On 8 December 1992, the Indian government ordered the arrests of BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi and BJP parliamentary spokesman L.K. Avani on charges of inciting communal hatred (Keesing's Dec. 1992, 39222). According to a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, these individuals were released on bail after being charged (11 Feb. 1994).

Vishnu Hari Dalmia, the secretary of a militant Hindu organization known as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Vinay Kitayar, head of the Bajrang Dal, were also arrested (Keesing's Dec. 1992, 39222). By 10 December 1992, more than 5,000 mainly Hindu religious extremists were reported to have been arrested; a further 3,000 Hindu militants were arrested on 25 December 1992 (ibid.).

On 10 January 1993, six leaders of the BJP who had been arrested on charges of inciting communal violence, including Murli Manohar Joshi and L.K. Avani, were unconditionally released (Keesing's Jan 1993, 39270).

The following month, however, AP reported that Madhukar Sarotdar, a Shiv Sena party leader and member of the Maharashtra state legislature, was arrested near Bombay (AP 6 Feb. 1993). The report stated that details of the charges facing Sarpotdar were not immediately available (ibid.). The report also stated that the Shiv Sena had allegedly instigated a second round of Hindu-Muslim rioting in Bombay in January 1993 (ibid.).

In October 1993, Keesing's again reported that charges had been filed against leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena for the incitement of the demolition of the Ayodhya mosque (39688). The DIRB was unable to find additional or corroborative information concerning October 1993 arrests, but in June 1993, Reuters reported that the Bombay High Court gave the Maharashtra state government six weeks to decide whether to prosecute Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on charges of inflaming hatred against muslims during inter-communal riots in December 1992 and January 1993 (Reuters 14 June 1993). Others named in the writ issued to the state government were Sanjay Raut, editor of the newspaper Saamna (Confrontation), and publisher Subhash Desai, who is also a member of the state legislature (ibid.).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

The Associated Press (AP). 6 February 1993. AM Cycle. "Hindu Legislator Arrested for Party's Role in Bombay Riots." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "India: Communal Violence."

. October 1992. Vol. 39, No. 10. "India: Charges Against Hindu Opposition."

. January 1992. Vol. 39, No. 1. "India: Post-Ayodhya Developments."

Professor of political science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. 11 February 1994. Telephone interview.

Reuters. 14 June 1993. BC Cycle. "Court Sets Deadline to Charge Bombay Hindu Leader." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 6 February 1993. AM Cycle. "Hindu Legislator Arrested for Party's Role in Bombay Riots." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "India: Communal Violence," p. 39222.

. January 1992. Vol. 39, No. 1. "India: Post-Ayodhya Developments," p. 39270.

Reuters. 14 June 1993. BC Cycle. "Court Sets Deadline to Charge Bombay Hindu Leader." (NEXIS)