Indian Express
Sign In | Register Now
Newsletter | ePaper
Indian Express >  India >  Gujarat Riots > 

Godhra was an accident, reiterates Banerjee

Font Size
Agencies Posted: Sep 25, 2008 at 1639 hrs IST
Related Stories: Gujarat’s marine police stations exist only on paperModi gives in, puts off demolition driveModi stops demolition of temples in GujaratVHP-Modi face-off on demolition of templesClash in Surat during temple demolition
New Delhi, September 25:: As the Nanavati Commission probing the Sabarmati Express fire termed it as "pre-planned", Justice U Banerjee who carried out a separate probe into the incident maintained that it was an "accident" and could never have been triggered through petrol.

The Banerjee committee, set up by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in September 2004, in its report submitted in 2005 had said the burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati express on February 27, 2002 was an accident.

"I have recorded my findings that it is an accidental fire," Banerjee said when his comments were sought on the Godhra Commission report, which held that it was a pre-planned conspiracy and not an accident.

The judge said he had examined a large number of witnesses, including an Income Tax Officer, who submitted that they had crawled on the floor to get out of the burning coach.

While 250 people could escape to safety, there were 58 who were asphyxiated due to thick smoke. The sequence of the fire was something different. "This sequence could never have been in a petrol fire," he said.

Ads By Google

Ads By Google
Post Comments
Message*
Maximum characters allowed     
 
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.
View all Messages [ 22 ]
Squablling by alok on 2008-09-26 09:56:23.653748+05:30
For centuries Indians have squabbled amongst themselves. This is going to become more interesting as elections approach. In this entire glut one forgets about corruption, we are one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Right minded people must focus on corruption in our daily lives – it may sound laughable but if we free ourselves from corruption half our problems will be solved, people who fund violence wont get away, people won’t doubt commissions and reports.
NANAVATI REPORT by N.V.SANKARAN on 2008-09-26 09:38:32.455244+05:30
Sir,Mr. Banergee’s reaction is not surprising. To understand it properly, one should look at the chronology of events after the Godhra train burning. The initial reaction from everybody, including the secular media was that the bogey was suspected to be burned from outside by some Islamist activists. The 3rd day after that there was very strong backlash against the Muslim community all over Gujarat. Then, in order to pacify the Muslim sentiments, the secularists said that the Kar Sevaks quarreled with some of the Muslim vendors and the train burning was the result of that quarrel. Later, the Congress and other secular parties later realized that such observation would put the local Muslims in bad light and they suggested that the train burning was a conspiracy by the Hindutwa brigade and that the Kar Sevaks burned themselves to tarnish the image of the Muslims. When they realized that this view was rubbished by most people, they propagated that the incident was an accident and there was no Muslim involved. Then when the UPA came to power, they appointed a pliant judge to submit a report confirming that it was indeed an accident. That Mr. Bannergee stands by his findingd is only a natural reaction from any human being in his position.
nanavati report by vasudev on 2008-09-26 08:42:10.814907+05:30
When Sri Krishna panel was set up, similar views were raised by the "secular" media, as Sri Krishna was a hindu - a devout one. Finally Sri krishna's judgement was against the hindus and now the secularists are swearing by his report. In india any judgement is acceptable to "secular" media/ politicians/ NGOs which shows hindus and parties representing hindu interests in bad light. Now suggestions are coming from muslim groups that any encounter involving terrorists should have 50% muslim police - soon we will have demands that only a muslim police can handle terrorists and probes into blasts. The secular Hindus (mani shankar ayir, the yadav bros etc) will soon realize that their vote bank no longer votes for them, as now they are the majority. Welcome to the Islamic Kingdom of India......
Will there be a 4th umpire and further drain public money by Indian on 2008-09-26 08:41:28.713197+05:30
Will now there be a fourth umpire available to tell us the truth of the matter? Is UPA Government going to continue drain the public money in these wasteful exercices and completely ignore progress and development!!!
Bannerjee's credibility by SG Sak on 2008-09-26 08:09:30.424927+05:30
Being a jidge, how much does he know about petrol? He talks and acts like a scientist. Does it mean he is one? Humility and benefit of doubt are the traits of judges. I don't see any of them in Mr. Bannerjee.
an Accident surely Mr Banerjee, we are fools by a rajaraman on 2008-09-26 08:04:30.123193+05:30
Sri Banerjee is a insult to the Judiciary. Only a moron of the nth order can say that the coach caught fire by accident at godhra after pelting of stones. If is appointed to investigate the Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore blast he is likely to say they were all accidents otherwise why should bombs be dustbin. Some stale food must have generated methane gas which has caught fire due to somebody putting cigarettes in the dustbin. Come on let us be truthful. Let not the truth be only a slogan on our coins.
Banerjee The Typical by Anirud on 2008-09-26 07:40:50.322175+05:30
Don't lose your temper guys. Banerjee's problems are genetic. He is a typical Bengali leftist "intellectual." Forgive him for being an idiot. These guys, in the 60 years since Goras left the country, have learnt to lick other boots.
        
Nanavati Report change the life of all those scared in communal riots
by Poulomi on 2008-09-26 10:35:33.191651+05:30
Will calling Banerjee Bengali leftist "intellectual." and praising the Nanavati Report change the life of all those scared in communal riots?It seems you you're more bothered about Banerjee being a bengali than him being a judge who has erred.
Lalu rubber stamped Benrgee by A. Nair on 2008-09-26 06:34:25.063676+05:30
This guy was paid by lalu (openly support simi) to do his work. Finish investigation one day in Gujarat. Its own credibility in W. Bengal is questionable (own home on grabed land). Never interviewed relatives or survivors of torched victims of Sabarmati Train. What do you expect from borfos, oil, trust vote, ram setu (ram does not exist) afazal , Amarnath scams people. Convieniently forget that one of the attacker was ex congressman of Godhra Municipality.
Accident? by Advait on 2008-09-26 05:16:13.069598+05:30
What coincidence, that a coach with kar sevaks was burnt in a predominantly Muslim town!! How many stations existed in the train's route? How many coaches in the train? Can Lalu Yadav explain why only that coach burned and that too only in Godhra? What a co-incidence!!By the way, let there me no doubt that Modi engineered the "Hindu" backlash, which was actually only a Sangh backlash.
Banerjee by B D Gupta on 2008-09-26 03:23:29.714296+05:30
When I read about liars and masters puppet like this Banerjee, I feel ashamed to call myself a Bengali.
Bundererjee by Jai Khosla on 2008-09-25 22:54:47.859632+05:30
It is scary that Bunderji was a judge. If there was no accelerant such as petrol how did the fire spread so fast?
Who are you kidding? by sri on 2008-09-25 22:40:20.913098+05:30
Who are you kidding Mr.B ? I can't believe you support the notion of Godhra incident being an accident when in reality it is ruthless planning that took place to burn innocent hindu's alive.
Useless Judges by Sing on 2008-09-25 22:11:58.260997+05:30
There should be an enquiry commission to investigate these useless retired judges!
RUBBER STAMP JUDGES by G on 2008-09-25 20:29:25.683257+05:30
Wake Everybody, See the judges gave the report to the chief minister (the Accused in incident), instead the central government, because these judges are recommended by Mr. Modi and they do the same rubber stamp job as everybody says about justice Banerjee to their Bosses.
Selective amnesia by Hindu on 2008-09-25 19:44:15.047386+05:30
The bias of the anti-Hindu electronic English media is evident in the hyper excited reporting of the church attack. The likes of Girish Karnad, U R Ananthamurthy and Mahesh Bhatt Teesta Shabana Azmi Barka Dutt Sardesai know which side of their bread is buttered. Their selective amnesia is amusing. They never react on lakhs of Hindus being displaced from Kashmir. These opportunists are no better than traitors of the past who are ready to sell the dignity of the country for their selfish gains.Do you know AP CM Rajashekar Reddy is a Christian(of course converted) and is aggressively converting poor people in AP including Tirupathi
Against to banerji by srikantha on 2008-09-25 19:14:59.243951+05:30
Hi, i will not agree with Mr.Banerji the Rubber stamp of UPA gov't.As he has an foolish report to the center about the sabarmathi express incident.....how foolish he is, does he got brain in his head. i am doubtful about this. Please take him to some good hospital.. ok. if USA gov't appoints him to investigate the WTC tower case. Really he will give clean chit to Bin Laden, and he will give report as, the pilot was drunk so he hit the tower.... ha ha ha ha ha god must be crazy after creating such creatures.......I really appreciate Mr.Modi, as he had helped to take revenge for the sabarmathi incident....
Godhra Reports by balamurugesan on 2008-09-25 18:09:10.664487+05:30
Mr. Banerjee says 250 people could not have escaped if it had been petrol. Could not parents have saved their children if it had been an accident? Wherefrom he got the info that 300 travelled in one coach? Railways appointed him, so he toed the Rly Minister. Guj. Govt appointed Mr.Nanavati, so he favours Mr.Modi. After spending a lot of money the people of India are now very clear. Oh my God!
bootlicker by rohit on 2008-09-25 17:45:56.089906+05:30
Shutup bootlicker of UPA and LALU it was a blatant mob violence and 58 people died and u are saying it was a accidenthace some shame . How much money did u get for this report. ?
        
Bootlicker Banerjee
by Ram Sharma on 2008-09-26 02:15:40.661448+05:30
Rohit, thank you. This Banerjee bootlicker has sold his soul. I wish Modi becomes PM some day. The terrorists that have flourished during the UPA rule will pay the price, the country will progree and their will be no discrimination in the name of religion, the minorities getting preferential treatment.
Banerjee by situ on 2008-09-25 17:08:55.957348+05:30
y shd banerjee b excited abt this; it is only natural that 2 humans differ in opinion. The present commission has not condemned him but has only given a different judgement. The problem lies in the fact that Banerjee undertook a probe at the behest of his politcal masters when there was already one and the intention was to rubbish Modi and the BJP. He reacts now bcos the purpose of his commission has been negatived by the present judgement of Nanavati. Banerjee shd not comment upon a matter on which he has already given a judgement. His work stopped there and he shd not sit on judgement on Nanavati. It only shows his prejudice towards Modi and the HIndus.
Judges are human too! by Sundar on 2008-09-25 17:00:38.346017+05:30
The Godhra findings make some things very clear.That the Judges are human being and like all of us can make mistakes.That commissions of enquiry have a purpose and that purpose could be defined by the masters who commission these commissions.That all judgements will have two sets of reactions-one positive and another negative.That secular NGOs too believe in those judgements that match their expectations.
        
it need a bit of correction...
by common indian on 2008-09-25 18:05:33.456195+05:30
it needs a correction. That judges are as indian as all of us and are as saleble and corrupt commodity as most of us indians.
View all Messages [ 22 ]
Group Websites : Express India | Financial Express | Screen India | Loksatta | Kashmir Live | Biz Publications
Privacy Policy | Feedback | Site MapThe Indian Express Group | Work With Us | Adverise With Us | Contact Us© 2008 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. All rights reserved
*Recipient(s) name *
*Recipient(s) e-mail address *
(Separate addresses by commas)
*Your Name *
*Your e-mail address *
Select your Country
Comments(optional)

The name(s) and e-mail address(es) you provide will
not be used for any purpose other than to inform the
recipient(s) of your identity. (*mandatory field)
 
Close