Rath yatra instills fear among Muslims in relief camps

Ahmedabad, July 07: Notwithstanding the cancellation of chief minister narendra modi's controversial "gaurav yatra", another yatra -- this time from the famous jagannath temple here -- on July 12 has instilled fear among Muslims in relief camps of fresh violence in the riot-torn state. In fact, several camp inmates have decided to defer their return to their home preferring to see how the rath yatra from the temple passes off.

Though most of the relief camps were wound up by authorities before the onset of monsoon, a large number of riot-affected people are still hanging on at the camps, fearing fresh bout of trouble in view of the rath yatra.

Over 10,000 riot-hit people are still languishing in camps across the state. A reporters correspondent who visited a camp was told by its organiser that the people, who had watched their near and dear ones being killed in front of them, were still in a state of shock and did not like to go back to their homes before the rath yatra.

They are likely to go back only after July 12 with adequate protection, he said.
Bureau Report