Modi wanted Muslims taught a lesson,IPS officer tells SC

A 1988 batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer,Bhatt directly moved the Supreme Court against Modi,bypassing the SIT appointed by the court to probe riots cases.

In his affidavit,he said he faced “unconcealed hostility” from SIT members whenever he tried to bring up the issue of a “larger conspiracy and official orchestration behind the Gujarat riots”.

He posted four copies of his affidavit to the Supreme Court Registry,one of which reached amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran.

“I will first read it and then decide whether this has to be presented before the Supreme Court,” Ramachandran said.

When her comments were sought,Hemantika Wahi,Gujarat state counsel in the Supreme Court,said she had not yet received a copy of Bhatt’s affidavit — it was notarised on April 14.

Bhatt,who is currently the principal of the State Reserve Police Training Centre in Junagadh,stated in his affidavit that he was present at a late night meeting called by Modi at his residence on February 27,2002 — the day 59 kar sevaks were burnt to death inside a coach of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra.

He was then holding charge as DCP Intelligence. He said he was asked by the Control Room to accompany DG & IGP K Chakravarthi to the meeting,possibly because ADGP Intelligence G C Raiger was on leave.

He recalled how officials present at the meeting failed to convince Modi against bringing the bodies of the Sabarmati Express victims to Ahmedabad. They were of the view that the BJP decision to support the VHP bandh call “would definitely lead to outbreak of communal violence in Ahmedabad and across the state”.

“Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that the bandh call had already been given and the party had decided to support the same as incidents like the burning of Kar Sevaks at Godhra could not be tolerated,” Bhatt stated in his affidavit,reproducing the transcript of his testimony before the SIT.

Modi,he said,“impressed upon the gathering that for too long the Gujarat Police had been following the principle of balancing the actions against the Hindus and Muslims while dealing with the communal riots in Gujarat. This time the situation warranted that the Muslims be taught a lesson to ensure that such incidents do not recur ever again. The Chief Minister expressed the view that emotions were running very high amongst the Hindus and it was imperative that they be allowed to vent out their anger”.

“I have stated before the SIT that many serious incidents of communal violence,including the carnage at the Gulberg Society,could have been easily prevented by firm and determined action on part of the police,” Bhatt stated.

The Supreme Court recently asked the SIT to re-look its investigation into the Gulberg Society massacre in which several people,including Congress MP Ehsan Jaffrey,were killed by a mob. Jaffrey’s widow,Zakia,had approached the apex court,naming Modi and several state functionaries.

“The SIT does not appear to be living up to the enormous trust reposed in it by the Supreme Court to conduct an impartial and thorough probe into the allegations of a larger conspiracy and administrative complicity behind the Gujarat riots of 2002,” Bhatt said.

Alleging “leaks” from within the SIT,he said that despite having kept his appointment with the SIT confidential,he was “approached by a very high level functionary in the Government of Gujarat and was sought to be appropriately briefed prior to my scheduled interaction with SIT”.

On Feb 27 night,cm said…

I was present at meeting called by Chief Minister on the night of 27.2.2002… Modi said bandh call had been given… incidents like burning of kar sevaks… could not be tolerated.

Modi said situation warranted that Muslims be taught a lesson…,expressed view that emotions were running very high among Hindus… imperative they be allowed to vent anger…

I tried to bring these facts to the notice of SIT but they seem disinclined to follow up… I faced unconcealed hostility from… SIT. SIT does not appear to be living up to (Supreme Court’s) trust…

I was approached by a very high level (govt) functionary… sought to be briefed prior to my interaction with SIT… My deposition… (was) available to highest echelons of Gujarat govt.