Nanavati must step down from the commission: Congress

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Welcoming the decision of the Supreme Court that those accused in Godhra train burning case cannot be tried under anti-terror law, the Congress party Wednesday demanded that Justice Nanavati must step down from the commission enquiring into the 2002 Gujarat violence.

While two commissions - Bannerjee Commission and Central POTA review committee - had said that the incident was not pre-planned and does not fall under the definition of a terror attack, the Nanavati Commission, appointed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in its report had clearly categorized it as a conspiracy and a pre-planned attack.

'We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. This decision has upheld the constitutionality of the POTA review committee. This decision flies in the face of conclusions of Nanavati. So he must down from the commission,' said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Upholding the decision of the apex court, the Congress called it a 'slap on the face of Gujarat government'.

'The Supreme Court ruling is a slap on the face of Gujarat government. This decision has upheld the constitutionality of earlier commissions that were quashed by the Gujarat High Court,' said Tewari.

The Supreme Court Tuesday ordered the dropping of terror charges against all 131 people accused of setting ablaze a sleeper coach of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra railway station in Gujarat on February 27, 2002, killing 59 people.