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BJP defends Modi, questions timing of SIT
report
Thursday February 09, 2012 10:45:51 PM,
IANS
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 Gujarat High Court raps Narendra Modi government
The Gujarat
High Court Wednesday criticised the Narendra Modi government in
the state for "inaction and negligence" during the 2002 post-Godhra
riots that led to large-scale destruction of religious
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New Delhi:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday questioned the timing of
the special investigation team (SIT) on Gujarat riots, even as
senior leaders advocated a clean chit for Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots.
Speaking to reporters in the national capital, party spokesperson
Nirmala Sitharaman said the BJP was "concerned about the timing"
of the report as it could "instigate some tension" in poll-bound
Uttar Pradesh.
"We are concerned about the timing of releasing the report,
specially in the light of Utar Pradesh elections that are on
going, raises a lot of questions and we are anxious if it is going
to lead to any, god forbid, unwarranted tension," Sitharaman said.
"But we have not seen the report," she said.
Senior party leaders however advocated a clean chit for Narendra
Modi, who had been accused of abetting the riots along with others
in a petition by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan
Jafri who was killed in the riots.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley expressed
confidence that Modi would come out clean, while party president
Nitin Gadkari blamed the central government for "harassing" the
Gujarat government.
"I believe Gujarat government will definitely come out of this,
and the people will know the truth. The center should stop acting
mischievously against Gujarat government," Gadkari told reporters
in Delhi.
Jaitley meanwhile said this was the third time Modi has been given
a clean chit and the matter should be dropped now.
"The first probe was by Gujarat Police, then the Geeta Johri
enquiry, that was also under Supreme Court, and the third by this
SIT of Supreme Court."
Gadkari in an interview to TV channel CNN-IBN also said that Modi
was one of the contenders for the post of prime minister from BJP.
A day after the Supreme Court-appointed SIT probing the 2002
Gujarat riots filed its final report, petitioner Zakia Jafri
Thursday threatened to file a protest plea.
A statement from Jafri and activist Teesta Setalvad said they have
sought a copy of the report. They said if it is a closure report,
a protest petition would be filed.
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