Violence in Vadodara

Via rediff,

Vadodara: Violence escalates; man burnt alive

Although I do not have all the pertinent facts, to me it seems a prime example of inept handling of the situation.

It all started when Vadodara municipality demolished a dargah for road widening despite objection of muslim community. Article that I cited reports that Dargah was demolished because it was illegal, however it also reports that it was 300 200 years old so I am a bit puzzled.

But still it boggles my mind that local administration which must have been aware of the discontentment acted in such a heavy handed manner.

If it is true that dargah was really old and venerated place for local community, authorities could have tried to relocate the shrine, even if it was not the case, authorities could have handled it with care.

In my last post (which was related), I had criticized Malaysia for being insensitive to Hindus, I am afraid that local administration doesn't exactly come out as very competent.

The anatomy of riots in India is very complicated and I hope that someday I will be able to write about it.

Update:

Sandeep writes about media bias. To say that secular media is biased like saying Paris Hilton is trash, but local administration was inept in this case.

Anyway if he thinks Indian Express is biased he should sample Asian age

Modi tried to raze Gujarat mini-Babri. And this
Gujarat under NCM fire over demolition. And this CPM criticises razing of dargah .

Usually M. J. Akbar displays signs of coherence and sanity, but well I guess "Everybody hates Narendra Modi" must be a really popular sitcom in secular circle