SIT doubts Modi's acts, but lacks evidence

New Delhi: The past has come back to haunt Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Tehelka-CNN-IBN have now accessed the Supreme Court appointed SIT report looking specifically at Modi's alleged role during the 2002 post godhra riots. The report, already filed in the apex court, throws up several embarrasing questions for Modi, but doesn't ask for prosecuting him further due to lack of evidence. The 600-page report that looked into allegations against Modi's Administration during the riots said that despite ghastly violent attacks on Muslims in Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya the reaction of the government was not the type which would have been expected of anyone.

According to the report, the Chief Minister tried to water down the seriousness of the situation at Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya by saying every action has equal and opposite reaction.

The report also criticised Modi for appointing pro-VHP advocates as public prosecutors in the riot cases.

Modi did not visit riot affected areas though he was at Godhra on February 27, 2002 and most damagingly for Modi the report said, the government destroyed wireless records of police conversation of the day.

The report also was critical of the role played by his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats and makes mention of presence of Gujarat ministers Ashok Bhatt and IK Jadeja in the Ahmedabad and Ghandinagar police control rooms during the riots and being in touch with other BJP and VHP leaders.

The report also criticised retired bureaucrats who were not forth coming in their depositions as they have got post retirement benefits.

But in its conclusion, the report said, substantiated allegations don't throw up material that would justify further action under law.

So was the report a cop out or was it an attempt made by SIT to bring facts about Modi in public domain? The BJP hasn't reacted so far, but it's clear, that on March 3, when the Supreme Court will take up the matter, Narendra Modi will be a concerned man.