Panel slams Narendra Modi over Gujarat riots

NEW DELHI: A panel probing anti-Muslim riots in India’s Gujarat state in 2002 has criticised the partisan handling of the unrest by the state’s Hindu nationalist chief minister, Narendra Modi. The panel, set up by Supreme Court, concluded that Modi - a senior Hindu nationalist leader touted as a future prime minister - had sought to play down the seriousness of the violence that claimed 2,000 lives.

However, according to its report, the panel felt it had not uncovered enough material to justify criminal prosecution. The Gujarat riots were one of the bloodiest incidents of sectarian violence in India since independence in 1949. Mainly Hindu mobs rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods for three days, hacking, burning, shooting and beating at least 2,000 Muslims to death.

The unrest was triggered by the death of 59 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire. The cause of the blaze was never clearly established. Modi, who has been the state’s chief minister since 2001, has long been accused by human rights groups of turning a blind eye to the violence, with some suggesting he actively encouraged it.

The findings of the panel only appear to substantiate some of the lesser allegations made against Modi and his government, and stop well short of confirming any criminal negligence. “In spite of the fact that ghastly and violent attacks had taken place on Muslims... the reaction of the government was not the type that would have been expected by anyone,” it said. “The chief minister had tried to water down the seriousness of the situation,” it said, while describing as “sweeping and offensive” Modi’s identification of a criminal tendency within Gujarat’s Muslim community.

“His implied justification of the killings of innocent members of the minority community, read together with an absence of a strong condemnation of the violence... suggest a partisan stance at a critical juncture,” the panel said. It also noted Modi’s “discriminatory attitude” in visiting the scene of the train fire, but not the riot-affected areas in Gujarat’s largest city, Ahmedabad.

Modi was personally summoned and quizzed in March last year by the panel which had been ordered to investigate more than 30 allegations made against members of the state government, including the chief minister.

“A few of these alone were in fact substantiated,” panel chairman R K Raghavan wrote in his concluding statement. Previous investigations into the riots commissioned by the Gujarat government have absolved the state police and government of any collusion in the violence. AFP

BJP suspects 'GOI elements' role in leak of Special Investigation Team report on Gujarat riots

New Delhi, Feb 4 : Suspecting the hands of 'elements of Government of India' behind the leakage of the portions of the Special Investigation Team report on the Gujarat riots filed before the Supreme Court, the BJP stressed the need for a probe into the leakage of the confidential information to the select media.

Reacting to the portions of the SIT reports submitted to the Supreme Court on the 2002 Gujarat riots finding their way to the media, BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad told reporters that the apex court had directed the SIT to submit the report in a 'sealed cover' and the BJP has not even have slight doubts about the impeccable integrity of the Court in maintaining the secrecy that was expected of it.

He said a similar report was filed before the SC giving out the details of 24 holders of secret bank account holders outside of India and till today not a single name had come out. It goes to the credit of the SC for maintaining the secrecy that was expected of it.

However, the elements in the GOI which was confronted with problems from all sides to divert the attention of the people from these issues had 'engineered' the leakage to the select media after the SIT submitted its report to the Court in a sealed cover, he said. He, however, would not go into the 'contents of the leaked information' because they were before the SC for consideration and it had not formed its views.

He said riots were unfortunate and condemnable wherever they happened but it went to the credit of Gujarat that it had highest record in awarding punishment for the crime where over 700 people were convicted for the offences including 70 who were awarded with Rigorous Imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years.

Of all the parties, the Congress can not raise questions on Gujarat riots after its own tainted record in 1984 riots against Sikh community in Delhi and other parts of the country. The party spared no effort to save the likes of its leaders like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and its President Rajiv Gandhi went to the extent of justifying the riots when he remarked 'the earth is bound to shake when a big tree falls', Mr Prasad said.

As far as Gujarat after the riots were concerned both Hindu and Muslim communities were living harmoniously with amity and good will. Even the leaked records said that there was no evidence of interference by Mr Modi or others but he would not comment upon it as he was not privy to the report except the leaks and the Court has not even considered it.

Gujarat to build 'Statue of Unity' in memory of sardar Patel: Narendra Modi

Gujarat to build 'Statue of Unity' in memory of sardar Patel: Narendra मोदी

Nagpur, Feb 4 : Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced that people of Gujarat will build the world's tallest statue, the 'Statue of Unity', in memory of Iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Sardar Sarovar Project, on the lines of 'Statue of Liberty' at New York in United States

He was addressing the gathering of 'Swarnim Gujrat Mahotsav' here. Gujarat Tourism Corporation president Kamlesh Patel, Gujarati Samaj city president Jayprakash Parekh were present on the occasion.

Mr Modi said ''In United States, there is a huge Statue of Liberty'. On the same lines, we have decided to build statue of Sardar Patel in the Narmada river. It will be known as the 'Statue of Unity'.'' He said the stucture would not be built with the government money, but through contribution from people of Gujarat.

Sardar Patel does not being only of the Government, but he was a representative of entire Gujarat and India, he noted.

The Chief Minister further said the statue would be two times taller than Statue of Liberty and highest in the world.

He appealed to everyone to come forward for the development of Gujarat and participate in the state's growth story. It is a service to the nation and service for the nation, he added.

''In Gujarat, you will find development works everywhere. It's a symbol of our growth story,'' Mr Modi claimed.