Case against Modi in 2002 riots should be closed: Arun Jaitely

BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Thursday said if the final report of the SIT probing the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Narendra Modi then the case should be closed, as it has been investigated thrice in the past.

Jaitley made the remark while talking to reporters in Varanasi a day after the Supreme Court-appointed SIT filed the final report in a sealed cover on the complaint by Zakia Jafri, wife of slain former Congress MP Eshan Jafri in the Gulberg Housing society riots in 2002. Around 1,200 people were killed in the communal riots.

Referring to the poll scenario in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leader said his party would form the government in the state only if it got majority, or else it would like to sit in the opposition.

On the question of his party's alliance with the BSP, Jaitley said BJP will "never repeat the mistake" as it had burnt its finger twice by forging alliance with Mayawati's party in the past.

He accused the SP of fuelling 'goonda raj' and the BSP of breaking all records of corruption. The Congress has also joined their league and announced a sub-quota for minorities within 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, he said.

The opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha also said, "If BJP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it will transform the political agenda and will focus on good governance, development, end corruption and not allow reservation on the basis of caste.