The politics of riots is back in Gujarat. And with a vengeance. As Gujarat heads for a crucial Assembly elections later this year, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Godhra incident, chief minister Narendra Modi is desperate to come clean on the contentious issue.
Thus, even as speculation is rife that the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has given a clean chit to Mr Modi, news of the Nanavati Commission too planning to submit its report in March is being taken with a pinch of salt.
“There is no denying the fact that the Modi government will leave no stone unturned to get a clean chit both from the SIT and the Nanavati Commission in an election year which is extremely crucial for Mr Modi’s political ambitions at the national level,” a top-ranking state government official said. What has surprised many in the state is the timing for the Nanavati Commission to submit its report coming close on the heels of the SIT report. Thus, many suspect that the Commission too is all set to give a clean chit to the Modi government though it may indict some junior officials both in the state administration and the police for their failure to control the riots. The Nanavati Commission was set up in March 2002 and has been given 17 extensions so far. Mukul Sinha, of the Jan Chetna Manch, an NGO representing the victims, says he fails to understand as to why the Commission is in such a tearing hurry at this point of time to give its report.
“The commission has not even properly examined the victims. What is worse is that it has not even summoned the chief minister once for examination. We have already moved the Supreme Court on these issues,” Mr Sinha said.
Even sources within the police and the intelligence agencies in the state feel that the Commission could have sought more time to do a foolproof job.
“The Commission has taken 17 extensions so far. Some on very flimsy grounds. But now there seems to be a great urgency within the Commission, specially since there is talk that the Raghvan-led SIT has given a clean chit to Mr Modi. One can clearly see what is now in the offing in the Nanavati Commission also,” a state intelligence official said.