Lok Sabha Debates
Made A Statement Regarding Communal Situation In Moradabad And Hyderabad. on 9 June, 1998
Title: Made a statement regarding communal situation in Moradabad and Hyderabad.
16.01 hrs THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): First, I come to communal situation in Moradabad. During the period 7-9 May, 1998, Moradabad witnessed minor communal disturbances over the Tazia procession as part of Moharram festival. The trouble started when some miscreants allegedly threw acid bottles from a multi-storyed building on the Tazia Procession. Police had to fire in air to disperse the unruly mob. Curfew was imposed in the troubled areas under four police stations in the city. Besides four deaths, 16 persons were injured in these incidents. The police rounded up 242 persons. Three Companies of the Rapid Action Force were deployed in addition to the local police to control the communal situation in the affected areas. Even though curfew was lifted in a phased manner in the troubled areas, tension continued in the city for a few days. Presently, the situation is under control and constant vigil is being maintained.
Now, I come to communal situation in Hyderabad. On the 1st June, 1998, a highly derogatory pamphlet was found in circulation in Shamser Ganj locality of the old city of Hyderabad. A local MLA brought the pamphlet to the notice of the Police Commissioner, Hyderabad and expressed apprehension of communal disturbances in the city if such activities continued as it hurt the sentiments of the minority community.
On the night of the 2nd June, some miscreants pelted stones on two transport buses in Shalibanda area of the old city in protest against the circulation of the pamphlet. On the 5th June, immediately after Friday Namaz at Mecca Masjid at Charminar, some miscreants pelted stones on passerby and the police personnel deployed in the vicinity. Two persons were stabbed in front of the Masjid and a wine shop was looted and its owner attacked and injured. Ten State Transport buses were damaged by the violent mob at the Charminar bus depot. About seven police personnel were also injured in the stone-pelting. In other areas of old city, there were some incidents of violence and arson. During these incidents on the 5th June, 24 persons were injured, five shops, two houses and three vehicles belonging to the two communities were damaged in various areas of old city.
The communal violence further escalated on the 6th June, in which a total of 32 persons were injured, five seriously, and a mosque and a temple were damaged. Two persons including a Police Sub Inspector were killed in the police firing. Another two persons were stabbed to death, and an auto-rickshaw driver was burnt to death. Another seriously injured person subsequently died increasing the death tally to six. The police fired 60 rounds at various placed to disperse the violent mob. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.PC were promulgated in areas under 13 police stations. Incidents of arson and looting of houses continued. The State Government alerted the Army besides requisitioning 18 more Companies of the CRPF/RAF from the Central Government. The police made about 100 precautionary detentions.
The communal situation in the old city of Hyderabad remained tense but under control on June 7. Sporadic incidents of violence and arson continued. Some more persons were injured in stone-pelting. Besides 83 persons injured, the death toll so far has risen to seven. The curfew was relaxed in the old city in phases on 7th and 8th June, 1998. In addition to intensive police patrolling, flag march was also conducted in the vulnerable and communally hyper-sensitive areas to infuse confidence in the people. A Peace Committee meeting was also held on 6th and 7th June, 1998. The State Government has reported that all the communal offences are being investigated by a Special Investigation Team.
The Central Government has so far provided 11 Companies of CPMFs including 8 RAF Companies to the State Government for maintaining law and order situation in the communally affected areas. The State Government has been taking all necessary steps to maintain peace and communal harmony.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Under the rules, no clarifications can be sought. Shri Sambasiva Rao to speak now.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: Sir, I have just received the latest position. The total number of persons who have died in these incidents is eight. The total number of persons injured is 85. Curfew has been relaxed today from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., and the situation is under control. ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Under the rules, no clarifications can be asked.
श्री मोहन सिंह (देवरिया): सभापति महोदय, विशेष परस्िथतियों में एकाध स्पष्टीकरण की इजाजत दी जानी चाहिए।
सभापति महोदय : नहीं किया जा सकता। आप नोटिस दे दीजिए।
You can give a notice for discussion under Rule 193.
SHRI P. UPENDRA (VIJAYAWADA): Sir, to assess the law and order situation, we wanted a Central Team to be sent to Hyderabad. The Home Minister has not reacted on this demand. I believe, he is going to Hyderabad and he will be accompanied by a team of officers. ... (Interruptions) श्री मोहन सिंह :विशेष, परस्िथतियों में आपकी तरफ से स्पष्टीकरण की इजाजत मिलती रही है।
... (व्यवधान)
सभापति महोदय : आप नोटिस दे दीजिए।
श्री मोहन सिंह : सभापति महोदय, मैं यह जानना चाहता हूं कि मुरादाबाद के अधिकारी जो दंगों के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं, उनके खिलाफ शासन द्वारा कया कार्यवाही की गई है, कयोंकि उत्तर प्रदेश में यह प्रथा है कि जहां भी सांप्रदायिक दंगे होते हैं, वहां के कलेकटर और एस.एस.पी. को तत्काल निलंबित कर दिया जाता है।
सभापति महोदय : मोहन सिंह जी, नियम के मुताबिक स्टेटमेंट के बाद कोई कलेरीफिकेशन नहीं किया जा सकता।
श्री मोहन सिंह : कभी-कभी विशेष परस्िथतियों में आपने अलाऊ किया है।
सभापति महोदय : आप नियम १९३ के तहत नोटिस दे दीजिए।
श्री मोहन सिंह : हम नोटिस दे देंगे तो कया आप चर्चा करवा देंगे।
सभापति महोदय : आप नोटिस दे दीजिए, करेंगे।
डा. शफीकुरर्हमान बर्क (मुरादाबाद): सभापति महोदय, मुरादाबाद के बारे में हम कुछ पूछना चाहते हैं।
सभापति महोदय : आप नियम १९३ के तहत नोटिस दे दीजिए।
डा. शफीकुरर्हमान बर्क : ठीक है।
... (व्यवधान)
श्री एस.एस. ओवेसी (हैदराबाद): सभापति महोदय, जिन लोगों ने बसों और मकानों जलाया है, पंफलेट शाया किए हैं, वे कौनसी पार्टी के हैं, यह जानकारी मिलनी चाहिए।
SHRI G.M. BANATWALLA (PONNANI): Sir, it is a very disappointing statement. Various important aspects of the whole thing have been ignored in this statement.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Banatwallaji, you can give a notice for discussion.
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO (KHAMMAM): Sir, we have already given a notice and the Home Minister acted upon that notice only. The statement from the Home Minister has come only after we all gave a notice.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You may give another notice for discussion under Rule 193.
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : Again, this will go on. We only want to seek some clarifications.
SHRI P. UPENDRA (VIJAYAWADA): We want much more. What is the perception of the Central Government and what are the agencies telling? The Central Government has got its own agencies in Hyderabad. What is your information? ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : In the Lok Sabha, it is not permitted. You know the rule. This cannot be permitted.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat.
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : It is a continuous affair taking place every year and, for at least two or three years, it is recurring.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : I called Shri R. Sambasiva Rao.
SHRI KONIJETI ROSAIAH : The Home Minister has made a statement and the Minister of State for Urban Development who hails from Secunderabad has also gone to the place.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat. I have called shri P. Sambasiva Rao.
SHRI KONIJETI ROSAIAH : Do you not allow us to raise a supplementary?
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : It is a different issue. What we want is a clarification. Every two or three years, it is recurring. What are the permanent steps the Home Minister wants to take? Temples have been brought down. Mosques have been destroyed. What are the permanent steps that the Home Minister proposes to take?
MR. CHAIRMAN : All this will come in a discussion. You give notice for a discussion under Rule 193.
SHRI P. UPENDRA : It is a simple demand. You can as well despatch a Central team. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : It has to be brought down. What steps the Government of India would like to take to bring down the tension?
DR. RAVI MALLU (NAGAR KURNOOL): Is it the duty of the Home Minister to tell only the information given in the newspapers or has he got to say whether he has got any information about who is responsible or what is the information so far received and all that?
SHRI P. UPENDRA : Why is the Home Minister not sending a Central agency and taking information from them?
MR. CHAIRMAN : The Home Minister is sharing whatever information he has with him.
DR. RAVI MALLU : All that information is available in the newspapers. There is no need for the Home Minister to say all these things.
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