January 3, 2006

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Vindictiveness of Gujarat Government

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its concern at the manner in which the Gujarat state government and administration is dealing with the recent discoveries at Lunavada of the remains of people killed in the communal violence in 2002. The survivors of those killed in the Pandharwada massacre discovered the remains of their relatives. The state administration has shown no concern for the victims of the massacre.

The Gujarat High Court in response to a petition filed by the survivors has ordered handing over of the exhumed bodies for DNA sampling. In contrast to this, the state administration has lodged FIRs against the survivors and the activists of the organisation which uncovered the dead remains. This step is in blatant defiance of the investigation ordered by the High Court.

The Gujarat government should give up this vindictive attitude and fully cooperate with the investigation ordered by the High Court.