By IANS
Ahmedabad : A former Gujarat chief minister and an advocate of Jan Sangharsh Morcha, an NGO fighting for the cause of the 2002 Gujarat sectarian violence, have called for a full-scale inquiry into the Tehelka-Aaj Tak exposé that showed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged role in the carnage.
Chhabil Das Mehta, who became chief minister after the death of Chimanbhai Patel and is now with the Nationalist Congress Party, said the facts brought out by Aaj Tak television channel were serious and the central government must conduct an inquiry into it. He however said he would not venture any comment on the impact the revelations would have on the forthcoming assembly polls.
Mukul Sinha, a physicist turned advocate and representing Jan Sangarsh Morcha, said the facts brought out by the sting “more or less corroborated the evidence we have presented before the Nanavati Commission probing the post-Godhra riots.” Sinha said it would be better if the inquiry was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a full-scale probe.
He felt that the sting would have a positive effect on the perception of the Gujarat public. With Thelka showing the incidents in all its manifestations, people would now be able to perceive the incidents that occurred in the right perspective.
Girishbhai Patel, an advocate and who heads the Lok Adhikar Sangh, said the open admission of guilt by the perpetrators of the tragedy with the support of the government of the day clearly established that the Modi government’s continuance was not only “illegal” but also “unconstitutional”.
The chief minister, who always claimed to speak for the 50 million Gujaratis, has brought “ignominy” to them and irreparably “damaged the pride of the state and its peace loving population”. “It was shocking to the people to know that the incidents happened not due to the acts of those opposed to the government but because of encouragement given by the rulers themselves.”
Expressing concern over how judicial processes were sought to be subverted, Patel said the Supreme Court or the Gujarat High Court should take note on their own the facts and order an inquiry.
Several people said they could not see the telecast of the exposé as it was not transmitted through the cable channels.
Vikram Shah, a professor, saw the programme because of direct-to-home service and said it was nothing new. At least people in the state were aware of the ghastly incidents that occurred following the Godhra incident. If anything this will only work to the advantage of the BJP as it would lead to consolidation of Hindu votes.
Meanwhile, Vijay Rupani, Bhartiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member and a spokesperson for the Gujarat unit of the party in a press statement said the broadcast was like “adding salt to the injury” of people of Gujarat and the entire country, especially Hindus. He dubbed it as a conspiracy”.
He said the “sting operation has no legal value” and termed it as an attempt to “block” the fast pace at which Gujarat was developing.