Some 45,000 affidavits and police records of over 2,000 cases of the 2002 riots await the truth in disorderly heaps at the office of the Justice G T Nanavati-Justice Akshay Mehta Inquiry Commission.

And it seems that it will take some more time before the truth comes to the fore. Even as the commission is getting down to write its report, it may not adequately look into the roles of some sections in the post-Godhra riots, like the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues, senior officials, and several organisations.

“This part of the commission’s terms of reference remains largely untouched and unresolved. We had made an application for calling Gordhan Zadaphia, the then home minister and others, including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, for cross-examination before the commission. The orders were reserved on it on February 27, and nothing happened afterward. How can the truth come out if these questions are not answered?” said Mukul Sinha, advocate of the Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM), a civil rights organisation representing a section of the riot victims.

“The members are overburdened. They have to sift through a mountain of papers. Besides, no one can be called for cross-examination unless there is a necessity to do so. An order will be made when the commission feels it is necessary,” said a source close to the commission.

The JSM has been boycotting the commission since April this year, after Justice Akshay Mehta was appointed its member. They allege his appointment was not in the interest of justice, as the judge was named by Babu Bajrangi in the Tehelka tapes controversy.

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