21 Years On, Quest for Justice Continues for Victims of 2002 Gujarat Riots
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In February 2002, a horrific anti-Muslim pogrom took place in Gujarat, India, leading to the slaughter of nearly 2,000 people. The state government, led by Narendra Modi, was complicit.
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The Gujarat pogrom set the stage for the rise of Modi and militant Hindu nationalism in India. Anti-Muslim hatred and violence has skyrocketed under Modi's leadership.
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Justice has been denied to Muslim victims of the pogrom for decades. The courts have dismissed pleas for investigation, and perpetrators have been released from prison.
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American Hindu right groups whitewash Modi's crimes and promote anti-Muslim hatred in the US. They work to mainstream Hindutva ideology and empower violence against Muslims.
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Twenty-one years later, the specter of the pogrom continues to enable violence and hatred against Muslims in both India and diaspora communities. The quest for justice persists.