By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress party Friday said the Supreme Court order for speedy trial in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases has put the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government “on trial”.
“The Gujarat government is on trial,” Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal told reporters here. He expressed hope that the special fast track courts ordered by the apex court would take action against those accused of killing 1,180 people in the state after the burning of a train in Godhra.
“At last the people of Gujarat and people of the country are thankful to the court,” Sibal said. He is contesting from Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency in Delhi, which goes to polls May 7.
The Supreme Court’s ruling that some of the 2002 riot cases would not be transferred out of Gujarat has put the onus of a fair trial on the state high court, the party said.
The Supreme Court also ordered the setting up of six fast track courts in the state and said special public prosecutors would be appointed by the state government in consultation with a special probe panel.
Earlier, Congress spokesperson M. Veerappa Moily said: “Now it would be the concern of the high court of Gujarat for holding a fair trial. Also, the high court of Gujarat has to ensure that the SIT (special Investigation Team) has a free hand in investigating the riot cases.”
Referring to BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Moily told IANS: “This is because of the fact that Narendra Modi has not apologised for the riots. He has no regrets… In the past he has refused to register cases, people are under the impression that he might misuse his office.”