The blame game post the violence becomes convenient, more so when it catches the attention of both the national press and politicians. Both the community leadership and the administration remain adamant and are present predictable responses to predictable situations. The municipal authorities stick to the latest mantra—of development of the larger good — which is a convenient mask.

The BJP stand is short of gleeful joy as they have been handed on a platter their acclaimed avowal to development at all costs, hindered apparently by an immature Muslim rhetoric.

The Congress remains sandwiched between its support to the ongoing demolition drive and its failure to engage its Muslim constituency in a practical solution. The couple of meetings that took place in Vadodara Municipal Corporation offices over the dargah issue, like other contentious matters in the state, only hardened positions, which remained un-breached.

The most tragic aspect is that it exposes the lack of a neutral state or system, even post-riots, of institutions, which have the credibility to engage and command confidence impartially. Like the rest of the state, even the NGOs and civic institutions are viewed with partisan colours, avowed either to or against a cause, which could be pro-Gujarat, anti-Gujarat, pro-minority, anti-minority...the labels never cease.

In this situation it is tough to evoke confidence and impartiality if the state’s police chief is P C Pande, who as top cop in Ahmedabad saw the city burn in 2002 and who reported amnesia about police inaction for the riot massacres in his deposition to the Nanavati-Shah riot commission.

... contd.