By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi may ask the Maharashtra government to file a report on the undue delay in the implementation of the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission that probed communal violence in Mumbai in 1992-93 – soon after the fall of the Babri Masjid.
“The Congress president has taken a serious view of the delay in the implementation of the Srikrishna Commission recommendations. She is likely to seek a report on the action taken by the state government on the commission report,” said an informed source in the party.
“She may also urge the state government to take steps immediately as there has been severe criticism of the party-led government for the delay,” the source added.
The Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra has been under pressure to revive the report and has been criticised for not taking any steps despite a promise in the party manifesto about the speedy implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
In the aftermath of the destruction of the 16th century Babri Masjid on Dec 6, 1992, Mumbai had witnessed large-scale sectarian strife in December and January. The commission headed by Justice Srikrishna probed the incidents of violence and indicted several Shiv Sena leaders among others.
After the violence, the city was targeted by serial terror bombings on March 12, 1993, in which 257 people were killed.
As a special anti-terror court last week concluded a long trial and sentencing in the case of the terror bombings, many pointed out that the Srikrishna Commission report was still gathering dust.
“The party leadership does not want to displease the Muslim community by not taking any action against the culprits,” a senior party leader said.