Gordhan Zadafia, who was minister of state for home during the 2002 Gujarat riots, has denied allegations that police were directed not to take action against rioters.
Gordhan Zadafia, who was minister of state for home during the 2002 Gujarat riots, has denied allegations that police were directed not to take action against rioters and allow people to vent their anger against a minority community post the Godhra train carnage.
Deposing before the Nanavati Commission, he has denied the Narendra Modi government had asked the administration and police not to act for 24 hours after the torching of Sabarmati Express near Godhra on February 27, 2002 and let people vent their anger against a minority community.
"It is incorrect that there were directions from the state government (for police) not to take any steps in case of riots for 24 hours (after the Godhra incident)," Zadafia has stated before the two-member panel.
He was last questioned by the Commission, headed by Justice (retd) G T Nanavati, in November 2010. However, the questioning was done in-camera where besides the riot panel members and Zadafia, nobody was allowed.
The Commission, probing the riots and also the train carnage, today made public the deposition of Zadafia during his questioning on November 19, 2010. The state government-appointed panel also decided to recall the former minister for questioning, but no date has been fixed for the same.
His recall follows deposition of Zadafia's former Cabinet colleague I K Jadeja before the inquiry panel last Saturday where he was also cross-examined.
Zadafia, once considered close to Modi, later parted ways with BJP and floated his own political outfit Maha-Gujarat Janta Party (MJP).
"On February 28 (2002), VHP had given a state bandh call, following which I had instructed the police department to taken necessary steps," he has said.
"We had directed police to take preventive measures to ensure that there are no repercussions (of the Godhra incident). I had talked to DGP, city Police Commissioner and other police officers (in this regard)," Zadafia has said.
"I had directed them to take strict action in case of rioting."
The former BJP leader has also told the panel that between February 28 and March 4, 2002 (when most riots took place), while he was not in Ahmedabad, he had spoken on telephone with a number of police officials and political leaders.
He has further said that unless called, he did not meet Modi and continued to discharge his duty as minister of state for home.
Over 1,000 people were killed in the widespread communal violence triggered by the Godhra train carnage in which 58 people died.
On March 6, 2002 the government set up the Nanavati Commission, which has been given multiple extensions and its term is to expire on December 31
In 2008, the panel had submitted one part of its finding, that was with regard to Godhra train carnage, where it had concluded the incident of burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra station was "a pre-planned conspiracy".
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}