Gujarat Riots: Clean Chit to Modi Govt by Nanavati Commission

The Nanavati-Mehta Commission report has given a clean chit to then CM Modi and his council of ministers.

File photo of 2002 Gujarat riots.

(Photo: Reuters)  

The Nanavati-Mehta Commission report, tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday, 11 December, has given a clean chit to the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers in the Gujarat government, stating that the riots post the Godhra train burning were not organised, reported news agency ANI.

The Nanavati Commission report on the 2002 Gujarat riots had been tabled in the state Legislative Assembly earlier on Wednesday.

According to PTI, the police had, at some places, proved ineffective in controlling the mob, neither had they shown the competence and the eagerness which was necessary. Consequently, the Nanavati Commission has recommended an inquiry or action against the erring police officers.

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja tabled the report in the House, five years after it was submitted to the then state government.

Retired Justices GT Nanavati and Akshay Mehta had in 2014 submitted their final report on the 2002 riots – in which over 1,000 people, mainly of the minority community, were killed – to the then state chief minister Anandiben Patel, according to news agency PTI.

The commission was appointed in 2002 by the then state chief minister Narendra Modi to probe the riots, that took place after the burning of two coaches of the Sabarmati Express train near Godhra railway station, in which 59 karsevaks were killed.

Riots Probe Report Exposes 'Conspiracy': BJP

BJP has welcomed the commission report and strongly criticised those who accused Narendra Modi’s involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots. BJP went out to call it a conspiracy by NGOs and Congress to defame Modi.

“The Nanavati Commission report on the 2002 Gujarat riots exposes the ‘conspiracy’ by certain NGOs and the Congress to defame Prime Minister Narendra Modi globally. The commission makes it clear that there was an attempt to malign Modi’s image.”

Gujarat State Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja

He said the commission “did not agree” to any of their (NGOs) allegations. The commission gave a “clean chit” to the then chief minister Modi and others on their alleged role in the 2002 riots

The BJP leader named NGO 'Jan Sangharsh Manch' and 'Citizens for Justice and Peace’ activist Teesta Setalwad as those who conspired to malign the name of Narendra Modi.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)