28/02/2025
*REMEMBERING EHSAN JAFRi*
On February 28, 2002, during the horrific Gujarat riots, Ehsaan Jafri, a former Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress, was brutally murdered by a Hindutva mob. His death, along with the massacre of 69 other innocents in the Gulbarg Society, remains one of the darkest chapters in India’s history of communal violence.
The 2002 Gujarat riots erupted after the Godhra train inferno incident accused upon Muslim traders, which triggered large-scale violence against Muslims across the state. Gulbarg Society, a Muslim residential area in Ahmedabad, became a target of mob violence. Ehsaan Jafri, a respected leader known for his commitment to secularism and justice, lived there with his family.
As a murderous mob gathered outside his home, Jafri desperately called the police, government officials, and political leaders, pleading for protection. But no help arrived. When the mob stormed the society, he stepped outside, hoping to reason with them and protect his neighbors. Instead, the attackers dragged him out, shot him, and then burned his body. Along with him, women, children, and elderly residents were also killed in the carnage.
Ehsaan Jafri’s brutal murder became a symbol of the state’s failure to protect its minorities during the riots. His widow, Zakia Jafri (passed away on 1st of February 2025 at her 86 years of age), has fought tirelessly for justice, alleging a larger conspiracy that involved government officials and police inaction. However, despite years of legal battles, key figures—including then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi—were exonerated by the courts, leaving many questions unanswered. Despite Zakia Jafri's relentless pursuit of justice, the Congress party with which her husband was affiliated remained noticeably absent. Their reluctance to speak out against the atrocities has effectively normalized the horrific events of 2002.The Congress party's deafening silence on Zakia Jafri's passing, following their longstanding indifference to her pursuit of justice, loudly condemns their implicit endorsement of the RSS-driven agenda. This inaction severely impugns the party's moral fiber, exposing their reluctance to confront extremist forces head-on.
More than two decades later, Ehsaan Jafri’s courage and sacrifice continue to be remembered. His tragic death is a reminder of the devastating consequences of communal hatred and the urgent need for justice, accountability, and protection of minority rights in India. As we remember Ehsaan Jafri, we reaffirm our commitment to standing against hatred, violence, and the erosion of secular values, ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated.
