Modi’s no-show at SIT

AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU

Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday which had summoned him for questioning in connection with post-Godhra riots case.
The office of the SIT in Gandhinagar was kept open on Sunday but the chief minister ignored the summons and gave the panel a miss. The SIT has also not received any communication from the state government regarding the summons issued on March 11, sources said. Official sources said that Modi has sought legal alternatives in response to SIT summons. It was for the first time that the chief minister was being called for questioning in connection with the riots. Modi was summoned with regard to a complaint filed by Zakia Jaffery.

WHY SIT HAS CALLED CM

It is alleged that Modi had called a meeting with top officials of the state on February 27, the day four boggies of Sabarmati Express was set ablaze at Godhra. However, Modi has denied any such meeting.The state Assembly record of March 14, 2002, cites the then home minister Gordhan Zadaphia’s statement that chief minister had called a meeting to review the situation in the state.
Another allegation against Modi is that he had apparently asked top cops to remain inactive for three days, after the large scale violence broke out on February 28 across the state. Modi had called Godhra carnage a pre-planned terrorist act. The SIT wants to ask Modi on what grounds did he make such statement.