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IK Jadeja appears before Nanavati panel

However, as his deposition was held in camera, two lawyers have sought Nanavati panel’s permission to cross-examine him.

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Former minister in the Narendra Modi government, IK Jadeja, on Tuesday deposed in camera before the Nanavati commission enquiring into the communal riots of 2002. Jadeja was questioned about the Godhra train carnage and the riots that took place across the state after that.

As Jadeja was questioned by the commission in camera, no one was allowed into the courtroom during his deposition. However, VH Kanara, lawyer representing Gujarat Swadesh Congress Samiti, and Shamshad Pathan, advocate representing the civil right organisation Jan Sangharsh Manch, moved an application seeking the commission’s permission to cross-examine Jadeja.

Confirming the development, Kanara said that on Tuesday they argued before the commission that Jadeja’s role was well known. “However, as the state is trying to suppress facts which people should know, we have asked the commission for permission to cross-examine Jadeja. The commission has scheduled the application for hearing,” Kanara said.

Jadeja, who was Gujarat Urban Development Minister during the 2002 riots, was questioned by retired Justices GT Nanavati and Akshay Mehta for over half-an-hour. Jadeja is the second minister of the then state government to be questioned as witness by the commission.

Last year, the commission had questioned the then Gujarat minister of state for home, Gordhan Zadafia, who has since parted ways with the BJP and floated his own outfit, the Mahagujarat Janata Party (MJP).

Talking to reporters after the questioning, Jadeja said the commission had summoned him for clarifications regarding the Godhra train carnage and the riots that followed that incident.

“The commission had some queries regarding the 2002 riots and it had called me for clarification on some issues which I have given,” Jadeja said. However, he refused to give any details about the questions he was asked and his replies to them, saying that the matter is now sub judice.

Jadeja is said to have been present at the meeting at the chief minister’s residence on February 27, 2002, where, according to IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, the chief minister allegedly instructed officers to allow Hindus ‘to vent their anger’ during the riots. He was also present in the state control room during the riots along with the then health minister of the state, Ashok Bhatt.

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