Narendra Modi presided over '02 riots: Zadaphia tells SIT [India]

0 Comments | Times of India, The, Oct 23, 2010

AHMEDABAD: Gordhan Zadaphia, former junior home minister, has accused Gujarat CM Narendra Modi of playing an active role in 2002 riots. Zadaphia was questioned for seven hours on Friday by the SC-appointed SIT in connection with the 2002 communal riots.

Zadaphia has told the SIT that it was Modi who kept in touch with senior police officials and bureaucrats during rioting. The former minister alleged that he was sidelined by Modi and was not called for official meetings which were conducted by Modi during the riots. At least 1100 persons were killed in the riots that spanned over three months across Gujarat after 59 persons, mainly kar sevaks, were killed in the Godhra train burning.

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In August this year, SIT had submitted a report to SC which showed Zadaphia as one of the primary accused, besides retired IPS officer MK Tandon and inspector general of police PB Gondia, in the investigations into the complaint filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of ex-Congress MP Ahsan Jafri who was among the 69 killed in Gulbarg society on February 28, 2002.

Zakia has blamed Modi and 62 others, bureaucrats and cops of omission and commission during the riots. When SIT summoned the trio for questioning, Zadaphia submitted a 10-page letter to SIT clarifying that he had no role to play in administrative decisions.