Two faces of Gujarat riots

Keywords: 2002 Gujarat riots, anti-muslim riots, Qutubuddin Ansari, Ashok Mochi, CPI(M)

The Hindu PEACE NOW: Qutubuddin Ansari (right) and Ashok Mochi, two faces of the 2002 Gujarat violence, at a function at Taliparamba in Kannur on Monday.

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unrest, conflicts and war

riots

Twelve years since 2002, two representative faces of the Gujarat riots met each other at a function held at Taliparamba under the aegis of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Qutubuddin Ansari, whose frightened face in a famed news photo of the violence became emblematic of the Gujarat communal violence, and Ashok Mochi, a former Bajrang Dal activist, met each other, shook hands and exchanged pleasantries and flowers on the stage. Both of them, now in their forties, stood there in front of the crowds to trigger memories of the riots.

The picture of Mr. Ansari with his folded hands and agonised expression of helplessness is still afresh in the minds of the people who gathered there.

Equally strong was the image of Mr. Mochi shouting slogans carrying an iron rod.

Both of them were the guests at a public seminar titled ‘12 years after the genocide,’ organised by CPI(M)-sponsored cultural organisations at Taliparamba.

The seminar was inaugurated by CPI(M) leader and former Minister T.K. Hamza.

At the function, Ansari’s autobiography in Malayalam Njaan Qutubuddin Ansari, prepared by Saheed Rumi, was released by CPI(M) district secretary P. Jayarajan.