Delhi : I was just five-years-old when the 1992 babri mosque demolition took place. I had a diminished memory of how everyone moved out from their homes and were ordered to keep themselves hide in a desolate area of their respective homes. I had a glimpes how people had started involved in a deep conversation over a topic which was nothing to be understand by a kid. But, in 2020 delhi communal riots, that again shooks my nerve witnessing the live from the ground zero as journalist and victim both side by side.
But have we ever thought about those who lost their family members in front of their eyes? Do we ever feel their pain and anger. Despite having this entire burden on their heart, they are still able to make out the difference between the good and the bad; they still have a hope for justice; they can still make out the difference between the culprits and innocents.
Recently, I was assigned to cover a story on the 2020 riot victims. I went to Mustafabad, Shiv Vihar and Seelampur, where I met many victims. Most of them were youths who had lost their family members. As all of them had the dark memories of the riot, everyone has a different story to tell. But there was one common thing between them, the same pain of missing their loved ones.
I started to talk with them. I asked a question to a Md aftab 25-year-old man, whoes entire house was gutted due to the riots, “Do you have any hatred against the system who fails to control riots did not barged in when the roiter had burnt your house and pushed you to moved away from the your dwelling locality? He was silent for a few moments as he tried to control his feelings. He then said, “Bhai, aap bhee to usee system se ho. Police, doctor and army sabhi system say hi hai. Par unhone to mere Ghar ko nahi zalaya to main kyon aapse nafrat karoonga? Haan, lekin gussa bahut hai. Per mujhey nayaay chaiye.” He just spoke this and tears comes out of his eyes. He further added the we don’t want to suffer like victims of 1984 riots. He rued that delayed justice is denied justice. We hope that this time justice will be come in time.
After telling this, he held my hands. His touch gave me a guilt feeling that it was me who was also from the same system who were responsible for their ill-fate. Later, he asked me, “Why did more than 50 people pay the price for their crime? Why did the people became so mad? It was not the murder of people, it was a murder of humanity by the criminals and rioters, who not only hurt our religion, but also brought the shame for their own religion. They can’t be real Hindus or Muslim who killed innocent people. They were just monsters. A religion can’t teach to kill others.”
I just listened to him carefully. He was full of anger brought about by injustice. But his gesture towards me, and control of his feelings forced me to think that despite losing home, he was sensible. In the aftermath of violence many muslims living the riots affected areas have left for other part the Delhi. Someven left for their hometown, leaving the national capital all together, others continue to fight for their legal battle. However, several allegedly complaints to their lawyers that they were threatned if in case they filed any complaints against the rioters.
In an other tragedy, in which a native from Uttrakhand Dilbar Negi , 23 years, was burnt alive and mutiliated , who was an employee at Anil Sweet shop at Shiv Vihar Triraha. Talking over phone from Uttrakhand, his brother Devendra Singh Negi said he was decent guy and came from uttrakhand to work in Delhi not to die in coummunal clash. We not only lost our brother, but also our hope. It is difficult to overcome this tragedy. The wounds remains in heart, soul and mind. We do not hate anyone; we just want justice and compensation, which will secure the future of our next generation.
I started thinking whether the butchers of 2020 would be able to justify their heinous act against humanity, and killing of innocent people? Will they be able to give the answers to their own souls, if they have it?
