Home Indian Muslim Rebel’s ‘confession’ points to Modi’s role in Gujarat riot

Rebel’s ‘confession’ points to Modi’s role in Gujarat riot

By IANS

Ahmedabad : Many have pointed fingers at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the communal violence of 2002 but now his home minister at the time, Gordhan Zadaphia, too has ‘confessed’ of the state government’s role in it.

“During 2002 I was responsible for whatever had happened. Even today I am responsible for that. I don’t deny my responsibility even though I am not a minister,” Zadaphia told NDTV in an interview telecast Monday.

He, however, added that he was only following Modi’s instructions. “Even today, I am a friend to Modi and at the given time when I was with him… a leader is the leader and you have to follow the order.”

As many as 1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, died in the sectarian strife that was triggered by a train bogey burning in Godhra.

Zadaphia, then minister of state for home, later fell out with Modi and joined ranks with a growing number of dissidents. He is among the five Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators suspended from the party for indiscipline.

Zadaphia virtually blamed Modi for the March 2003 murder of minister of state for home Haren Pandya too. “Modi has been discriminating against his own people, denying (election) ticket to a leader like Haren Pandya. The political murder of him was done first and the physical thereafter,” he said.

An anti-terror court here had earlier this year convicted 12 people for Pandya’s murder.