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Dangs violence isn't good for Indian culture, says Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said the violence in the tribal Dangs district is "heart-breaking" and not good for Indian culture.

Talking to reporters at Ahwa, the district headquarters, she criticised the act of "creating differences" among the tribals in the name of religion for deriving political mileage.

Replying to a question, Gandhi said she had not come to the Dangs as a representative of any religion, but was there as a Congress leader to understand the people's problems and to express her feelings for them.

She said her party is not demanding the dismissal of the Keshubhai Patel government, but she accused it of directly or indirectly supporting those perpetrating atrocities on the minorities.

She said the situation in the Dangs is alarming. People are still living in fear and believe that once the State Reserve Police are withdrawn, they will be attacked again.

Gandhi arrived at Ahwa from Maharashtra by helicopter in the morning. She was welcomed by All-India Congress Committee treasurer Ahmed Patel, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief C D Patel, Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Amarsinh Choudhary and Congress Sewa Dal workers, who gave her a salute.

A GPCC press release in Ahmedabad said Gandhi went straight from the helipad to Deep Darshan school and hostel in Ahwa where the school authorities described the incidents of Christmas Day to her.

Expressing grief at the damage caused by the stoning, she described the act as "shameful" and expressed concern at the attacks on educational institutions.

Gandhi also had talks with the representatives of different institutions run by Christians in Valsad, the Dangs, and Surat districts and received their memoranda. She assured the people that she would make all possible efforts to ameliorate their lot.

Mingling with school students, Gandhi told them she would make efforts to ensure government security for them. She also visited Village Subir where a church, a priest's house, and two vehicles were set afire by a mob.

A large number of people were present to meet Gandhi and police had a difficult time controlling them. At Subir, an old woman went to meet Gandhi, following which she alighted from her car to speak to her.

'Congress talk is like the devil quoting the scriptures'

UNI

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