<< Front page Commentary December 5, 2003

Distinguish India and Gujurat

To the Editors:

While we greatly appreciated the coverage that the Review gave to the South Asian Students Association’s annual cultural show, the article contained a glaring error that we have no choice but to correct.

The article’s mention of “India’s alleged participation in killing raids” against Muslims is highly inaccurate.

It was made quite clear in the narration that the violence was concentrated in the Indian state of Gujarat, and was carried out by Hindu mobs with the aid of police and the inaction of the state and national governments.

At no point was it insinuated that all of India participated in “killing raids” against Muslims; of note is that these Muslims are also Indian.

It is very important to distinguish between the actions of the state government of Gujarat and the central government of India. If one says “India” did something, this creates an inaccurate monolithic conception, and is false and misleading.

--Vivek Bharathan
SASA co-chair

   

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