April 17, 1998
Shri Manohar Joshi
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Mantralaya, Mumbai.

Dear Sir,

Subject: Making findings of the Srikrishna Commission public

We, the citizens of Mumbai, who had assembled for a public meeting at the K.C. College Hall, Mumbai, on April 17, 1998, as representatives of various socio-cultural organisations or in our individual capacity, have to state as under:

The December 1992-January 1993 communal riots claimed over 850 lives, even according to official estimates. Besides, several hundreds were injured, thousands had their entire life’s savings looted or set aflame, and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee the city for varying lengths of time. Captains of industry estimated production losses at several hundred crores, on account of all activity grinding to a halt.

Persistent demand by public-spirited citizens forced the then Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao to prevail on the Congress government then in power in Maharashtra, to appoint a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court to identify those responsible for the disgrace of a city which until then had prided itself for its cosmopolitan character. Soon after assuming the reins of power in 1995, your government expanded the scope of the Commission to include an inquiry into the March 1993 serial bomb blasts that killed nearly 300 people.

After four years of painstaking work during which the depositions of hundreds of victims, a large number of police officers, eminent citizens, journalists, corporators, a few MLAs and MPs, former chief ministers of the state and yourself, were recorded, Justice B.N. Srikrishna submitted his report to the Maharashtra government on February 16, 1998. For more then one reason, the citizens of Mumbai, in particular, and the people of India, in general, have the right to know the findings of the honourable judge.

 
Firstly, it is imperative for the people to know whom all the Commission has identified as responsible for the killings, loot and arson so that they are better able to appreciate the action being taken by your government to punish the perpetrators of violence. Sir, we are sure that as the chief political executive of the state, you will agree that a crime that goes unpunished can only mean an invitation to crimU78inals for further misdeeds. It also means the law-abiding citizen’s faith in the state’s ability or willingness to govern fairly, and justly.

Secondly, Sir, as you are well aware, there were widespread allegations during and after the riots that sections of the Mumbai police acted in a blatantly partisan manner. Glaring instances of this shocking misconduct were evident even from the depositions or the cross–examination of several of the police officers before the Srikrishna Commission. Identifying and taking punitive action against policemen found guilty is essential if all concerned are to be given a clear message that that no society can tolerate a situation where law-keepers themselves become law-breakers.

Finally, an impression is gaining ground that the making of the Commission’s findings public by your government is being delayed on one pretext or another. This can only erode public confidence in your government by strengthening the feeling that your administration has something to hide.

For all these reasons we urge you to table the report of the Srikrishna Commission in the state Assembly BEFORE the end of its current session on April 24 and direct your administration IMMEDIATELY thereafter that the document be made available to the general public.

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