By Muslim Mirror News,
Ahmedabad, May 11: At Sanand-Viramgam Highway in Ahmedabad has stood a hotel for past 27 years. It is Jyoti Hotel, but as its owner is a Muslim the hotel has faced violent attacks at least thrice in last 10 years. It was attacked and vandalized during the 2002 pogrom, and now a couple of months back, on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the riot, the hotel was attacked twice. Mustufabhai Patel has approached all from local police to court to National Minority Commission, but he still feels unsafe and being regularly disturbed by communal elements.
“I, Mustufabhai Patel a hotelier who has been forcibly prevented from conducting my 27-year-old business on the Viramgam highway where I have been running the Jyoti Hotel, a vegetarian Restaurant since 1986, have been prevented from doing so due to lawlessness and aggression by one Dashrath Ajmalbhai Gohil since 9.2.2013,” says Patel.
In recent past his hotel was attacked on 9th Feb and 23rd Feb. Despite Gujarat High Court order to authorities to provide him police protection, he is not able to run his hotel till date.
“I sent applications for help and protection to the concerned police authorities regarding the incident which occurred on 9-2-2013. Thereafter I tried to open my hotel on 23-02-2013 but on all occasions Dashrath bhai gathered a big mob of 100 to 150 Hindu people and used to create communal tension in the presence of the local police who gave me no protection,” he says.
All the higher authorities in the police know about this matter including, PSI (Rathwa Sir), PI (Rana Sir, Viramgam Rural ), CPI (Viramgam) , DYSP (Viramgam), SP (Ahmedabad Rural), DIG(Ahmedabad Renge), DG (Ghandhinagar), CID Crime Branch (Ahmedabad), LCB (Ahmedabad) and many more..
On 10th May 2013 Gujarat High court took a responsibility for the ostracism faced by the hotelier, Mustufabhai Patel, the hotel and their staff and gave him protection to start his business forthwith. The final order will be given after the vacation.
“For four long months when we tried to open hotel there ware communal tension so let’s see what will happen after two days…This blatant torture of the landlord that amounts to denial of fundamental rights of the minority in Gujarat under the political patronage of a highly paced official in Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar,” he says.
The website of his hotel has now turned into a documentary of the atrocities faced by him. When one opens the site the first line in big font comes up: Do we have a right to live and do business in Gujarat, being Muslim? The website has photographs and videos of vandalism.
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Website of the hotel