Gujarat chief minister questioned on riots
The railway coach that was burnt in 2002 triggering sectarian violence in Gujarat
- March 30 2010
AHMEDABAD, India (UCAN) -- Muslims and Christians in Gujarat have welcomed a Supreme Court team questioning the state chief minister about his role in the 2002 anti-Muslim riots.
The Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court cross-examined Narendra Modi for nine hours on March 27 on a petition by Zakia Jafri, widow of a parliamentarian, who was killed during the riots.
Modi is among 62 people the 71-year-old widow has blamed for killing 1,180 people, mostly Muslims, during riots that lasted three months from Feb. 27, 2002. The violence began after 59 Hindus were torched inside a railway coach.
Modi is accused of directing the then state police chief and senior government officials not to act against Hindu mobs attacking Muslims.
Jafri told UCA News on March 29 that she hoped the riot victims would get justice after the team managed to question Modi. The chief minister has used his political clout and administrative powers to evade the law, but “the clock seems” to be turning against him, she added.
The widow said she has “full faith in Allah Taala who will certainly punish” Modi for his deeds.
Muhammed Shafi Madani, president of a Muslim group in Gujarat, says questioning Modi is the first victory for human rights groups against “the perpetrators of the 2002 crimes.” He expressed hope that the team would work honestly to nab those named in the widow’s petition.
Latest development is in ‘right direction’
Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, who directs a human rights center in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, says the latest development is in “the right direction” although it took more than eight years to make Modi answer questions that had remained unanswered until now.
The priest wants a case filed against Modi and “he must be charge-sheeted” since “mere quizzing of Modi” would not bring justice for the riot survivors.
The Jesuit activist says Modi now uses the questioning to project himself as a martyr to gain Hindu sympathy.
Another Jesuit activist, Father Stanny Jebamalai, says Modi had so far managed to evade the law. His interrogation “is a good sign for justice for the riot victims,” said the priest, who works for the land rights of tribal people in Gujarat’s southern region.
Jesuit Father Xavier Manjooran, who heads a social service society in Gujarat, says “the noose” has been finally tightened” around Modi, who “has bluffed the entire system so far.”
Father Manjooran says the new development would deter others who “unjustly target” Christians and Muslims, who are “weak” minority groups in the state.
Modi took over as the Gujarat chief minister in 2001. Since then, Hindu radicals have targeted Christians involved in charitable works among the poor.
ID09276.1595 March 30, 2010 41 EM-lines (442 words)
Christians, Muslims Decry Acquittal Of Hindu Rioters In Burning Deaths
Witnesses In Riot Killings Case Say They Had Reasons For Retracting
Sectarian Violence Revisits Gujarat, Bishop Blames Unresolved Past
The Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court cross-examined Narendra Modi for nine hours on March 27 on a petition by Zakia Jafri, widow of a parliamentarian, who was killed during the riots.
Modi is among 62 people the 71-year-old widow has blamed for killing 1,180 people, mostly Muslims, during riots that lasted three months from Feb. 27, 2002. The violence began after 59 Hindus were torched inside a railway coach.
Modi is accused of directing the then state police chief and senior government officials not to act against Hindu mobs attacking Muslims.
Jafri told UCA News on March 29 that she hoped the riot victims would get justice after the team managed to question Modi. The chief minister has used his political clout and administrative powers to evade the law, but “the clock seems” to be turning against him, she added.
The widow said she has “full faith in Allah Taala who will certainly punish” Modi for his deeds.
Muhammed Shafi Madani, president of a Muslim group in Gujarat, says questioning Modi is the first victory for human rights groups against “the perpetrators of the 2002 crimes.” He expressed hope that the team would work honestly to nab those named in the widow’s petition.
Latest development is in ‘right direction’
Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, who directs a human rights center in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, says the latest development is in “the right direction” although it took more than eight years to make Modi answer questions that had remained unanswered until now.
The priest wants a case filed against Modi and “he must be charge-sheeted” since “mere quizzing of Modi” would not bring justice for the riot survivors.
The Jesuit activist says Modi now uses the questioning to project himself as a martyr to gain Hindu sympathy.
Another Jesuit activist, Father Stanny Jebamalai, says Modi had so far managed to evade the law. His interrogation “is a good sign for justice for the riot victims,” said the priest, who works for the land rights of tribal people in Gujarat’s southern region.
Jesuit Father Xavier Manjooran, who heads a social service society in Gujarat, says “the noose” has been finally tightened” around Modi, who “has bluffed the entire system so far.”
Father Manjooran says the new development would deter others who “unjustly target” Christians and Muslims, who are “weak” minority groups in the state.
Modi took over as the Gujarat chief minister in 2001. Since then, Hindu radicals have targeted Christians involved in charitable works among the poor.
ID09276.1595 March 30, 2010 41 EM-lines (442 words)
Christians, Muslims Decry Acquittal Of Hindu Rioters In Burning Deaths
Witnesses In Riot Killings Case Say They Had Reasons For Retracting
Sectarian Violence Revisits Gujarat, Bishop Blames Unresolved Past
