Probe Modi's role in Gujarat riots: SC

The Supreme Court directed the Special Investigation Team Monday to investigate the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the post-Godhra carnage, including some of his cabinet colleagues and police officers, and submit the report in a three months time.

A Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Asok Kumar Ganguly instructed the SIT (headed by former CBI director R K Raghvan) that probed the Godhra train burning and the post-Godhra massacre to inquire into the complaint and submit a report by three months.

The petition was filed by Jakia Nasim Jafri whose husband Ehsan Jafri, a Congress MP, was brutally killed by mob during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the state. Jafri and many others were roasted by a mob in a Gulbarg housing society; Jafri had sought police protection but was not provided.

Jakia in its petition had pointed finger on Narendra Modi, his ministerial colleagues, bureaucrats, police officers for instigating mob to launch massacre.

In 2006, Jafri had lodged a complaint alleging that the police did not register an FIR in the Gulbarg Society carnage. On Nov 3, 2007, the Gujarat High Court rejected to give any direction in the matter and asked Jafri to move SIT or magistrate concerned. She had then approached the Apex Court.

Unfortunately for the Bhartiya Janata Party the order has come at a time when the country is going through Lok Sabha elections and the party is projecting Narendra Modi as an icon of development and a frontrunner for the next prime ministerial candidate.

The Godhra carnage that took the toll of 1044 people, including 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus, carried out the in the milieu of Godhra train fire on February 27, 2002 when two coaches of the Sabarmati Express occupied by Hindu religious pilgrims called Kar Sevaks were set on fire.

Two different inquiry committees have been appointed so far. The Banerjee committee’s, appointed by the UPA government, report that claimed the Godhra train fire was accidental was declared misleading and illegal by the Gujarat High Court in 2006. Nanavati Commission in its first report submitted last year has claimed the attack on the train was pre-planned. The inquiry though is still on.