BJP gives hint, Modi to depose before SIT at mutually agreed date

Backing him fully in his strategy on facing the Supreme Court-appointed SIT on 2002 riots, BJP today hinted that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is likely to depose at a time and date that had to be worked out mutually.

However, confusion prevailed over the date of Modi's appearance in the summons issued by the SIT.

The SIT preferred to remain quite on the open letter written by Modi which said that he was not summoned on March 21. SIT chairman R K Raghavan could not contacted.

In his open letter yesterday, Modi said, "SIT had not fixed March 21, 2010 for my appearance. To say that I was summoned on March 21 is completely false. I shall respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the Supreme Court". 

On March 11, Raghavan had said that the SIT had summoned Modi on March 21. 

In Delhi, when asked if Modi was evading an appearance before the SIT, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said "Narendra Modi is a popular chief minister who has always respected the law and abided by it."

Asked if the BJP leadership differed with Modi on the issue of deposition before SIT, Javadekar said, "We are with both Modi and the law." 

He said the question of deposing before SIT would arise only when Modi receives an intimation to this effect. 

While Javadekar was non-committal about the issue, top BJP sources indicated that Modi is likely to present himself before SIT but the time and date would have to be worked out mutually.

According to them, an exchange of correspondence between SIT and Modi has, however, taken place. 

SIT wants Modi to depose in connection with a complaint of Zakia Jaffery, widow of former Congress MP Eshan Jaffery who was killed in Gulburg society riot case of 2002 along with 69 others.