In all likelihood, there will be high drama on Monday when Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia makes -- or fails to make - his scheduled appearance before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the post-Godhra riot cases.
The SIT has called the powerful VHP leader to take down his statement regarding riot related cases. According to sources, SIT will likely put questions before the leader regarding the bandh call given by VHP prior to the riots and the involvement of many VHP workers and leaders in the riots itself.
But the event may well turn out to be an attempt to stoke Hindutva sentiments, in an already charged atmosphere with the BJP government under a cloud over a senior IPS officer's arrest in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.
According to highly placed sources, the top leader of the Hindu organisation has planned to appear before the SIT on Monday morning. The sources added: "Togadia will go before SIT on early Monday morning by taking out a procession from the VHP office at Paldi. The security will also be beefed up in view of the publicity surrounding the hearing."
SIT is probing the role of prominent leaders of the state in the riots that spread in the state in the aftermath of the Sabarmati Express train carnage at Godhra on February 27, 2002. Many leaders and officials, who were on duty at that time, have come forward to give statements before SIT. Chief minister Narendra Modi was questioned for nine hours last month.
Togadia's appearance is significant as the VHP had issued a bandh call on February 28, 2002 which was followed by large scale violence in the state.
During the police investigation, names of prominent VHP leaders cropped up. Jaideep Patel, former leader of VHP, has already been arrested by the SIT in connection with the Naroda Gam riot case.
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