November 8, 2003	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1424

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has pledged to punish the perpetrators of Muslims’ massacre that killed some 2,000 people last year in Gujarat, which is ruled by his Hindu nationalist party.

“There is no doubt that those perpetrating such violence should be punished,” Mr Vajpayee told the Financial Times of London in an interview published on Friday.

“Our public, media and judiciary are following it closely. Justice will not only seen to be done; it will be done,” Vajpayee said.

“The violence in Gujarat was a tragic aberration and we have condemned it unequivocally. It is important to remember that these tragic incidents remain localized — the secular fabric of India remains intact.”

Human rights groups have accused the state administration, headed by Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of turning a blind eye to the vigilante violence and at times abetting the perpetrators.

Vajpayee himself came under strong attack for not sacking Gujarat’s leader, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has since become a prominent campaigner for the BJP.

The state leader has been repeatedly defended by senior BJP leaders, including Vajpayee’s deputy, Lal Krishna Advani, and Hindu hardliners.

In September, India’s Supreme Court said Mr Modi’s administration had denied justice to victims of the communal riots. No one has been convicted over the massacre.

On Friday three people were injured when Hindus and Muslims clashed in the Shah-e-Aalam area of Ahmedabad.

“After the word spread that a Muslim was robbed and beaten up, both communities gathered in groups and pelted stones at each other. A scooter was also burnt. We reached the site on time and prevented the incident from turning into anything major,” said a police official. —AFP