How Narendra Modi tackled 71 questions by the SIT

How Narendra Modi tackled 71 questions by the SIT

The Tehelka magazine on Thursday published what everyone was curious to know — what questions were posed to chief minister Narendra Modi during his interrogation by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on March 25, 2010, and what his responses were. The details show how Modi resorted to selective facts, evasion, amnesia, outright lies and rhetoric during his questioning.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi appears before SIT

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday appeared before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning over the 2002 communal riots.



Modi reached the SIT office at noon. This is the first time Modi is being interrogated in a riot case.

An official spokesman said Modi's decision to submit himself for questioning was no setback for the state government. "What setback?" asked spokesman Jai Narayan Vyas.

The SIT issued a notice to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader March 11 seeking his deposition during the week beginning March 21 on the issues raised by Zakia Jaffri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri who was killed in the riots.

Jaffri died along with other residents when a mob set fire to the Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad in the wake of the violence sparked off by a train burning at Godhra that killed 59 Hindu passengers.

Most of those killed in the retaliatory Gujarat violence were Muslims.

Narendra Modi to get US, Canada visa

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to get a Canadian visa adopted soon by the much refused and coveted US visa, diplomatic sources at the greatest level revealed.

This comes in the wake up of the billion dollar relationship which Gujarat, developing from the rate associated with 12 percent, offers struck around companies.

An official spokesman of the CM’s workplace stated, ”At this particular moment we have nothing to say upon the matter.”

Overseas Indians and several business organizations in the United states and Canada happen to be lobbying along with the US State Department that it makes no feeling to refuse credit to Narendra Modi.

It would appear that their own initiatives have borne fruit. An additional group, The Overseas Friends associated with the BJP, have also been making efforts in order to safe the visa for Modi.

Modi’s workplace, however, did not provide any kind of comments when asked about the CM’s journey ideas.

The Congress celebration has been utilizing the refusal associated with the US visa for a long period as a stay with beat Modi with.

Caste conflict in Modi's 'brand Gujarat'

Caste conflict in Modi's 'brand Gujarat'

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The tears haven't dried for Laxmiben even a week after she and 1,200 other Maldharis like her gave up their homes and moved to this transit camp. The Maldharis, a cattle-rearing community in north Gujarat, left their village Zinzuwada unable to cope with the harassment of the upper caste Rajputs. "We were so insecure that till the time our young boys used to return homes, we used to be worried that something untoward would happen to them," said Laxmiben. According to the Maldharis, the Rajputs have been harassing them for years now. But in the past few months the level has escalated from assault on their young children to harassment of women. "The womenfolk who used to go to fetch water from the well or wash clothes used to be harassed by these men, the harassment was too much to be tolerated," said Rachchodbhai. While the district administration is shying away from the camera, it has deployed extra security at Zinzuwada. Security has also been provided around the transit camp in Nagwada. But the Maldharis accuse the local police of turning a blind eye to their complaints in the past. The result: the security now has done little to instill confidence amongst them. For the record though the Rajputs deny harassment. "It's not a big issue, in fact, there have been no clash between the two communities. There are members from Kayashtha community, Maldharis and other communities but there is no problem here," said Udhaysinh Jhala, Sarpanch, Zinzuwada. As the stalemate continues, Laxmiben and her neighbours can only wait and hope that the government will do more than just posture and get them back their homes and their lives.

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

LONDON: England's Cricketers' Association claims that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and the franchises are "bugging players like crazy" to commit participation in the lucrative Twenty20 event but are refusing to acknowledge their security fears.

Professional Cricketers Association ( PCA) director of legal affairs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that "heavens won't fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)", has been "bugging players like crazy" to commit.

Smith, however, said the security situation in India seems better then a few weeks ago but a some concerns still remain.

"The situation is a hell of a lot better than it was a week ago," Smith said.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach a point before the start of the tournament where Reg can say it is safe enough to travel. We are getting closer. Ultimately it comes down to individual players and their individual circumstances," he added.

Smith said the firm handling IPL's security was up to mark but the players' bodies were looking for assurances from the government of India.

"They are excellent guys and it is a good plan. The question is whether the states and the Government can implement it. Have they not signed off because they can't or because they won't? Nobody is prepared to say, 'Yes we can do it'," Smith said.

Smith criticised Modi's refusal to acknowledge players' bodies' concerns.

"It has been a most frustrating period because guys feel thwarted and partly angry because of the way Lalit has chosen to spin it as a political move on our part. We cannot seem to get it into his head that we are genuinely interested in the safety of the players," he fumed.

Meanwhile, Graham Napier left to join Mumbai Indians on Monday, while Kings XI Punjab batsman Ravi Bopara, who had earlier claimed that "cricket is not worth dying for", is scheduled to leave on Tuesday for the tournament starting March 12.

Sachin Tendulkar tops 'trust' list in cricket; Lalit Modi at bottom

Sachin Tendulkar tops 'trust' list in cricket; Lalit Modi at bottom

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar has been named the country's most trusted person in the cricket arena, while IPL chairman Lalit Modi has been ranked at the bottom. In a list of 100 most trusted people compiled by Readers' Digest magazine, Sachin figures at the eighth position -- the highest among people related to cricket and next only to chess champion Viswanathan Anand (overall 6th). In the same list, IPL chairman Lalit Modi, arguably the most controversial cricket administrator, has been ranked 93rd -- the lowest rank for any cricket-related person in the list. About Modi being at the tail-end of its Trusted list, Readers' Digest said "perhaps it's controversy that still stalks Lalit Modi, cricket administrator and chairman of Indian Premier League, who at 93rd position is the only sports personality to feature amongst the trust list's tailenders." While Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, ranked 97th, is also related to the field of cricket in his capacity of Chairman of the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India), but he's more of a politician. Among people in the list who owe their fame to cricket, Sachin is followed by Team India captain M S Dhoni at 42nd position in the overall list. Last week, master blaster Tendulkar dedicated his record unbeaten knock of 200, scored in the one-dayer against South Africa, to the people of India.