:
i) Cash doles and assistance for house-hold kits;
ii) Food grains to Below Poverty Line families in riot affected areas;
iii) Housing Assistance;
iv) Rebuilding earning assets;
v) Rehabilitation of Small business;
vi) Assistance to Industries/shops and hotels;
vii) Interest subsidy on loans to affected units;
viii) Insurance paid to the affected;
ix) Rehabilitation of orphaned children and widows;
x) Integrated Child Development Scheme services to riot affected children, pregnant and lactating mothers;
xi) Widows` Pension, etc. The State Government has further informed that a total expenditure of रु 204.62 crores has been incurred towards relief and rehabilitation measures.
The State Government has informed that they have published the data as recommended by NHRC.

These facts and figures were reported to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on May 11, 2005 by then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mr. Prakash Jaiswal of Muslim Rightist Congress Party. Here is the reference to aforementioned on Official Rajya Sabha website: http://164.100.47.5/EDAILYQUESTIONS/sessionno/204/uq11052005.pdf

Since most of these 254 Hindus died in police firing and Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi had called in the Army within two days, it proves that "the state's Hindu-nationalist government was allegedly complicit" is not true and the State was NOT complicit, on the contrary as per many reports it was timely reactive and in some cases Proactive in maintaining law & order. Hence, Ms. Roy's false accusation of Genocide or Pogrom stands incorrect, blatant lie, fictional and part of false propaganda against Hindus. Of course it should be noted that Mr. Prakash Jaiswal is not from the selectively demonized Hindu Nationalist Party but from a Muslim Rightist Monarchical Party, so Ms. Roy should at least trust them. Unless she likes to selectively ignore facts or exaggerate them to suit her needs. Although I do wonder since when did being a Nationalist or Patriotic became evil, unfashionable and untouchable?

One also wonders her selective humanism as her heart never seems to cry for those 62 innocent Hindu pilgrims including 22 children, 15 women and 25 men who were burnt alive with 180 Liters of Petrol in a Terrorist Attack in Godhra by a Muslim mob? That is what started it all in the first place. This has been proved in the Supreme Court appointed Nanavati-Mehta Commission's Official Report.

There are 14 other such myths fabricated by Media and Radical Islamists which have been busted here: http://www.gujaratriots.com/

It goes without saying that any life lost is a life lost. It doesn't matter whether it was in that Terrorist Attack on that train in Godhra or in the riots that followed. Every person who died was a Bharatiya Citizen lost. But what hurts the most are the wanton lies that the biased section of media and prejudiced individuals spread to divide the society and to malign Hindus. Due to her Anti-Hindu bigoted viewpoint I am sure she will not correct herself but I humbly request you, that a reputed Magazine like yours should at least get its facts straight and please stop spreading fictional lies as facts because it misguides your readers and propagates dangerous myths.

Because if these are the kinds of authors that your Magazine recommends as "the sort of brave and energetic critic that India needs" who fabricate such myths then I seriously doubt if I should continue my relationship with The Economist as a reader. As I don't know what other such prejudicial bigots may have been recommended by your editorials as "brave and energetic critic" and I just might have blindly taken your word for it. Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Seema

Dallas, TX