15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

GHODASAR: Jivamia Punjamia Belin, a Muslim farmer whose 70-year father was hacked to death and burnt by a Hindu mob in the western Indian state of Gujarat is relieved to see Hindu nationalists thrown out of office.

Belin joined tribals and even Hindus to severely reduce parliament seats for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party from its bastion state of Gujarat, which party officials had expected to vote strongly along religious lines after the riots of 2002.

"Hindus have realized the real motive behind riots. It's good that Bharatiya Janata Party has been defeated and it got a fitting reply," said Belin standing in the paddy field where he lost his father.

The centrist Congress party is set to replace the BJP-led coalition reviled by critics for turning a blind eye to the killings of Muslims.

Prabhatsinh Dhabi, a 70-year old Hindu farmer said he was fed up of politicians using religion for political gains. "I am sure, at least Congress won't allow communal riots," said Dhabi dressed in traditional Indian kurta and white cap.

Dhabi voted for the Congress in this election, after supporting the BJP in the state poll in Gujarat that took place six months after the deadly riots in a surcharged atmosphere.

The BJP won only 14 of Gujarat's 26 parliament seats in this election. Pollsters had expected the party to take between 22-24 seats.

"This time the voters have not been swayed by religious sentiments. Issues at forefront were higher power tariffs and lack of water," Achyut Yagnik, a political analyst said.

The BJP also faced a backlash from Gujarat's tribal voters who had been roused against Muslims during the riots and now felt cheated, another expert said.

"Tribal people felt cheated by the BJP for using them during the riots for its political gains," said Ganesh Debi, who works among the tribals.

Tribals who constitute 15 percent of Gujarat's 50 million people had traditionally good ties with Muslims but some of the worst killings of Muslims took place in the tribal belt, which were blamed on militant Hindu groups.-Reuters