Gujarat CM Modi may appear before riots inquiry panel

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for interrogation into the 2002 Gujarat riots case on March 27.

Modi has verbally responded to the SIT by asserting that he was ready to appear provided certain decorum was maintained by the investigators interrogating him on March 27. There are reports that Modi's interrogation may not take place inside the SIT office due to security reasons. He may be questioned at a place mutually agreed by him and the SIT.

Meanwhile, confusion prevailed on Monday as Modi said he was not summoned to appear before a Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing 2002 Gujarat riots cases on March 21. On Monday evening Modi released an open letter defending his stand. In a strong statement issued a day after he was reported as having kept the panel waiting for him to appear before it, Modi said: "It is a matter of grave concern and needs investigation as to why and who started spreading lies that Narendra Modi has been summoned by SIT on March 21."

In the statement, Modi pointed out that March 21 happened to be "a Sunday and a public holiday." "The purveyors of lies did not even bother to check whether the SIT officers appointed by Supreme Court were present in Gujarat on March 21," Modi said.

Modi said in his statement that he would respond to the SIT, "Fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of the body appointed by the Supreme Court." The SIT headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director K R Raghavan, is looking into nine cases of 2002 Gujarat riots. The SIT had asked Modi to appear in connection with the Gulbarg Society carnage case.

- Asian Tribune -