KOLKATA // An inquiry commission report that last month said a 2002 train fire that killed 59 Hindu activists was result of a planned attack by Muslims has been termed by India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) a "partial report" because the government-constituted panel "had no independence in functioning".
The fire in a compartment of Sabarmati Express at the station of Godhra in western state of Gujarat triggered an anti-Muslim riot in which at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims were killed.
Four years after the fire, Justice JC Banerjee's Inquiry Commission, ordered by India's railway ministry, concluded that it was caused by an accident and not by any deliberate attack by Muslims.
But, contradicting those findings, the Gujarat government-appointed Nanavati Commission said last month that, in a conspiracy, some Muslims poured petrol inside the compartment, locked all doors from outside and set it on fire.
Human rights groups sharply criticised the Nanavati report, prompting Justice S Rajendra Babu, the NHRC chairman, to say both Nanavati and Banerjee commissions presented partial reports because they could not go against the wishes of the respective governments that had appointed them.
As Hindu activists targeted the Muslims across the state in revenge for the train fire, burning even women and children alive, media, human rights groups and rival political parties reported that that state's Hindu nationalist party of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government supported the Hindu rioters and in some cases police herded Muslim victims into the hands of their Hindu killers.
Narendra Modi, the Gujarat chief minister, and his government faced international condemnation.
When the Gujarat government instituted the inquiry commission, human rights groups said Mr Modi and his men were planting "fake witnesses" to help the commission prepare a report that would support the Muslim conspiracy theory.
The Nanavati Commission said: "There is absolutely no evidence to show that either the chief minister [Narendra Modi] or any of the ministers in his council or police officers had played any role in [manipulating evidences in] the Godhra incident."
The Nanavati report also praised Mr Modi, other ministers and the police by noting that there was no lapse on their part in providing protection, relief and rehabilitation to all victims of the communal riots.
The report said some Muslim men forced their into the compartment, poured 140 litres of petrol on the floor and lit, before running out and latching up all doors from outside - to prevent the Hindu passengers from escaping. The commission also said two local petrol pump employees testified before the commission that they had sold 140 litres of petrol to a group of Muslims who carried it in plastic jerry cans.
But Tarun J Tejpal, the editor-in-chief of the investigative weekly print magazine Tehelka, said the train fire was not the result of any premeditated ambush by the Muslims and key witnesses were bribed by police to frame some Muslims.
In its six-month investigation on the train fire, Tehelka caught the two petrol pump employees changing their testimonies. On the day of the fire, the two employees said to police, they had not sold petrol to anyone in a jerry can. But one year later, the two told police that they sold the petrol to a group of six Muslims. Ranjitsingh Patel, one of the two employees, admitted that no loose petrol was sold to any Muslim. "[Nanavati Commission's chief investigating officer] Noel Parmar paid 100,000 rupees to me and my colleague to change our testimonies," he told a Tehelka undercover reporter.
Tehelka reporters also caught Murli Mulchandani, a local municipal executive, who witnessed the train fire in the Nanavati Commission report, saying that he was sleeping at home when the train caught fire.
Mukul Sinha, an executive of Ahmedabad-based Jan Sagharsh Manch (People's Struggle Platform-JSM) said the Nanavati Commission report was a "pack of lies" fabricated to promote BJP's theory that all Muslims are terrorists, and to boost Mr Modi's political ambitions.
"The Hindu activists had no reservation for their train journey. It was impossible for the Muslims to know in advance that the activists would be on that particular train and to hatch a conspiracy," Mr Sinha said.
"Police and the [Nanavati] commission reported that Muslims latched up all doors of the compartment from outside to prevent Hindus escaping from the burning compartment. It cannot be true because none of the doors of this type of compartment can be latched from outside. There are many such holes in this commission report.
"It's also difficult to believe that the Muslim men entered the compartment, poured the petrol, set the coach on fire and escaped without any fire injury."
* The National
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More coverage from the Future Forum
The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The specs: 2018 Honda City
Price, base: From Dh57,000
Engine: 1.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 118hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Looming%20global%20slowdown%20and%20recession%20in%20key%20economies%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Russia-Ukraine%20war%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Interest%20rate%20hikes%20and%20the%20rising%20cost%20of%20debt%20servicing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Oil%20price%20volatility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Persisting%20inflationary%20pressures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Exchange%20rate%20fluctuations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shortage%20of%20labour%2Fskills%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20A%20resurgence%20of%20Covid%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
