Gujarat: CM Modi summoned in riots case; 'Resign', demands Congress

The Chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi faced a major legal problem on Thursday when he was summoned for the first time for questioning in the 2002 communal riots after a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team asked him to appear before it on March 21.

Eight years after the post-Godhra riots, Modi suffered the ignominy of being the first-ever chief minister of any state to be called for questioning in connection with a criminal complaint after he and his administration were accused of aiding and abetting riots in one area. The opposition Congress in the State immediately demanded that Narendra Modi should resign following the summons issued to him.

The summons were issued in connection with the complaint by Zakia Jaffery, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffery who was killed along with 69 others in the 2002 Gulberg society riots. "We have asked the chief minister (Modi) to appear before us on March 21," SIT chief RK Raghavan said. The SIT is probing afresh some riot cases.

"He has been asked to come for questioning in connection with the complaint of Zakia Jaffery," he added. Over 1,000 people were killed during the riots across the state following the burning of a train in Godhra in which activists of extreme right-wing outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were traveling.

Raghavan dismissed as hypothetical a question whether Modi is legally bound to appear before the SIT. Zakia in her 100-page complaint alleged conspiracy by Modi and 62 others, including his Cabinet colleagues, senior police officials and senior bureaucrats.

Gordhan Zadaphia, Ashok Bhatt, PC Pande, who were the home minister, health minister and the city police commissioner at the time of the riots were also named in the complaint.

"I hope that justice will be given to us...It has been a long journey. I am very happy that Modi has been summoned," Zakia said.

Reacting to the SIT's summons, the Gujarat government on Thursday said the chief minister will cooperate with the process of law. "The state government and the chief minister would cooperate with the process of law," Gujarat government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas said.

With the Special Investigation Team (SIT) summoning Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for questioning in connection with the post-Godhra riots, Congress today said it would be appropriate if he quits.

"The summoning should have happened long ago as the CM of Gujarat and his government presided over the worst pogrom against the minorities in independent India," Congress party spokesman Manish Tewari said in New Delhi. He pointed out that it was perhaps the first incident of a sitting CM being summoned in a case of mass.

- Asian Tribune -