[nukkad] Fear spreads, Gujaratis pack up to flee Kenya

["Gireesh Dixit" <>]

[This message contained attachments that have been removed.]



I don't know when all will stop. But things are not right with Indian community 
in Kenya.
We all are really helpless.
Our PM has sleepless nights when one of the Muslim involved in London terror 
attack was held in Australia.
But now he is sleeping tight because the victims are Hindus. Shame on him and 
us that we have chosen a party who is just busy in taking care of Muslims or 
Xtians.

Long live Hindus.
We need Modi at the centre.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Gujaratis_pack_up_to_flee_Kenya_/articleshow/2670344.cms

VADODARA: Tension shifted from Kisumu to the capital Nairobi in Kenya with the 
opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) planning a massive rally of one 
million supporters on Thursday. Despite the relative calm on Wednesday, many 
Gujaratis have moved out of riot-hit areas as a precaution. The
Indian embassy at Nairobi is also giving emergency visas to people who want to 
come to India.

Indians have been targeted because they are close to president Mwai Kibaki's 
ruling Party of National Unity (PNU). Kibaki belongs to the Kikuyu tribe, the 
main business community of Kenya, which has controlled the country's politics 
since 1963. Indians have strong ties with Kikuyus because of the
business connection, which has upset ODM, dominated by the other tribe - Luo. 
There are fears that if violence breaks out after Thursday's rally, it could 
easily lead to more ethnic violence. "There are no reports that we have got of 
any person of Indian origin being subjected to any violence or
being physically harmed," the external affairs ministry spokesperson said on 
Wednesday.

Though no Indian is reported to have been killed in the upsurge of violence, 
which has claimed around 300 lives so far, reports of extensive damage to 
property and shops owned by Indians are filtering through.

"Our high commissioner is actively watching the situation. He has been speaking 
to community leaders in various towns where people of Indian origin are in 
significant strength like Mombassa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret," said the 
spokesperson.

Indian community leaders and religious heads in Nairobi even called an urgent 
meeting late on Wednesday evening to take stock of the situation. In Kisumu, 
the 1,000-odd Indians who had taken shelter in the Swaminarayan temple, moved 
out after violence ebbed. Some fled to Tanzania and Uganda.
Residents said that the stage has been set for a possible confrontation with 
the government not giving permission for the rally, while ODM, led by Raila 
Odinga, is adamant on going ahead with it.

Kanu Pujari of BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Kisumu said, "The situation is under 
control, but Indians have suffered a lot. Most properties of Gujaratis have 
been looted and burned down." He added that about 1,000 Indians had taken 
shelter at the temple for five days, but they received no aid from the
government.

Kamlesh Kamdar of Mombasa said community leaders had asked them to keep their 
bags packed. "Circulars were put up at community halls and religious places 
informing people to remain prepared to leave Kenya if the situation worsens. We 
have also advised all Indians outside Kenya to delay their arrival
at least by two weeks," Kamdar said. Dilip Patel, chairman of Patel 
Brotherhood, an organisation of Patels in Nairobi, said the Asian community was 
safe, but economic losses were high in Kisumu.

Amit Shah from Nairobi said daily life had been affected as few shops had 
opened in busy marketplaces. "Industrial units had tried to work, but workers 
did not turn up in most cases," Shah said. Nitin Malde, secretary of Hindu 
Council of Kenya said, "We have taken account of the damage caused to the
India community. Ninety per cent of Gujarati-owned shops in Kisumu have been 
looted and burned down."



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