Riot compensation: Modi lashes out
	Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (Ahmedabad):Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has alleged that the Centre's decision to award compensation to the 2002 riot victims has "exposed" the "double standards" of the UPA government. Modi was reacting to the Centre's announcement of Rs 7 lakh compensation to each of nearly 5,000 victims of 2002 Gujarat riots - the same amount given to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. On Monday, Modi chose a government function in Ahmedabad to target the UPA government over the special compensation package. Not surprisingly, there was silence on his own government's efforts to rehabilitate victims. Special package Modi, however, demanded that the special package announced should not be limited only to the 2002 riot victims, but should also be extended to victims of all riots after 1984 and include those killed in terrorist attacks, including the Akshardham temple attack. "If such compensation is given, it should be given to all, even to those affected by the 1984 riots. I will start a campaign against the UPA government on this issue," said Modi. There was little sympathy for the riot victims as Modi went on to challenge the official number of families in Gujarat who were affected by the riots. "They say such compensation would be given to 5,000 people. Who are these people? Where did you get this number from?" demanded Modi. Not surprisingly, this didn't go down too well with those working for the welfare of the riot victims. "It's ridiculous. Instead of focussing on relief and rehabilitation, you are actually targetting the riot victims," said Father Cedric Prakash, Director, Prashant. For obvious reasons, Modi chose not to talk about what he had done for the riot victims and by targetting the Centre for the special compensation package, it's clear that the Gujarat Chief Minister wants to utilise this issue politically in view of next year's elections.